Michael Ihiekwe full of praise for Rotherham United’s captain Richard Wood

ROTHERHAM UNITED defensive axis Michael Ihiekwe and Richard Wood may have a fair way to go to assume the collective sobriquet of ‘Dolly and Daisy’ – but the respect between the duo is obvious.
Michael Ihiekwe of Rotherham United.  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Michael Ihiekwe of Rotherham United.  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Michael Ihiekwe of Rotherham United. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

That nickname was famously bestowed by Sir Alex Ferguson upon ex-Manchester United central defenders Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, whose partnership proved the bedrock of the Red Devils’ rise in the early Nineties.

In their own way, Ihiekwe and Wood have been integral to the Millers’ cause this season, with Wood being the senior man and dishing out the rollickings when needs be as Bruce did to Pallister.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The pair retained a strong friendship and understanding, just as Ihiekwe and Wood do now.

Ihiekwe, a stand-out for Millers this term, said: “He has been brilliant for me – on and off the pitch. Obviously he is our captain and has been around for a long time and played a lot of games.

“On the pitch, in that respect, there are loads of things I can learn from him every week.

“Off the pitch, we are quite close and are both dads and that brings you closer. He is brilliant with all the lads and I try and take any little thing from him I can.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He is helpful and not one of those who keeps everything close to his chest, he is open and is a good captain. He wants the best out of the players and the best for the team and he is brilliant in that aspect.

“It is just little things and conversations we have after the game. Sometimes, the gaffer brings me and him in and goes over things and he points little things out and gives me pointers.

“He (Wood) has played longer than everyone in the team and everyone respects what he has to say. You sometimes need that when you come in at half-time and some of the lads aren’t pulling their weight.

“You need that figure and he brings that.”

Ihiekwe’s form is such that many are tipping him for a place in League One’s PFA Team of the Year, while Warne in no doubt about his credentials, having tipped him to clean up at the club’s end-of-season awards night – whenever that is.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Liverpudlian added: “I got into the journalists’ one, but the PFA one is a good one as it comes from the players as well.

“It is not really on my mind, but I am taking it game by game and whatever comes from it.”

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you. James Mitchinson, Editor

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.