Rotherham United: Player ratings from the Millers' 3-2 home win over Fleetwood Town

The Star's Millers man, Paul Davis, assesses the performances at AESSEAL New York Stadium
Star man Joe NewellStar man Joe Newell
Star man Joe Newell

ROTHERHAM (4-4-2)

MAREK RODAK 6

Blameless for both Fleetwood goals. Distributed well.

WILL VAULKS 7

Never truly comfortable at right-back, but stepped up his game when he moved to centre-half. Valuable versatility.

SEMI AJAYI 5

Not his best day and taken off in a defensive reshuffle at 2-2.

RICHARD WOOD 7

Gave everything in both boxes and scored the winning goal.

BEN PURRINGTON 6

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Offered little going forward but did a sound job defensively.

ANTHONY FORDE 6

Some decent bits but had faded by the time he was replaced.

RICHIE TOWELL 8

Always looking for a dangerous pass and no-one on the pitch worked harder. An impressive display.

MATT PALMER 7

Excellent when the Millers were on top. Always available to take a pass and orchestrated play. Not so good when Fleetwood were attacking.

JOE NEWELL 9

Warne described him as ‘unplayable’. ‘Devastating’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘match-winner’ equally apply. Full of running and trickery.

DAVID BALL 5

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Rotherham need to find a way to get one of League One’s most talented players on the ball more. A peripheral figure, but the defenders of his former club, who know him well, were clearly wary of him.

MICHAEL SMITH 7

Given nothing by the referee. Gave everything for the cause.

Substitutes:

JOSH EMMANUEL 7

Did well after replacing Semi Ajayi in the 64th minute.

JON TAYLOR 6

Stretched Fleetwood as a 69th-minute replacement for Anthony Forde.

CAOLAN LAVERY

On for David Ball after 77 minutes.

Subs not used: Price, Ihiekwe, Williams, Yates.

FLEETWOOD (3-5-2): Cairns 6; Eastham 7, Pond 7, Bolger 7; Coyle 6, Dempsey 5, Diagouraga 7, Sowerby 5 (Burns 80), Hunter 6; Madden 4 (Grant 65, 5), McAleny 6 (Hiwula 65, 5). Subs not used: Neal, Glendon, Jones, Biggins.

Goals: Pond og 12, Newell 50, Wood 77 (Rotherham); Eastham 5, Bolger 54 (Fleetwood).

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire) 5.

Attendance: 7,562 (156).