Rotherham United: Millers appeal Richard Wood's derby sending-off

The centre-half was sent off in time added on by referee Tim Robinson at Hillsborough after conceding a hotly-disputed penalty which the home side converted to win 1-0.

But the Championship Millers are making moves to have the decision overturned and quash the one-match ban which would rule Wood rule out of the Boxing Day clash against Wigan Athletic at New York Stadium.

A club statement issued this evening said: “Rotherham United have made the FA aware of their intentions to appeal the red card issued to Richard Wood during Saturday’s South Yorkshire derby.”

Robinson awarded a spot-kick when Owls striker Lucas Joao went down in the box, but Wood claims he never touched the forward and couldn’t believe it when he was ordered off.

The 31-year-old has been a commanding figure at the heart of the Rotherham defence in the nine games since the sacking of former boss Alan Stubbs who had overlooked him in the early part of the season.

Meanwhile, attacker Izzy Brown is on course to be fit for Boxing Day after missing last Saturday’s derby with a hamstring injury, but interim boss Paul Warne is full of praise for the man who replaced the Chelsea loan youngster against the Owls.

“I thought Peter Odemwingie was outstanding to say he hasn’t played for a while,” said Warne of the forward who came straight into the side after a three-match suspension.

“Joe Newell, on the ball, got us out of trouble and I thought he was outstanding. I thought Anthony Forde was outstanding. I feel for him because he could not give any more. My two full-backs (Darnell Fisher and Joe Mattock) dealt with them.”

Warne, who has been in charge for the last four matches after the short-lived reign of Kenny Jackett and is set for a longer spell at the helm, is proud of his players for picking up their performances since he took the hot-seat.

The division’s bottom club have won once under the fitness coach and their three defeats, at Burton Albion, Fulham and Wednesday, have all been by single goal.

“It was the fourth game under my guidance. We haven’t lost by more than one and I think we haven’t been outplayed,” Warne said. “We have always been close to points.

“I am not saying we have gone gung-ho and had 60 per cent of the play, but to go away to Fulham and come away to Sheffield Wednesday, both top 10 and big clubs ... I think we have more than competed.

“I’d like to think that when you ask Wednesday’s manager, he’s pretty respectful of the way we were. Fulham thought we gave them a right game. That’s all we can do.”

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