The 2015/16 Great Escape Revisited

Neil Warnock took over on February 11th and his arrival immediately boosted spirits. Despite this, the Millers did not win any of his first three games in charge. Performances had got better though, and this was rewarded against Brentford. Rotherham outworked their opponents for the win. Matt Derbyshire opened the scoring in the 29th minute for the Millers. But Alan Judge made it level just prior to the break. The Millers continued to pressure their opponents before Danny Ward scored the eventual winner with 20 minutes to go.

Next up was a game Neil Warnock was particularly looking forward to. As an ex-Sheffield United boss and arch enemy of the Owls, Warnock always relishes a game at Hillsborough. Rotherham started well and made the most of this with the opening goal. Lee Frecklington got possession on the right flank before sending in a searching ball to the back post. Matt Derbyshire was able to get there first to put the Millers in control. Rotherham had to ride out some Wednesday pressure in the 2nd half and they did just that to earn a well-deserved three points against their arch rivals.

The Millers were now full of confidence on the back of two straight wins. But next they faced a talented Middlesbrough side who sat 2nd in the Championship. The visitors were far the better side at the New York Stadium, but they could not quite find a break through goal. Their best chances came as David Nugent missed a gilt edge one-on-one and Gaston Ramirez hit the post with a free-kick. Boro remained in the ascendancy until late on. The Millers battled bravely to remain in the game and with a few minutes to spare they grabbed a very unlikely winner. Jonson Clarke-Harris advanced down the left flank before pulling it back to Lee Frecklington who had entered late into the penalty area. The midfielder smashed home above the keeper to win it for the Millers. Greg Halford was sent off a minute later for a second yellow card, but this did not matter as Rotherham hung on to move a single point away from safety...

This was an extraordinary game. After a relatively quiet first-half, things kicked up a notch in the 2nd-half. Ten mad minutes resulted in three Derby goals early into the 2nd-half. The visitors were in full flow going forward and Rotherham just could not deal with the pressure. Chris Martin scored in the middle of an impressive Tom Ince brace. Hopes of a very unlikely comeback were boosted as Danny Ward scraped a goal back in the 83rd minute with a smart finish. Just two minutes later, the Millers were buoyed as they got their second. A Joe Newell corner was headed towards goal by Stephen Kelly before Leon Best got just enough on his header to make it 3-2. Now the Millers fans behind the goal were doing all they could to will the ball into the goal. Lee Camp launched it forward and Derby could not clear as Danny Ward collected it out wide. He worked it expertly past his marker before sending a looping ball into the box. Best was again charging towards it and his bullet header went in to salvage a draw for Rotherham from nowhere.

Rotherham were showing a remarkable level of character during this run. From looking dead and buried, they were on the brink of moving out of the relegation zone. Up next was a trip down south to face play-off chasers Ipswich Town at Portman Road. In-form forward Leon Best got the all-important breakthrough goal on the brink of half-time. Ipswich were wasteful in possession, allowing Matt Derbyshire to break. He tore down the right flank before crossing towards the on rushing Best. He did not get the best of contact on his shot but it was enough to beat Bialkowski. Ipswich stepped it up a little bit in the second-half, but Rotherham's warranted all three-points and that is exactly what they got. This win extended their unbeaten run to five games, and moved them up to 20th and out of the relegation zone for the first time since Warnock took over as boss.

Now the Millers were finally out of the relegation zone, they could not get carried away as the job was not done just yet. There was added spice to this game, as it was Leeds United's manager Steve Evans' grand return to the New York Stadium. The game got going and Rotherham started well to carry on the momentum from previous games. They took the lead through Frecklington, who converted a pinpoint Joe Mattock cross from close range. Rotherham were quite comfortable with their lead until this was thrown into doubt when Derbyshire was sent off in the 61st minute. He was adjudged to have elbowed Gaetano Berardi and was given a straight red. The Millers put everything into keeping their lead, but a deflected Luke Murphy goal broke their hearts. It looked for all of the world that Leeds would grab a winner, but Rotherham countered with just moments to spare. Frecklington was again in the thick of it. He was brought down by Marco Silvestri and the 'keeper was sent off. After a long delay, Leeds defender Giuseppe Bellusci replaced him in goal but he could do anything to stop Greg Halford's calm penalty. This invaluable win moved Rotherham five points clear of the drop zone.

Rotherham's next game was a trip to fellow relegation strugglers Bristol City. The Millers struck first, as Derbyshire opened the scoring. He was put in on goal by Richard Wood, before he cutely lobbed Richard O'Donnell in goal. The Millers were put under a lot of pressure from the hosts, and Bristol eventually equalised in the 54th minute via a Peter Odemwingie goal. That was how it finished as each team edged a little bit closer to safety as they shared the points. Bristol City were in 20th, seven points above the drop with Rotherham a point and a place behind them in 21st with six games to go...

This was the biggest game of Neil Warnock's tenure so far. This game was to be the defining encounter of their run-in, and a win would all-but seal their safety. All of the Millers' wins on this run were very close hard-fought affairs. But this was entirely different. It was a tense atmosphere before the game, but Rotherham battered their relegation rivals. By the 20th minute, they were already 2-0 up, via a Derbyshire tap-in and a penalty from Best. They were in complete control from here, and they added to their advantage with 2nd-half goals from Kirk Broadfoot and Richie Smallwood. It was party time for the travelling Millers faithful. They were now nine points clear of MK Dons in the final relegation place, with just five games to go.

It was important that the Millers kept their focus and did not think they were already safe. Even though it was unlikely, it was still possible that they could go down. First up was a game with Nottingham Forest, who were also battling to avoid the drop. It was a close game and nothing could separate the sides as it ended goalless. Promotion chasing Huddersfield Town were next to travel to the New York Stadium. Rotherham opened the scoring through a deflected Greg Halford shot, but Nahki Wells later equalised for Huddersfield. It was a really entertaining game and the Millers hung on for a point. That left the Millers virtually safe. They remained nine points clear of the drop, with just three games remaining. They needed just one point from the last three games to officially secure safety.

Wolves were the better side in this one. Rotherham had to look to the in-form Lee Camp to save them on one or two occasions. But as was the case throughout this run, the Millers showed great character as they kept fighting until the final whistle. Wolves could not break down their relentless opponents as the game finished 0-0. In doing so, this clinched Championship safety for Neil Warnock's men. What a magnificent turnaround. When Warnock took over, the Millers were three points away from safety and low on confidence. He did a superb job to completely turn things round at the New York Stadium, so they ended the season nine points clear of the drop in 21st place. This result extended their unbeaten run to 11 games, and it is a couple of months that will never be forgotten. The Millers faithful will forever be thankful to Neil Warnock, who masterminded a fantastic turnaround to rekindle the spirit and fight in Rotherham United.