Rotherham United vs Preston North End. Sky Bet Championship.
New York Stadium.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Rotherham and Preston at the New York Stadium as goals from Richard Wood and Matt Crooks sealed victory for the Millers and ended North End's unbeaten start away from home
Saturday 7 November 2020 18:23, UK
Matt Crooks' late winner earned Rotherham a 2-1 win at home to Preston.
Crooks struck in the 86th minute to end Preston's run of four straight away wins in the Championship and end the hosts' two-match losing streak.
Captain Richard Wood put the Millers in front early in the second half, only for Ryan Ledson to bring Preston level with 10 minutes to play.
Rotherham manager Paul Warne had promised to freshen up his side following their mid-week defeat to Luton and, among six changes, goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was brought in for his debut.
Daniel Johnson was the first to test the 22-year-old, the midfielder denied by the legs of the Swede.
Kyle Vassell then forced Declan Rudd into a strong save at the other end with a powerful free-kick from 25 yards.
Rotherham had enjoyed a strong spell before the interval and it continued after the break as Freddie Ladapo should have given them the lead.
The striker was picked out by a great left-wing cross from Ben Wiles but could only poke his effort wide from close range.
Veteran defender Wood showed more composure as he put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute. His central defensive partner Michael Ihiekwe won a back-post header and Wood was on hand to smash past Rudd on the volley.
Preston needed a response and manager Alex Neil made a double change, bringing on Jayden Stockley and Tom Barkhuizen.
The pair were quick to combine when a neat touch by Stockley released Barkhuizen, but Johansson was alert to the danger and brave enough to win the ball fairly ahead of the striker.
Preston's Paul Huntington also put his body on the line as he managed to block Wiles' goal-bound effort after the Rotherham man had cut in and shot from the left flank.
And it looked like a crucial intervention as Preston equalised after 80 minutes.
A corner was cleared only as far as Ledson, who fired a shot beyond Johansson into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
But Rotherham refused to lie down and a rampaging 70-yard run from Florian Jozefzoon was finished off coolly by Crooks in the 86th minute.
Preston still might have snatched a point, but Stockley's header struck a post.
Rotherham's Paul Warne: "I thought we played well. I was really pleased with the performance and I asked the lads to leave everything out there. They had two hours to set us up for the international break. We created some decent half-chances in the first half but unfortunately we didn't take them. I asked the lads to play the same way in the second half.
"It was a quick game played at a right pace. Overall to win is great and it allows us to breathe for a few days. The changing room is buzzing and it makes me really proud. I am not getting carried away with that performance. I thought today was an uglier game but we definitely created more chances. We thought we knew how we could hurt them and overall our performance deserved some points."
Preston's Alex Neil: "There is disappointment and frustration. I don't think we played well, first and foremost. I was really frustrated at times. We lacked the composure to win the game and we made too many mistakes. We lacked a bit of aggression in some areas of the pitch. Rotherham are really aggressive and in your face. They work hard to deny you opportunities.
"I think far too many didn't play well. There were some poor performances in there. I don't really know how you legislate for the mistake for the goal because we just passed it straight to them, we're open and they break down the other side of the pitch. Ultimately we have cost ourselves the game. We could have gone into the break on a high. I thought we were the makers of our own downfall at times."
