OUTSTANDING
Mcconville magic wrecks Millers’ unbeaten run
BY NEIL GOULDING
SEAN MCCONVILLE’S stunning winner ended tabletopping Rotherham’s 21-game unbeaten streak.
Accrington skipper Mcconville’s scissor-kick saw boss John Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell mark 20 years in charge of Stanley (over two separate spells, the most recent starting in 2014) in fine style.
The Millers came into the game protecting their long club-record sequence – but the League One leaders could only fluff their chance to go five points clear at the top.
“It was just another game for us,” said Coleman. “I know it’s a special occasion, it’s a great achievement in its own right. They were all fantastic. I have said to the players, if anything shows what me and Jimmy have tried to bring to the club in the last 20 years, it is that today.
“That is fight and determination, as well as skill, and you couldn’t have asked for any more effort than that. They gave their absolute all. I have to thank the fans, they have been fantastic for us over 20 years.”
Home keeper Toby
Savin saved from
Freddie Ladapo inside the first minute as the
Millers started strongly.
Colby Bishop had a goal chalked off for offside on 20 minutes as Stanley came back into it. Rotherham keeper Viktor Johansson made a great save from Ethan Hamilton before Ross Sykes hacked a Shane Ferguson effort off the line. Ladapo picked Savin out with a header, before Tommy Leigh fired just wide either side of the break.
Down the other end, Johansson pulled off a fine save to keep out a well-hit Leigh shot just after the hour mark. But Mcconville finally broke the deadlock for Stanley with a brillant strike at the back post in the 75th minute (celebrating, left).
Will Grigg had a goalbound shot blocked by Sykes in the closing stages as Accrington clung on for three points.
Millers boss Paul Warne said: “We could have been 2-0 up at halftime and then the game takes a different path. We didn’t get the first crucial goal and they did.”