Plymouth Argyle v Millers

GRAHAM Carey's 90th minute penalty winner made it an extra long trip home from Devon for Rotherham United as they were pipped 2-1. But for three big decisions going against them and some steadier finishing, it could have been different against a Plymouth side they could yet meet in the play-offs.

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On Apr 30, 2018
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PIC OF THE DAY

OH NO... Caolan Lavery thinks he's sealed a 2-1 win but Jon Taylor spots an offside flag.
Pictures: TREVOR PRICE

FACTS AND STATS

Numbers game

ANALYSIS: Cruel, frustrating but no real harm done

THE bulldozers will move in to demolish Home Park's old Grandstand this summer to make way for a multi-million pound replacement.
Dating back to the 1950s, the stand has formed the backdrop to many a Rotherham defeat down the years, some bad and some not so bad, but few were as frustrating as Saturday's.
It was a game that hung not just on three goals, but three big, tight decisions.
In normal circumstances any team would expect to have one of them drop in their favour and if that had been the case then the Millers would have come home with at least a point.
All three went against them and it was Plymouth, with a huge rush of relief, who hung in to grab all three points through Graham Carey's late penalty winner. If they do the same in their biggie at Scunthorpe tomorrow night, we might not have seen the last of Home Park this season.
Although the result didn't do any damage to Rotherham's league position, they will still have been kicking themselves all the way home because by and large had the measure of an often slow and ponderous Plymouth attack and missed some good chances.
If the two teams do meet again in the play-offs then there really is no cause for sleepless nights.
Despite the result, and apart from a sloppy opening when Marek Rodak was twice forced into good saves, the Millers were good enough for Paul Warne not to have to consider radical changes in his side at this crucial time.
He could afford to make three changes for this one, Anthony Forde and Ryan Williams coming in to run the flanks and the nimble and skilful Ball joining Michael Smith up front in a 4-4-2.
Ball pressed his case particularly well and teed up the 33rd minute opener, swept in by Richie Towell.
Warne isn't one of those managers who views his team through rose-tinted specs.
He was honest enough to admit that the first-half offside call when Ball put the ball in the net was the right one, albeit marginal.
He also admitted he didn't get a clear view when the flag went up to cut short Caolan Lavery's goal celebrations not long before Carey's decider.
It was the video replays that appeared to show Lavery was onside.
And although Warne considered the deciding penalty harsh when Will Vaulks brought Carey down, he admitted the fact his player went to ground when getting clean contact on the ball may have been crucial. Vaulks acknowledged as much himself as well.
Rotherham could have done more to cut out Plymouth's equaliser just before the hour, Joel Grant capitalising on a rare slip by the otherwise assured Michael Ihiekwe to fire low past Rodak.
Sandwiched between that and the late drama was a big miss by substitute Jon Taylor. Sprung clear one-on-one against Remi Matthews, he hestitated too long and allowed the stopper to make the save.
All in all, fine margins and talking points aplenty as we tick off the days to the matches that will really count.

WHAT THEY SAID

“Plymouth started brightly but from then on we were the better side. It’s easy to criticise on the two goals we conceded but I was critical on the chances we missed.”

Paul Warne

Millers boss

Key Moment

HIGHLIGHTS

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Watch the key moments from the defeat in Devon.

SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY

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REACTION - Anthony Forde

"We didn't deserve to lose. We had a 'goal' (by Caolan Lavery) disallowed which wasn't offside and we had a few chances to seal it but didn't take them. We had the better opportunities and should have had the three points."

Anthony Forde

reflects on a missed opportunity

PLAYER RATINGS

Marek Rodak 7, Josh Emmanuel 7, Ben Purrington 7, Michael Ihiekwe 7, Richard Wood 7, Anthony Forde 6, Will Vaulks 6, Richie Towell 7, Ryan Williams 6, David Ball 7, Michael Smith 6
Subs: Jon Taylor for Forde (67) 6, Caolan Lavery for Smith (72), Joe Newell for Williams (78). Not used: Lewis Price, Semi Ajayi, Shaun Cummings

Man of the Match

DAVID BALL...recalled to the side, set up Richie Towell's goal and very nearly got one of his own. Troubled the home defenders and staked a claim for a start in the play-offs.

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