Get out of jail free

IRotherham v Huddersfield, Sat 26th Dec 2014, Att 11,681

Xmas is the time for board games such as trivial pursuit and Monopoly, and The Millers played their very own get out of jail card in the match against Huddersfield on Boxing Day. The great away win at Wigan had meant a very satisfactory Christmas and we were all looking forward to the match, surely it was time for someone to get a good stuffing. Huddersfield were on the same points as us with an inferior goal difference, so the expected big win would take us a little but closer to survival. Xmas Day had been unseasonably warm, but the temperature had started to drop as we set off for the New York Tavern. A couple of magpies flitted around down Sitwell Vale. The tavern was heaving, and with no sign of Wooly or James and a huge crowd around the bar, we decided to head for the ground where a sell out crowd awaited us. Entry via turnstile 9 ought to add a couple of goals we thought. Steve had, unsurprisingly named an unchanged side once more and the crowd were in great voice as the teams entered the arena. As befits the season, Huddersfield had a couple of pantomime villains in their squad. 'Nasty' Nahki Wells, a long time adversary from our lower league days, ex Bradford, was on the bench, while Grant 'the hulk' Holt was their main striker. Holt was a well known former premier league donkey, now down on his luck and playing in the championship. Both Vicky and I had liked him at Norwich, but there was to be no goodwill towards him today.

Frank sang, we kicked, the ref blew, and we settled down to watch the New Real Madrid. Unfortunately the players, while trying to play silky football, had forgotten how. Of maybe Huddersfield just wouldn't let them. Passes that in the last few games had expertly found a man today went astray. We couldn't get a chance in on goal and Huddersfield began to make quick forays forward. Fortunately Holt was just the donkey we had expected and the crowd, and Wooly in particular, amused themselves by continually baiting him. The opposition were also much more cynical than us. Tom Lawrence sprinted through only to be scythed down. Booking for sure but it stopped a chance for us. We then gave the ball away sloppily and did the gentlemanly thing by not bringing down their flying winger, who crossed the ball to find Vaughan alone in the box. He accepted the gift and slotted home. 1-0 to them and we weren't in the game. The guy behind Wooly, one of the tweeters friends but not a regular, began to rant on about how the hoofball football had been better and the tippy tappy stuff was getting us nowhere. Wooly and Ian were surprisingly restrained. Holt flung an elbow at Morgan, 'just an accident' said the ref, 'booooo' , hissss' bayed the crowd. At least we were getting some entertainment. Half time came with us 1-0 down. 

As the sun went down the temperature began to drop and we bundled up.

The second half began with no changes for either team, and settled into a similar pattern to the first. Much to the Crowds delight, Grant Holt went down off the pitch and needed treatment. Even then we couldn't create anything. Pringle was finding it particularly difficult to find his passes, and the crowd began to get on his back. Holt went down again, and hobbled off injured, to a great cheer. That didn't do us any favours however, as another loose pass allowed another break and cross, and another gift as their player found himself all alone. He duly headed home. 2-0 and cue scenes of delerium amongst the visiting fans. The two guys in front decided to leave at this point even though only 60 mins had gone, and the cold their bodies had been protecting us from began to seep in. A light cold rain began  to fall. Luckily Nasty Nahki chose that moment to warm up just below us. Wooly must have a particular dislike of him as the abuse he began to hurl cannot be repeated. Nahki took it all with a benign smile on his face, they were beating us after all. 

As the crowd became more and more restless Steve decided to play his card. He took off Pringle, Ledesma and Revell, how some people can boo these players I will never know, and replaced them with Bowery, JCH, and Frecklington. The moaners behind and old man on the end chose that moment to leave, a move I feel they are regretting still. Huddersfield began to get nervous. We began to probe more. Rees James had all the time in the world to pick out a cross from the left. JCH rose like a salmon and headed home. 88 mins gone and we were back to 2-1. Huddersfield then proceeded to panic and managed to allow Frecks to get the ball unmarked 25yds out. His goalbound shot took a sweet deflection that lifted it over the keeper and into the corner of the net. The celebrating fans all took a relieved breath as the ref blew for full time. We had somehow managed to get a draw out of a game we really should have lost. No doubt we got out of jail, big time. Next up the most anticipated awayday of the season, Blackpool. 

Men of the match

Ian - Arneson

Jackie - Revell

Vicky - there wasn't one

Ian's award 

Should have sent Holt off for the elbow. 

Funniest moment

Any of Grant Holts spectacular misses in front of the home fans.