Chiedozie Ogbene scored a second-half equalizer to help Rotherham produce one of the close football results of the weekend in the Championship. Joel Piroe broke a four-match goal drought for the hosts three minutes before halftime, after Rotherham’s Chiedozie Ogbene hit the post in the first minute. Nevertheless, with 52 minutes remaining, the Republic of Ireland international Ogbene produced a weird, improved equalizer, leaving Swansea unable to retake the lead. The point is arguably more crucial to Matt Taylor’s Millers, who are currently six points above the relegation zone with 12 games remaining; Swansea is now 15th, ten points outside the top six, and their playoff prospects are fading.
With both teams almost likely seeing this as an opportunity to collect points for their respective causes, it appeared that the game would be open, especially given that Swansea had scored 96 goals in 33 league games. The first chance came quickly when Ogbene cut in from the right and curled a shot against the left post, but Swansea struggled to control possession as they typically do, and while Rotherham was well-organized at the back, they struggled at the other end of the pitch. A spark was needed.
That spark occurred three minutes before halftime. Joe Allen, who was making his 600th senior appearance, slipped a ball over to Ryan Manning on the left, who provided a nice cross for Piroe, who showed a lethal touch to open the score despite being relatively anonymous up to that point. But, the lead did not last long. After 10 minutes of the restart, Brentford loanee Tariqe Fosu dribbled down the left flank and waited for the overlapping run of Shane Ferguson, whose cross found Ogbene, who prodded in after first falling to meet the ball and stopping the ball dead.
Bailey Wright then appeared to be fortunate not to be penalized as the last man for a scuffle with Morgan Whittaker as the Swansea forward sprinted forward to try to latch onto a long ball from Swansea goalkeeper Andy Fisher. Rotherham had a chance to win when Georgie Kelly fired straight at Fisher after a goalmouth scramble, but the game ended all square, prompting loud whistles from the home crowd.
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