Cheltenham Town 1 Rotherham United 1: Millers squander great opportunity to press their play-off claims

ROTHERHAM missed a chance to keep in touch with the play-off places and are now playing catch-up.

With games running out, they are four points off the top seven and this draw has to be viewed as points dropped.

Cheltenham, beaten 8-1 the previous week at Crewe, have struggled at home this season and it was a perfect opportunity for Rotherham to cash in.

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They even had the benefit of an early goal, midfielder Jason Taylor marking his return to the side by scoring after 10 minutes with an effort from 20 yards.

Rotherham had already gone close when Tom Pope, back in the side after being recalled from his loan spell at Port Vale, saw a header cleared off the line.

Cheltenham, with only one win in their last 10 home games, recovered from their early wobbles and Matt Green hit a post before David Bird had a header from a corner brilliantly touched onto the bar by Jamie Annerson, standing in for goalkeeper Andy Warrington who has a foot injury.

But Annerson was at fault with Cheltenham’s equaliser just past the hour when he failed to hold onto a high free-kick and defender Andy Gallinagh forced the ball home.

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A splendid save by Steve Brown prevented Nicky Law’s header restoring the lead immediately.

Rotherham pressed late on but Cheltenham held firm, helped by further saves to deny Ryan Taylor and Marcus Marshall.

“There was only one side going to win the game but you need to put your chances away and we also conceded a sloppy goal,” said Rotherham caretaker manager Andy Liddell, who confirmed that defender Johnny Mullins will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Cheltenham Town: Brown; Gallinagh, Elliot, Riley, Andrew; Smikle, Bird, Pack, Melligan (Artus 85); Green (Pook 89), Thomas. Unused substitutes: Fawke, Haynes, Lewis, Lloyd-Weston.

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Rotherham United: Annerson; Tonge, Cresswell, Fenton, Newey; Marshall (Henderson 85), J Taylor, Harrison, Law; R Taylor, Pope (Le Fondre 80). Unused substitutes: Leyden, Green, Ashworth, Brogan, Bradley.

Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Man of the match: Danny Harrison.