Match preview: Rotherham United v Morecambe

22 February 2022

The Shrimps are back in action on Tuesday 22 February in Sky Bet League One, as they take on league leaders Rotherham United at the AESEEAL New York Stadium.

Morecambe have had an extended break after Saturday’s game against Shrewsbury Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, one of the many clubs who were affected by Storm Eunice’s antics on Friday.

The Shrimps have met Rotherham United in League One, the FA Cup and the League Cup since 1979. In that time, the Clubs have faced each other 16 times, five of those games resulted in a win for the Morecambe, with four draws and seven losses.

Their last meeting with the Millers was the second game of the new season, back in August 2021, where Michael Smith’s long-range effort separated the two sides in their first League One encounter.

The Opposition

Rotherham find themselves at the top of the table and are looking to bounce bounce back after the disappointment of relegation from the Sky Bet Championship last season. They have managed eight wins in their last 10 games.

Last time out, the Millers were held to a 1-1 draw at home against fellow promotion-chasing Wigan Athletic, which ended a run of six wins on the spin for Paul Warne’s men.

An early goal from Stephen Humphrys gave the Latics the lead, but Rotherham managed to level the game on the 75^th minute when midfielder Oliver Rathbone’s strike rippled the back of the net.

Manager Paul Warne started his professional career at the age of 23, when he signed for Wigan Athletic, before moving to Rotherham in 1999. He went on to play at other clubs, such as Mansfield Town and Oldham Athletic, but returned to the Millers in 2009.

A few years later, Warne retired from professional football and had a short coaching career at Rotherham before being appointed their interim manager following the dismissal of Kenny Jackett.

The Club were relegated from the Championship during the 2016/17 season, but that did not stop the Millers appointing Warne as the first-team manager on a permanent basis, and he has since seen the team promoted back to the Championship during his tenure.

Key Players

Michael Smith is one of the league’s top scorers and has 17 goals to his name so far this season. The 30-year-old forward made his debut in the Football League back in 2010 for Darlington FC. He has since played for clubs such as AFC Wimbledon, Swindon Town, and Portsmouth. Smith arrived at Rotherham in 2018 and has made 173 appearances for the Club.

Growing up as a Leeds fan, Richard Wood soon switched his support to the Owls as he came through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday. Wood impressed the club so much, he was handed a two-year deal before the completion of his second year Academy scholarship. He has been at the Millers since 2014.

Midfielder Ben Wiles came through the Academy ranks at Rotherham United and has since become one of the leading lights in the Millers’ squad this season. The 22-year-old has made gone onto make 128 appearances for the club in both the Championship and League One.

Meet The Officials

Simon Mather is the man in the middle on Tuesday night and will be assisted by linesmen Thomas Harty and David Hunt. They will be joined by Richard Woodward as Fourth Official.

Since the start of the season, the Mancunian has awarded 99 yellow cards and eight red cards.

This is the first time this season that Mather’s will officiate a game that involves Rotherham, whereas he was the referee that oversaw the Shrimps’ penalty shootout defeat to Hartlepool United in the Papa John’s Trophy at Victoria Park.

Don’t miss a kick with our iFollow coverage

Can’t make it to the AESSEAL New York Stadium to back the boys against Rotherham United on Tuesday night?

Not a problem! You can stream the action live to your living room with an iFollow Shrimps pass for £10.

You can purchase a pass by clicking here.

Match Reports

Report: Rotherham United 2-0 Shrimps

22 February 2022

Rotherham United 2-0 Morecambe
Sky Bet League One
AESSAL New York Stadium
Tuesday 22 February
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Attendance: 8,376 (183 Shrimps)

A Freddie Ladapo first-half double was enough for Rotherham United to walk away with all three points at the AESSAL New York Stadium.

The first chance of the game saw the Millers open the scoring through Ladapo. A ball forward by Ollie Rathbone was picked up by the front-man, his touch out of his feet bounced nicely and saw him hit a half-volley into the roof of the net leaving Trevor Carson with no chance.

Cole Stockton came close to levelling things on the 15th minute after some fantastic play out wide by Shane McLoughlin.

