Rotherham United began their pre-season friendly fixtures with a victory after a 6-0 success over local side, Parkgate, which gave the fans the chance to see the new signings. It wasn’t as easy as it would appear, going down to 10 men after just 10 minutes of the game. But with four goals after the break and with the Parkgate team tiring, it a very comfortable evening for Steve Evans’ men. Goalscorers: Emmanuel Ledesma, Paul Green (pen), Grant Ward, Danny Ward, Own Goal and Jerry Yates.
The second game of pre-season saw Rotherham take on Stocksbridge Park Steels as the Millers ran out as 3-0 winners. New signing Aidy White again showed glimpses of why Evans signed him, setting up a goal before going off at the break; while the trialist at the time, Grant Ward, scored his second goal in his second game at the club. The second half, the Millers changed the team but didn’t take them long to score with Jonson Clarke-Harris added the third and final goal of the game, again another good work out from the Millers.
The third pre-season game saw the first defeat in the hands of Alferton town with them earning a surprising 3-2 win. Rotherham brought on several youth players after the break. Even with Grant Ward getting on the score sheet twice, they couldn’t force a win. The Millers prepared for a long trip to Scotland for their annual pre-season tour.
Rotherham earned their first victory of their Scottish pre-season by beating Scottish Championship outfit, Greenock Morton, 3-0 with Greg Halford, Lee Frecklington and Jonson Clarke-Harris adding the goals with yet another good workout for the Millers with the new signings blending in nicely.
They maintained their 100% record during their tour of Scotland as they claimed victory against Scottish Premiership team, Dundee, thanks to Paul Green’s second-half goal. Rotherham United ended their pre-season tour of Scotland with a 1-1 draw against Scottish Premiership’s Partick Thistle at Firhill Stadium with Matty Derbyshrie grabbing the goal; this meant the Millers ended the Scottish tour unbeaten.
Leicester City were the first opponents at the New York Stadium and gained a 2-1 win in which was a hard afternoon for the Millers despite Grant Ward scoring again. Last up for the pre-season games were FSV Mainz 05, providing a very tough test but the Millers ended up winning 2-1 with goals from Matt Derbyshire and first of pre-season for Jordan Bowery.
With MK Dons the first Championship game of the season, expectations are high for an initial success. Despite a few hard games towards the start of the season, I fully expect an enjoyable season ahead, and with any luck, safe from relegation.
