Rotherham v Brighton, New York stadium, Monday 6th April 2015. Att 9872
Still languishing near the bottom of the championship, we woke up on Easter Monday to another must win game. Our recent form had seen us being dragged nearer and nearer to the trapdoor, and a Wigan or millwall win, coupled with defeat for us would leave us with one foot in league 1. As we had just returned from Andorra and there was no food in the house, I popped to Tesco express. That was when I saw them. Eating some dead animal in the road right in front of me. Two (TWO!!!!!!) magpies. Yes!!!!!!! 'Its gorgeous out there' I said as I returned, heart singing. I decided on no coat, just a sweatshirt. 'I will need my sunglasses, it's absolutely boiling' I reiterated. We decided to walk, as Ian's leg wasn't too bad, so we set off in the sunshine. By the time we got to the Carlton Park Ian was visibly perspiring. Looking closely I saw he was wearing a thick jumper, a big coat, and gloves. By the time we reached his office he had removed the coat and gloves, although he was still perspiring. By the top of Alma road he had removed his jumper, thank god as I thought I was going to need medical help. At this point Vicky volunteered that she had leggings on under her jeans. I never once said 'I told you it was warm'. Honest! At the stadium Alex needed to go show his student ID at the ticket office so Ian and I sat and debated which turnstile. We decided on 11, because we had come so close to entering via that one at the Weds game, only to be thwarted at the last second, just like the team. We looked over the flowers that had been left for John Fearns, the supporter who died at that turnstile. Some had been left by the Brighton supporters club, which is nice. Inside, it was even hotter, with the sun beating down on the North Stand.
OGOTE and I grunted at each other as I took my seat. Alex was supposed to be down at the front, but James sat down there with his girlfriend, so he sat next to Vicky. Ian was huddled under his big coat, right up to his chin. Red hot but determined not to get sunburned. The teams came out much the same as last time we had seen them, with the exception of Bowery in for Sammon. Before kick off a minutes silence for John Fearns was impeccably followed. Then Frank sang, we kicked, and were off with a roar. A lot of Brighton fans had travelled the distance and the atmosphere was superb. We made a good start, and had a couple if attacks, before, on 7 minutes, Jordan Bowery got the ball on the touchline. His excellent cross was met by Matt Derbyshire at the near post where he volleyed home.
1-0 and we were ecstatic. Only trouble being we had nearly 90 minutes to hang on. Being Rotherham that's just what we did. First half we were Ok, but second was all Brighton. They had a couple of tricky players who liked a dive, with the ref pandering to them every time. We were penned back with only the odd breakaway. Tension mounted. Steve fetched on Danny Ward for Bowery who got a wonderful standing ovation, and still Brighton pressed. The last ten minutes lasted forever, and a great sigh of relief was felt when only 3 minutes of added time went up. At last the final whistle went. 1-0 to the Millers. Not only that but Wigan lost giving us a seven point cushion. We still aren't out of the woods but we can see the light. Next up table topping Middlesborough away.
Men of the match
Ian - smallwood
Jackie - Derbyshire
Vicky - Hunt
Ref watch - Too easily swayed by cheating, diving foreigners.
Funniest moments - The heat
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