Sheffield Wednesday vs Rotherham United. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance27,242.
Saturday 17 December 2016 18:51, UK
Sheffield Wednesday scored an injury-time penalty to break Rotherham hearts in a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship win at Hillsborough.
The rock-bottom Millers looked set to earn just their second away point of the season as they defended resolutely until a game dominated by referee Tim Robinson was decided by Steven Fletcher's last-gasp spot-kick.
Fletcher converted after Richard Wood, who was sent off, was adjudged to have bundled over Lucas Joao. It was cruel on Paul Warne's side, especially as Robinson had earlier harshly ruled out a first-half goal by midfielder Tom Adeyemi for a foul that was anything but clear.
The win - a fourth in five games - moves Wednesday back into the top six, while caretaker Warne is almost certain to be handed the Millers reign until the end of the season early next week.
Given Rotherham's shocking record on the road, there was little surprise to see Wednesday start on the front foot, but they struggled to create anything of note.
Joao blazed a half-chance over from eight yards and Tom Lees also headed over from a free-kick as they failed to make significant possession count.
In fact, it was Rotherham that began to create the best opportunities as a lifeless first half wore on. Wood headed straight at Kieren Westwood from Joe Newell's free-kick and Peter Odemwingie fired over from eight yards.
They then thought they had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time as Adeyemi headed in another Newell free-kick, but referee Robinson, who spent much of the first half with his whistle to his lips, blew for a foul.
It did not need much for the game to improve after the break, though, and Wednesday were denied an opener by some fine defending in the 52nd minute as Darnell Fisher superbly cleared off the line after Joao had worked an opening for himself.
That proved to be a flash in the pan in terms of entertainment, but it was Wednesday that were looking the more likely as Millers goalkeeper Lewis Price had to get down smartly to keep out his team-mate Joe Mattock's defensive header, while Joao also tested Price's handling.
Price again got down to easily save Steven Fletcher's header as a stern Millers rearguard held firm and Wednesday began to run out of ideas.
They got their breakthrough with a moment of controversy, though, as early in four minutes of added time, Fletcher won it for the Owls when he converted from the spot.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:
"We are very happy with the score, when I talked before the game I said we knew this game would be tough. It was not an easy game, it was a local derby and Rotherham had a lot to play for.
"The players had a very good attitude. We broke a wall that Rotherham put up and we don't win a lot of those games so I am very happy."
Rotherham caretaker manager Paul Warne:
"My honest opinion is the penalty is a penalty, there is contact from Woody on the player, it is minimal contact. It was more a case of the player winning the penalty. Would I be happy if my striker did that in the 93rd minute to win the game? Yes I would.
"But I don't know how that is a sending off, I am going to speak to him about that. I thought the rules had changed with the double jeopardy. For the goal, I've watched it back numerous times and I cannot see where the foul is, I can't even see where it might have been. I will go and speak to the referee and he will tell me something I didn't see."