The midfielder’s touch out of his feet saw him beat a defender before pulling a cross back for Stockton, the striker, on the volley, forced a good save out of Josh Vickers in the Rotherham goal.

Paul Warne’s men doubled their lead on the half-an-hour mark, a perfectly weighted through ball from Dan Barlaser found Ladapo on the run, his left-footed effort had enough on it to finds the bottom-right corner of the goal via a touch from the post.

With minutes of the half remaining the Millers almost added a third. A through ball from Ladapo found Michael Smith on the run but the striker could not find the back of the net with his shot.

Half-time: Rotherham United 2-0 Morecambe

On the 54th minute the Shrimps came close to finding a way back into the game thorough Stockton.

A mistake in the Rotherham back-line saw the ball make its way to Stockton at the far-post but the striker could not find the back of the net with his attempt from close range.

Moments later Carson produced a piece of stunning goalkeeping to deny Ladapo his hat-trick.

The striker ran at O’Connor looking to use his as cover before getting his shot away, it took a deflection off the Irishman but a superb one-handed save from Carson saw him tip the ball onto the post before collecting the rebound.

Jon Obika was introduced just after the hour mark and almost profited from a misplaced back-pass by the Millers defence, he picked the ball up and let fly from just outside the box, but Vickers produced a stunning save of his own to preserve his clean sheet.

The Shrimps had the ball in the back of the net on the 66th minute through defender Rhys Bennett, but referee Simon Mather ruled the goal out for a foul in the middle of the box as the corner came in.

Vickers who clearly had his Weetabix this morning again made another save to deny Obika, this time tipping over a goal-bound header onto the roof of his own goal.

There was one final chance for the Shrimps which fell to Ryan Cooney after some impressive footwork by the full-back, he danced his way into the box before unleashing a left-footed effort which cannoned off a post and back into the grateful grasp of Vickers.

Full-time: Rotherham United 2-0 Morecambe

Rotherham United: Vickers, Harding, Barlaser (Odoffin 72’), Wood (C), Osei-Tutu (Ogbene 58’), Wiles, Ladapo, Ferguson (MacDonald 84’), Rathbone, Ihiekwe, Smith.

Subs not used: Johansson, Bola, Lindsay, Kayode.

Goals: Ladapo 4’, 30’

Bookings: Wiles 45’

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Carson, Leigh, O’Connor, Bedeau, Bennett, Cooney, Diagouraga (Duffus 81’), Fane (Wildig 69’), McLoughlin, Stockton, Ayunga (Obika 61’)

Subs not used: Smith, Connolly, Phillips, Gibson.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Bedeau 74’

Red cards: None.

Ticket News

Rotherham United (A) ticket details

7 February 2022

Tickets are now on sale for our Sky Bet League One fixture against Rotherham United.

Rotherham United v Morecambe
The AESSEAL New York Stadium
Tuesday 22 February 2022
Kick Off: 19:45

Tickets are available in the Mears South Stand.

Tickets will be available to buy on the day from Rotherham United [subject to availability], though we are encouraging supporters to buy in advance from Morecambe FC to avoid delays on the day.

Rotherham United are offering a ticket promotion to our season ticket holders “Friends for £5”. To take advantage of this offer you must be a Morecambe FC Season Ticket holder and follow the following steps:

To buy an adult for £5, you must purchase an adult ticket at full price.
To buy a concession for £5, you must purchase an adult or a concession ticket at full price.
To buy a 13-17 for £5, you must purchase an adult, a concession or another 13-17 ticket at full price.
To buy an under 12 for £5, you must purchase an adult or a concession ticket at full price.

Postage will be an option for this fixture, but you must choose this at the point of purchase, and all tickets to be posted must be purchased before Wednesday 16, 12noon. We also have the options of collecting your match tickets from the Morecambe FC Club Shop in advance of the game or from the Away Ticket Office on the day. Again, these must be selected at the point of purchase.

In advance sales for this fixture will close on Monday 21 February, 12 noon.

Anyone wishing to purchase on the day, please note there will be increase in price of £2 on adult and concession tickets and £1 increase on Junior and under 12 tickets.

Prices for the fixture are listed below.

Prices: