 |
Subs not used: Crichton, Sutch, Rivers.
Kenton was an injury doubt before the game and Worthy must have decided he wasn't fit to play, so McGovern started at right-back and Sutch was on the bench for the first time this season. The rest of the team was unchanged and Mark Rivers, who has been out injured, was again on the bench, but again didn't get a game and still has to make his Norwich debut.
First Half
The Millers made a lively start and almost took an early lead when Stewart Talbot saw his 25-yard right-foot shot fly just inches wide of the post. Shortly afterwards, Talbot fed the ball to Portuguese forward Jose Miranda and he found Alan Lee, whose shot-cum-cross was narrowly missed by Robins.
As the game progressed, Norwich began to assert themselves, Iwan Roberts' header from a Steen Nedergaard cross forcing Millers keeper Mike Pollitt to pull off a fine save at full stretch.
Pollitt was then equal to an 18-yard strike from the edge of the area by Gary Holt.
The Canaries were forced to make a substitution on 28 minutes, introducing Marc Libbra to the action after Zema Abbey (pictured) left the field with an apparant hamstring injury.Rotherham saw a penalty appeal turned down two minutes later after Malky MacKay seemingly handled inside the area.
Both sides looked lively in the closing stages of the first half, the best chance to end the stalemate falling to Iwan Roberts, who fired just wide.
Second Half
The Millers again made a lively start to the half with Robins' 20 yard shot being blocked by Rob Green. However it was the Canaries who took the lead, McVeigh's 25-yard left-foot shot deflecting off Scott to leave Pollitt wrong-footed and the Norwich fans cheering.
Rotherham responded strongly to having gone behind and had a few great chances go amiss - Martin McIntosh headed just wide before Lee brought a fine save from Robert Green. Lee then crossed from the right for Talbot who chested down the ball but saw Green block again.
The Millers' pressure paid off, however, when they were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes. Lee was brought down inside the box by Adam Drury, and Robins stepped up to convert the spot-kick against his former club, taking his tally for the season up to an impressive six goals.
Both sides battled gamely for a winner in the closing stages, with Rotherham coming closest through a blocked Robins header on 73 minutes and a long-range Talbot shot.
Rotherham did very well and Norwich were content to go home with a draw, a fair result on today's performances.
Quotes
Rob Green: "I'd rather not say what I really think (about the penalty). I saw Adam kick the ball away. I can only think the referee gave it because he went through the back of the player. It's frustrating. We've got a lucky goal but they've got a lucky one back so it evens itself out. The record wasn't important to me but its annoying to be 15 minutes away when you look at all the great keepers we have had in the past". 
Nigel Worthington: "We've come away with a hard earned point. Twelve months ago we might have lost that game but we dug in and did very well. Its a difficult place to come - they throw the ball into the box and you have to defend - we did that. I'm pleased with the point, though in the first half we should have scored and won the game". 