Match Review: Rotherham United 1 Boro 0

There was no festive cheer for Boro after Rotherham's Cohen Bramall landed a freak of a knock-out punch to seal this Boxing Day contest.

Michael Carrick's men absolutely dominated the clash with the Millers and were denied by a combination of Viktor Joahansson in the Rotherham goal and his woodwork.

Carrick's men also appeared to have a good penalty claim waved away before Bramall delivered the deciding moment.

Johansson was the first of the two goalkeepers to be called into action when he got down well to deny Isaiah Jones after Dan Barlaser had picked out Sam Greenwood with a peach of a pass.

Boro were the better of the two sides, and Johansson had to be at his best to keep out a Greenwood effort which was dipping under the bar.

Skipper Jonny Howson also had a pop at goal with a pile-driver that was wide of the mark and when Jones teed up Greenwood, his shot rattled the bar with Johansson beaten.

Another flowing move – Boro were playing some great stuff – ended when Johnasson was able to get down to smother a Jones shot.

Had it been a boxing match, such was Boro’s dominance the game wouldn’t have reached half-time, but as it was, Carrick’s men had done everything but conjure up a goal.

It was Rotherham who started the second period on the front foot, the Millers clearly growing in confidence after keeping Boro out during the opening 45 minutes.

It wasn’t long before Boro were back in the Rotherham third and looking for an opener – but the home side were packing men behind the ball and working overtime to restrict the space afforded to Carrick’s men.

The chance came on the hour mark when Sammy Silvera showed good heels and was released on goal, but his shot grazed the wrong side of the post.

Moments later, Silvera was the architect with a delightful ball for Alex Bangura, and when the young defender was felled as he was about to shoot, Boro appeared to have great claims for a penalty.

Still Boro pressed. Greenwood had a shot blocked when he had the goal at his mercy, but then disaster struck with a freak of a goal for the home side.

Bramall was seemingly innocuously placed on the Rotherham left when he struck a first-time cross which flew past Tom Glover and into the Boro net. Even the defender looked shocked for a moment before celebrating.

That was the cue for the travelling fans to turn up the decibels even louder and for Carrick’s side to lay siege to the Millers goal for the final stages.

Riley McGree was denied by the inside of the upright when Johansson was beaten and, summing up Boro’s luck, the rebound went to safety instead of falling to the feet of the waiting Josh Coburn.