Fulham vs Rotherham match report: Ross McCormack rescues point for fortunate west Londoners but fans turn fire on Kit Symons
Fulham 1 Rotherham United 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rotherham missed out on a golden chance to ease their Championship relegation worries after being held to a draw at Fulham.
Having taken a fourth-minute lead through Matt Derbyshire, the Millers created and missed a host of chances to put the game to bed in a dominant first half which had the Craven Cottage faithful calling for Kit Symons’ head.
Derbyshire, Kirk Broadfoot and Danny Ward were all guilty of spurning glaring opportunities and they were made to pay as Ross McCormack struck a second-half leveller that the home side barely deserved.
It means Rotherham, who are faced with the stark possibility of a points deduction after being charged by the Football League for fielding an ineligible player, wasted the chance to move seven points clear of Millwall, who have a game in hand.
Instead, the gap is five points – leaving them still deep in the relegation mix – while Fulham are only a point better off and desperate for the end of the season.
It looked like it would be Rotherham’s night as they made the dream start by taking the lead after only four minutes.
Derbyshire had already had two chances by the time he stabbed home from a Ben Pringle corner after Fulham failed to clear.
Fulham have had no problems scoring goals and they almost levelled when Matt Smith’s hooked effort was headed on to the bar by defender Jack Hunt. But it is at the other end where their issues have been and Rotherham would have had the game sewn up by the half-hour mark had it not been for goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.
First he kept out Broadfoot’s point-blank header from another corner and then produced a fine block to deny Derbyshire when the striker was through on goal. The visitors were creating chances every time they went forward and Ward missed the best when he rolled wide from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy before Bettinelli made a fine save to tip Broadfoot’s shot on to the post.
Fulham: Bettinelli; Richards, Turner, Burn, Husband, Parker, Guthrie, Tunnicliffe (Hoogland, 54), Ruiz, McCormack, Smith. Substitutes not used: Kiraly, Stafylidis, Hutchinson, Woodrow, Rodallega, Kavanagh.
Rotherham United: Martinez, Hunt, Morgan, Broadfoot, Lafferty, Smallwood, Arnason, Ward, Frecklington, Pringle, Derbyshire. Substitutes not used: Wood, Bowery, Green, Milsom, Collin, Hammill, Wilson.
Referee: A Davies (Hampshire)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments