Rotherham United faced Huddersfield Town on January 4, 2025, in what unfolded as a competitive League One clash ending with a scoreline of 0-0 at the John Smith's Stadium. Both teams aimed for points, yet neither could convert chances, resulting in Rotherham's second consecutive clean sheet and marking their unbeaten streak.
Rotherham's manager, Steve Evans, expressed his thoughts after the match, emphasizing how they had let ‘two points slip away.’ He remarked, “I can't ask for any more today but we've left two points behind.” This disappointment came largely from their strong performance after halftime, where they created several scoring opportunities.
Despite being the away team, Rotherham showed great resilience and adaptation. The Millers continued with the same lineup from their New Year's Day victory over Lincoln City as Huddersfield entered the game without fresh legs, having not played due to bad weather.
The first half saw Huddersfield gaining the upper hand with more chances, but the dynamic shifted after the break when Rotherham intensified their efforts. Evans noted, “We moved two or three of the lads slightly for the second half and things opened up for us.” This adjustment bore fruit as they troubled Huddersfield’s defense and came close to breaking the deadlock.
Key to Rotherham's defensive strategy was goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who delivered outstanding saves throughout the match, particularly before halftime. Evans praised his players' defensive efforts, stating, “We defended really well – there was a great clearance off the line by Shaun McWilliams.”
The match shifted dramatically late on when Huddersfield’s new signing Ruben Roosken received a straight red card shortly after entering the pitch. Evans, observing from the sideline, assessed, “It was right in front of me. It was a clear sending-off.” The sending-off gave Rotherham the numerical advantage, but they struggled to translate this opportunity to goals.
Even with the advantage, Rotherham couldn’t find the net. Mallik Wilks was particularly active, with Evans remarking on how he “could have had a couple of goals,” reflecting on the effort the players put forth. On several occasions, Rotherham broke forward with promising counter-attacks but couldn’t find the decisive finish, as Evans noted, “We’ve pressed and pressed trying to get the winner.”
Rotherham now sits at 16th place in the league standings, providing them with some breathing room as they continue their campaign. With the team remaining unbeaten over their last three matches, their resilience was evident, particularly against one of the league’s higher-placed teams.
This performance was seen as Rotherham's best away display of the season, indicating their growing confidence. Steve Evans stated, “Some of the football was really good to watch,” underlining both the quality they aspire to achieve and the progress they are making. The Millers hope to build on this display and convert the positives from their performance as they prepare for future fixtures, aiming for continued improvement and results.