Rotherham United were knocked out of the Jersey Mike's Trophy after a 4-0 defeat to Bradford City in the knockout stages on October 6. The heavy loss at home extends a difficult run for the Millers, who now sit 17th in League Two with 10 points from nine games.
Bradford took control of the tie almost immediately. Will Swan opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing from a corner delivered by Corey O’Keeffe. The visitors doubled their lead eight minutes later when Stephen Humphrys found the net. Rotherham started the match brightly but that momentum lasted only two minutes before the early goals changed the complexion of the game.
Will Swan got his second of the night just after the hour mark to make it 3-0. The scoring was completed late on when Nick Powell converted a penalty after a foul by Rotherham's Douglas. Bradford goalkeeper Cameron Dawson stood firm against crosses throughout, including one from Rotherham's Richardson that was picked up by Rafferty.
Manager Steve Evans made a series of substitutions in an attempt to alter the game, but they failed to stem the tide. Jili Buyabu was replaced by Kaleta after 64 minutes, while Duncan came on for Ngwenya with eight minutes remaining. Other changes saw Hall replace Adegboyega, Richardson come on for Ashley, and Austerfield take the place of Spence. Bradford also made changes, with Powell replacing Lapslie after 67 minutes and Swan making way for Phillips with a quarter of an hour left.
Defensive errors proved costly for Rotherham. A wayward back pass from Buyabu contributed to the pressure, while Ibbitson was caught out on a break. A strong tackle from Ibbitson did stop Buyabu at one point, and he later made a good defensive play to root out danger from a hanging cross. The home side had chances, with a Gillesphey header blocked at the near post by Cann, but they could not find a way past Dawson.
The result leaves Rotherham with a record of one win, two draws and two defeats in their last five matches across all competitions. Their immediate focus shifts to League Two, where they host Gillingham this Saturday. Gillingham currently occupy 10th place, four points ahead of Rotherham in the standings.
A crowd of 1,419 watched the match, with 467 making the trip from Bradford. The visitors' new boss Michael Duff saw his side secure a second group win in the competition. Rotherham must now regroup quickly, with their top scorer this season, P. Mullin, who has four goals, needing to rediscover his form. The team's next chance to improve their league position comes at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on October 10.
Background and full detail: Telegraph and Argus
