[Lord Snooty]

Cheers, theo.

[Lord Snooty]

Town v Rotherham
Donny v Fleetwood
Bolton v Port Vale
Smogport v Harrygate

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Colchester or West Ham u21 v Wimbledon
Luton v Swindon
Northampton v Walsall
Bristol R v Plymouth

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W/c Jan 12th

[Lord Snooty]

Huddersfield Town welcome Rotherham United to the Nagle Arena on Tuesday night for the 3rd round of this season's Vertu Trophy.

Hopefully, popular manager Lee Grant will be able to give some much needed game time to some of the group who have been out injured and on the very slow road to recovery. All the substitutes on Saturday should get a game. Jak Alnwick, Lasse Sorensen, Joe Taylor, Mickel Miller, David Kasumu, Josh Feeney and Will Alves, with hopefully the injured Alfie May fit again for a place on the bench. Alnwick hasn't played a game all season.

The other new boy, Cameron Humphreys played the full 90 minutes at Edgeley Park, but his season at Ipswich has been very limited. He came on as an 89th minute sub in the win at Coventry on December the 29th, has two earlier sub appearances from August and the only full match he's played before his move here was a League Cup match against Bromley.

We looked far too good for Rotherham in the league just before Christmas. Lynden Gooch, Bojan Radulović and Leo Castledine putting the Terriers three up at half time. Sam Nombe scored the consolation for the Millers deep into added on time. Leo's left, Lynden will probably be rotated with Lasse and Bojan is due a rest. Rotherham will be hoping Bojan is rested. He was awesome in that game.

The Windy Millers have been better in the Vertu Trophy though, despite losing the first game at Bolton Wanderers. They then had home wins against Oldham Athletic and the Manchester City u21s, before winning their second round match 7-2 away at Salford City. Josh Benson scored a hat trick in that one.



Rotherham United in the EFL Trophy: They first entered the competition in 1983/84 following their relegation from the 2nd Division and were knocked out in the first round, beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United.

For the next 12 seasons, they never looked like troubling the trophy engravers, but then in 1995/96, they went and won it. Topping their group for the first round, they drew Wigan Athletic at home in the 2nd. That was a goalless draw, but the Millers won the penalty shoot out to progress to another home tie. That was against Lincoln City and they won 3-1. That was followed by another home win, 4-1 against York City, which led to a two legged area final with Carlisle United. No problems there, winning both legs 2-0.

And so to Wembley. It was Shrewsbury Town awaiting, but they couldn't cope with Rotherham's dynamic strike duo of Shaun Goater and Nigel Jemson. The former Florist forward Jemson, was the one who scored both goals as the Millers won 2-1 in their first ever visit to the national stadium, lifting the Auto Windscreens Shield.

They made it to the Northern Final in 2008/09, but got beat by Scunthorpe United over two legs.

They did win it for a second time though, quite recently in 2021/22. After topping their group in the first round, they played Port Vale at home, beating them on pens after a 1-1 draw. That took them to Crewe Alexandra for round 3 and it was super Freddie Ladapo who sealed the victory scoring in injury time to secure a 4-2 win.

Cambridge United came north for the quarter final at the New York Stadium. It was another penalty shoot out that settled the tie, with our Freddie on target as the Millers emerged victorious to earn a trip to Hartlepool United in the semi.

That was another penalty shoot out win, after a 2-2 draw. Ben Wiles missed his spot kick, but Rotherham still won, 5-4. Ben made up for that miss though in the Final at Wembley against Sutton United by equalising just before half time with a stunning strike. Sutton re-took the lead after the break and with time running out a superb pass from Wiles set up Ladapo for the equaliser, only for him to cock it up.

It wasn't until the 6th minute of added on time that they did actually equalise, through Jordi Osei-Tutu to take the game into extra time. Freddie had the chance to win it but the Sutton keeper made a point blank save to deny him, so it was Chiedozie Ogbene who scored the winner, with Michael Ihiekwe adding a 4th.



Northern Group E
Sep 2: Bolton 1-0 Rotherham
Oct 7: Rotherham 3-2 Oldham
Oct 28: Rotherham 4-2 Man City u21

Round 2:
Dec 2: Salford 2-7 Rotherham


Northern Group F:
Sep 2: Town 6-2 Newcastle u21
Sep 30 Harrogate 1-0 Town
Nov 4: Town 3-1 Mansfield

Round 2:
Dec 2: Lincoln 0-2 Town



Head to Head:
1989/90: Rotherham 3-0 Town
1993/94: Rotherham 1-1 Town (Rodney Rowe)
2009/10: Rotherham 1-2 Town (Peter Clarke, Robbie Simpson)
1010/11: Rotherham 2-5 Town (Jordan Rhodes 2, Benik Afobe 2, Scott Arfield)

[theo_luddite]

The FA's got a problem. Man U dumped out in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Which games are they going to sell to overseas TV Channels now?

[theo_luddite]

One benefit of going out early in the FA Cup means we'll avoid another potential battering at Man City. Exeter thought they were in for a great day out until reality hit. Will Salford or Swindon keep the score in single figures? Haaland was on the pitch and didn't register a goal or an assist on Saturday, idle sod.

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Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Birmingham v Leeds United
Burnley v Mansfield Town
Burton Albion v West Ham United
Grimsby Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hull City v Chelsea
Liverpool or Barnsley v Brighton
Macclesfield v Brentford
Manchester City v Salford City or Swindon Town
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
Oxford United v Sunderland
Port Vale v Bristol City
Southampton v Leicester City
Stoke City v Fulham
Wrexham v Ipswich Town

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I think we could be in for another record low crowd tomorrow. Checked the only available (to home supporters) seats earlier and we've sold the £10 (or less) tickets in the Lower Riverside (or whatever we currently call it) by the dozen. About 10 dozen at my guess but it might be a few more. I reckon it's a bit late to give all the local schools a few hundred each for nothing.

[Lord Snooty]

West Ham u21s knocked out last night. All the kids teams have gone now. Just the big boys left.

[Lord Snooty]

TOWN’S TEAM vs ROTHERHAM UNITED (VERTU TROPHY)

22. Lee Nicholls
2. Lasse Sorensen
3. Murray Wallace ©
9. Joe Taylor
10. Marcus Harness
12. Radinio Balker
17. Marcus McGuane
20. Josh Feeney
26. Alfie May
27. Will Alves
36. Cameron Ashia

Subs: Jak Alnwick; Ryan Ledson, Lynden Gooch, Ruben Roosken, Mickel Miller, Dion Charles, Bojan Radulović

[Lord Snooty]

1-0 Rhymes with valves

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2-0 Lasse come home

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Super first half. Should've had more.

[Lord Snooty]

Brimful 3-0

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Port Vale, Doncaster or Smogport next.