New Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor picked up his first win as manager at the weekend with a 2-1 Yorkshire derby victory over Huddersfield Town. The Millers had looked a little out of sorts since the shock departure of long-time manager Paul Warne for League One team Derby County on September 22nd. Warne’s exit had triggered online bookmakers such as FanDuel, who provide free bets on English football, to make the South Yorkshire club one of the favorites for an immediate return to the third tier.
And it looked like those predictions were somewhat accurate after Rotherham, led by players/ interim managers Richard Wood and Lee Peltier, slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic.
On October 4th, however, Matt Taylor swapped Cornwall for South Yorkshire and picked up a battling point at home to Millwall in his first game in charge. Three days later, United suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat at Ewood Park despite being on top for long periods.
But in the new gaffer’s third game in charge, he finally got his first three points with an impressive victory over the Terriers. Goals from Conor Washington and Georgie Kelly – the latter’s third in just 180 minutes of English league football – were enough to spark pandemonium at the New York Stadium and perhaps get the Millers’ campaign back on track.
In their last three campaigns in the Championship, Rotherham have suffered relegation to League One. However, if Taylor’s men can build on this performance, they have every chance of turning it around. Here are a few factors that could help them do that…
Build on the foundations laid by Paul Warne
When on September 22nd it was announced that Paul Warne would be leaving the club after six-and-a-half years in charge, there was disbelief. The club had just made their best ever start to a term in the second tier and sat eighth in the table, just two points off the playoffs. Then, as if out of nowhere, the beloved manager and his coaching staff announced that they were on the move to Pride Park and, on paper, left the club in disarray.
But Warne and co. had done some impressive work, and there is plenty there for Taylor to build on.
First and foremost, the Reds have been built to play in a specific system. During their promotion last term and the beginning of this season, Warne played a 3-5-2 system specializing in fast-paced wing play focused around getting balls in the box for the likes of Michael Smith – who departed for arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the summer – and now, Conor Washington to feed off. He also built one of the finest midfield trios the club has ever had in the tenacious Ollie Rathbone, playmaker Daniel Barlaser and Ben Wiles – who saw a big-money bid from Vincent Kompany’s Burnley rejected in the summer.
One of the reasons why many people think Matt Taylor was brought to the club is thanks to his Exeter City team playing in a similar way to that of The Millers. It’s thought that the former Grecians boss will continue in the same vein, and that is exactly what he has done. Taylor has picked very similar elevens to those that Warne picked prior to his departure, with the only notable change being the addition of Tom Eaves, who has replaced the injured Republic of Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene.
Speaking of Ogbene…
Get the best out of Chiedozie Ogbene
There can be no doubt that the jewel in the Rotherham United crown is Chiedozie Ogbene. Such has been the form of the former Brentford-man, that he was called up to Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad last September and, since wearing the famous green shirt, has gone from strength to strength. Ogbene scored on his debut away at Azerbaijan and was a constant menace when Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal visited the Aviva Stadium two months later.
The problem that Rotherham currently have, however, is fitting the pacey winger into their well-drilled system. Last season, Paul Warne played the attacker at right wing-back, and for long periods it appeared to work. However, the Millers suffered a mid season blip which saw them throw away a nine-point lead at the summit of League One and drop all the way down to third following a run of just one win in seven.
This poor run prompted a change their system to a 3-4-2-1, with Arsenal’s loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu favored on the right, and Ogbene and Wiles playing off of target man Michael Smith. The tactical tweak prompted an upturn in form which saw Rotherham earning promotion as runners-up to Wigan Athletic. And the change also got the best out of their Irish superstar.
This season, Ogbene has been playing as a striker alongside Conor Washington, and his driving runs have caused problems for the opposition. But it’s clear for all to see that the 25-year-old shines brighter on the right-hand side, and new manager Taylor needs to find a way to incorporate his star man as soon as possible.
Keep Georgie Kelly fit and firing
Has any player ever risen to cult hero status at any club quicker than Georgie Kelly at Rotherham United? The Irish striker arrived in South Yorkshire in January and had to wait until the final game of the season to make his debut for the club. When he did, Kelly scored a last-minute goal to secure the Millers’ immediate return to the Championship and write his name into folklore forever. Not bad for a ten-minute cameo.
This season, the New York Stadium faithful have been clamoring for him to be in the starting eleven. So far, both Warne and Taylor have resisted the urge, with the former Bohemians striker being limited to just nine substitute appearances and 171 minutes of action. During this time, however, Kelly has already netted twice – including a brilliantly taken winner over Huddersfield – and has one of the best goals-per-minute ratios in the English second tier. His most recent winner will only trigger more fans to demand that their hero is added to the starting eleven.
However, following the victory, Matt Taylor was quick to deflect praise away from his match-winner and towards Tom Eaves, who started just his second game of the season and gave a battling performance, which arguably allowed the substitute to take advantage of a tired defense once he came on.
Kelly will be the first to tell you that he is happy with his current role. Speaking to the official club website after the game, it’s clear to see that the Irishman can’t quite believe how well his start to life in South Yorkshire is going. Taylor is gently introducing the 25-year-old to Championship football, and that seems to be the right way to go. It’s crucial that Kelly remains fit and fires goals when he’s introduced to games in the second half. And if he keeps scoring at the rate he currently is, Matt Taylor is going to have a very happy headache.
