Ten-man Sunderland were thrashed by promotion rivals Rotherham and suffered back-to-back defeats in League One…
The Millers took the lead through Michael Smith early in the first half, but Ross Stewart responded for Sunderland to level the scores; the hosts deservedly regained the lead through Freddie Ladapo. Michael Ihiekwe scored a third for Rotherham, and Sunderland shot themselves in the foot with an Aiden McGeady red card. Smith scored his second to make it four and Ladapo got his second to complete the match.
Johnson made two changes from the last League One outing against Charlton as Elliot Embleton and Leon Dajaku replaced Alex Pritchard and Aiden O’Brien.
It was fourth against fifth in a big clash at the top of League One, two teams who want to be right up there come May.
The hosts had the first opening of the match, Freddie Ladapo beat Tom Flanagan too easily and played it to Ogbene, who was denied by a great block by Callum Doyle.
Rotherham were dominant and made the pressure count, Ben Wiles made a good run to the byline and stood up a cross to Michael Smith, who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.
20 minutes in, and Sunderland had finally woken up, without creating a clear-cut chance, but Sunderland were pushing forward for the first time.
Sunderland worked it well from midfield, and Dan Neil played it wide to Stewart, and the big Scot did brilliantly to beat his man and fired a low effort past Josh Vickers.
The lads were all over the shop and gave the ball away on multiple occasions and they made their pressure count, the ball was whipped into Ladapo who fired it home.
Sunderland almost responded sensationally, Stewart’s effort from range crashed off the post with Vickers well beaten.
Johnson’s men were lucky to be still in the game, Sunderland had gifted possession time and time again; the ball in was met by Ladapo, but somehow his header went wide.
Sunderland made two changes at half time, O’Nien and Embleton made way for Bailey Wright and Lynden Gooch in a switch to five at the back to matchup with Rotherham.
The lads had started in a similar manner, giving the ball away and conceding so many free kicks which allowed the hosts to control the match.
The home side made it 3-1 from a corner as Ihiekwe got the run on his man and left Hoffman with no chance.
Things went from bad to worse, Aiden McGeady went flying into a challenge and was booked for a second time.
It was damage limitation for Sunderland, who were unable to keep possession and Corry Evans was brought on in a bid to try and keep the score line as low as possible.
Rotherham scored another with less than 20 to play, all four of their goals were from crosses and Smith bullied his way past Wright to nod it home.
The home side made it five and completed the drubbing with a Ladapo second; Wright’s ball back to Hoffman wasn’t dealt with and Ladapo easily finished it off.
Full Time: Rotherham 5-1 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Ross Stewart
Sunderland: Hoffmann, Winchester, Flanagan, Doyle, Cirkin, O'Nien (Wright 46’), Neil, Dajaku (Evans 59’), Embleton (Gooch 46’), McGeady, Stewart
Subs Not Used: Burge, Alves, O'Brien, Wearne
