Rotherham United: Millers in flying start to the delight of Evans

Millers chief Steve Evans ended the game by taking a deserved bow as Rotherham started life in their new ground with a comfortable win on the opening day.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Aug 2012, 06:45 BST

The attendance of 11,441 was the best for a first home game for the club for over 40 years and, after getting off to a great start at the New York Stadium, Evans said: “It was fantastic.

“We started the game really well but when you go 2-0 up early, then your supporters expect it to be a 7-0 goal-fest.

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“Burton are a good side and had a spell of 20 minutes before half time so we had to wake up one or two players. I know Burton went down to 10 men, but we were totally dominant in the second half.”

Rotherham had spent the past four years playing at Don Valley after leaving Millmoor at the end of the 2007-08 season and the fans who packed out the new ground were quickly rewarded as the Millers went 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes thanks to Daniel Nardiello’s penalty and Kayode Odejayi’s header.

They went in front with just five minutes on the watch. A long throw from Kari Arnason was cleared but Rotherham regained possession and Noble flipped a short pass to Nardiello, who moved into the area and drew a mistimed challenge from Zander Diamond which forced the Millers striker to stumble and go down on one knee.

The referee pointed to the spot and despite Atkins dancing about on his line, Nardiello calmly rolled the ball inside the right-hand post.

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Burton were denied an equaliser when Adi Yussuf’s strike was ruled out for offside before Odejayi headed home from Arnason’s long throw to make it 2-0.

Lee Bell was sent off for the visitors after two yellows in four minutes. The former Crewe man was booked for unsporting behaviour and left the field after a late tackle on Millers midfielder David 
Noble.

The third goal came when Ben Pringle’s deflected cross looped over goalkeeper Ross Atkins.

Rotherham United: Shearer, Noble, Mullins (Bradley 46), Sharps, Wilson, Taylor, Arnason, O’Connor (Ainsworth 64), Nardiello (Revell 84), Pringle,Odejayi. Unused substitutes: Warrington, Rose, Evans, Agard. 
Burton Albion: Atkins, Stanton, Diamond, O’Connor, McCrory, Taylor (Dyer 62), Weir, Bell, Maghoma, Kee (Paterson 76), Yussuf (Richards 62). Unused substitutes: Lyness, Corbett, Webster, Chris Palmer.

Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Daniel Nardiello.

Related topics:MillersSteve Evans