Blues grind down the Millers

Andy Munro watches as Blues beat Rotherham.


A wet weekend match against a hard-working Rotherham side was never going to be attractive but we got there in the end. It was a workmanlike performance against a side that never gave up but lacked any flair.

Obviously, the Juke was the star with a well-taken hat-trick and it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke, who works his socks off for the team and, as a bonus, is an intelligent bloke with at least as twice as many brain cells as the average footballer. Che Adams must be looking on with envy as his contribution can yet again be termed as distinctly average.

Although we won by two clear goals, the most credit probably needs to go to the centre of midfield where Gardner and Kleftenbeld worked tremendously hard to gain ascendancy against a very physical outfit. Kleftenbeld was particularly impressive in his chasing back.

The defence also need commending, throwing their bodies on the line where necessary with Pederson particularly impressive. It’s also notable that our goal was conceded after Morrison went off to be replaced by a Marc Roberts on whom the jury is still out.

Out wide, Jota was a bag of tricks and although Maghoma had one of his quieter games, Connor Mahoney came on to replace him with another superb cameo. A place in the starting line up can’t be far away.

EFL permitting, there’s even the scent of the play-off placess. Let’s not get carried away but the way Blues are playing as a real team unit, it doesn’t seem as completely unrealistic as it might have been.