We faced Rotherham last year as we were in League One together, and after following them up the divisions we face them again tomorrow but how have past results gone?
SUNDERLAND 7-1 ROTHERHAM - SHERPA VANS TROPHY - 24.11.1987
Ok, you’re probably thinking what the hell is the Sherpa Vans Trophy and it’s the pizza cup we won a few years back, just with a different sponsor. In this huge competition we were up against the Millers and we absolutely battered them in the first round of the competition, in front of six thousand or so at Roker Park. Decent.
ROTHERHAM 1-5 SUNDERLAND - FA CUP 3RD ROUND - 03.01.1998
Another cup fixture against Rotherham and it was another time where we taught them a footballing lesson, this time in their own backyard. For the travelling Mackems they got to witness Super Kevin Phillips’ first hat-trick for the Lads. He actually scored four of the five goals whilst his strike partner Niall Quinn grabbed the fifth for us. A day where we were clearly the stronger side and a canny day out for the travelling support.
SUNDERLAND 4-1 ROTHERHAM - CHAMPIONSHIP - 22.02.2005
This time we weren’t facing them in a cup competition, it was in fact in the Championship. It was a game to forget for Millers keeper Mike Pollitt, who made several individual errors that gifted us three points. The first error was a failed attempt to parry away a soft Dean Whitehead header which opened the scoring, which was followed up by a Sean Thornton 20 yard free kick. Soon after the free kick Pollitt was in trouble again, failing to save yet another header this time from Gary Breen, and then Thornton scored another long ranged free kick which was followed by a late consolation goal from Andy Monkhouse for Rotherham.
SUNDERLAND 1-1 ROTHERHAM - LEAGUE ONE - 17.09.2019
Our first game against Rotherham in 14 years and we started rapidly, scoring after just 30 seconds through a quick free kick finished off by Marc McNulty. We should have made it two when Gooch was taken down in the area but Aiden McGeady’s weak penalty was saved. Rotherham weathered the early storm and took control of the game, and had a few chances to make it level before the break but they missed chance after chance. With just over 20 minutes left Rotherham got their equaliser and they deserved it, we let our foot off the gas and were made to pay for sitting behind a one goal lead from early on.
ROTHERHAM 5-1 SUNDERLAND - LEAGUE ONE - 30.10.2021
Usually in this fixture there is a clear winner, and it’s usually us but on this occasion we were the humiliated ones. At the AESSEAL New York Stadium Rotherham pumped five past us, ending a 15 game unbeaten streak against the Millers. Another game against Rotherham and another below par performance from McGeady, as he saw red after receiving two yellow cards. Are they his bogey club? It was only 2-1 when Aiden was sent off, but they then scored two minutes afterwards and it killed the game. Plus, due to the extra man the home side put a further two more in to make things worse.
SUNDERLAND 1-1 ROTHERHAM - LEAGUE ONE - 26.04.2022
After our inspired run in towards the end of the season under Alex Neil automatic promotion was still a possibility, it would have had to have been a miracle but it was still mathematically possible, but on the other hand it was still possible for us to miss out on the top six so a result was a necessity. Michael Ihiekwe scored a header for the visitors 17 minutes in and we kept opting for the long ball that just wasn’t there, Rotherham were a big side and Ross Stewart was all alone up top, so even if he won the header he had no support. Rotherham kept pushing for a second but were lacking that finishing touch. When that happens to us the other side usually scores and after scoring a few late crucial goals no fans were leaving the SoL early despite being one goal down. FOMO was in full swing and it paid off, Jack Clarke whipped in a deep cross in the 88th minute which was met sweetly by the goalscorer for the first goal, into his own net… It was one of if not the best own goal I've ever seen, going backwards, big leap, caught it well and it struck the underside of the bar and bounced over the line. A bittersweet brace for the Rotherham defender, but for us it was a vital point, which at the time looked like a crushing result for Rotherham, all but ending their hopes of automatic promotion. That’s of course if MK Dons didn’t bottle it.
For our upcoming match, I’m hoping for and expecting a win, I think it will be a tough match, as Rotherham have a big and strong side, but I think we have what it takes to match the physicality and punish with SAS up top. I’m going to go with a 2-0 win.
