Rotherham United 2 Rochdale 4

In the build up to the game whilst acknowledging that beating Rotherham was going to be an uphill task he promised that his young side would go to Millmoor and ask questions of their high flying hosts. He was, as ever, as good as his word as his side produced one of those typical "no fear" Keith Hill performances.
Off to a flyer and a 2 goal lead Dale survived being pegged back and losing 2 key players to completely boss the 2nd half and run out worthy winners.
As befits a side unbeaten since September and with 7 straight League wins behind them Rotherham got off to a bright start as inside the first minute Rory McArdle had to produce a brilliant block and then after a slip by the under the weather Nathan Stanton Chris O' Grady fired wide from a good position. 
On 4 minutes though the vistors took the lead with a well constructed goal. Kallum Higginbotham skipped away from his marker and played the ball into the feet of Adam Le Fondre who then laid it into the path on the oncoming Gary Jones who slammed the ball hard and low with his left foot into the bottom corner from 18 yards. A fitting way to mark "Jonah's" 400 th competitive game on a day when yet again he covered every blade of grass on the sodden pitch.



If that was a good start it became a dream 3 minutes later as Glenn Murray produced a great touch to lay a Tom Kennedy cross into the path of Le Fondre and from 6 yards the 21 year old produced a deft finish to lift the ball over the onrushing Andy Warrington in the Rotherham goal.



John Doolan was forced to limp out of the action with a hamstring injury on 10 minutes and Rotherham perhaps sensing an element of dissarray hit back with 2 goals in 2 minutes.
On 14 minutes Pablo Mills headed a deep Peter Holmes corner back into the danger area from beyond the far post to leave centre back Ian Sharps with the simplest of close range headers to reduce the deficit.
On 16 minutes Tom Kennedy slipped whilst in possession deep in the Rotherham half and 3 swift passes later the ball fell at the feet of striker Derek Holmes who curled home a clever left footed effort from 15 yards to make things all sqaure.
A lesser team might then have wilted but Dale hit straight back with Jones seeing an effort saved and Le Fondre denied by a terrific goal line clearance by Sharps.
As half time approached in a see saw game Nathan Stanton and Simon Ramsden produced 2 great blocks in a penalty area melee and then Sam Russell produced a world class reactipon save to somehow keep out another Sharps header.
Stanton who had been ill since the middle of the week succumbed at the break but Marcus Holness proved a perfect replacement as playing up the hill but with the wind and rain behind them Keith Hill's side took control.
The key to the game would be another early goal and that came the vistors way as Murray, now back at his best after a torrid few weeks rose highest to head home another well delivered corner from Kallum Higginbotham on 47 minutes and his side never looked back.
Rotherham's only real chance of the half again fell to Sharps and again it was header from a set piece on 65 minutes minutes but with the ball seemingly looping over him and into the net Russell produced a back peddling tip over to avert the danger.
Obviously genetically incapable of sitting back Dale continued to attack with Le Fondre and the excellent Jones firing narrowly over and got their rewards in time added as Murray found some space on the left before unselfishly setting up substitute Lee McEvilly who rounded off the scoring and ended any lingering hopes that the home team might have by finishing from 6 yards.
A thoroughly deserved win by a young team that is getting better and better. Now to win a couple of home games and really put some pressure on the top 7.

Team Russell, Ramsden, Stanton (Holness 46) Mcardle, Kennedy, Higginbotham,Doolan (Crooks 10) Jones, Rundle, Murray, Le Fondre (McEvilly 87).