DON VALLEY ICEMARE BRINGS MILLERS WOE
ROTHERHAM United face certain fixture congestion in the coming months after three consecutive games were called off due to bad weather over the festive period, writes Liam Hoden.
The Millers' top of the table clashes with Dagenham and Redbridge and Chesterfield, and the visit of rock-bottom Darlington were all scratched, due to frozen pitches at Don Valley and Saltergate.
Despite three consecutive postponements, Rotherham remain inside the automatic promotion positions with a two-point margin over fourth placed Notts County.
The Millers are now 12 points behind leaders Rochdale, who they are scheduled to meet on Saturday. Rochdale's two festive fixtures at Spotland have both survived the weather, so there is a strong possibility Rotherham will see some action this weekend.
However, sleet was forecast for yesterday and temperatures are expected to continue dropping through the weekend.
The clash with Dagenham has been rearranged for February 9, bringing the total for that month to six games in four weeks. Two further Tuesdays are available in February leading to the possibility of two games a week throughout the month.
Rotherham found themselves in a similar situation last season, with games on each Tuesday and Saturday throughout March and April, a packed run which led to a host of dropped points that ultimately took the Millers out of play off contention.
Only Sheffield United remained unblighted by the weather over the Christmas period. Barnsley's Boxing Day visit to Preston North End fell victim to icy conditions while Rovers' holiday meetings with Leicester City and Blackpool respectively were also both called off.
Barnsley showed no signs of rust as they battled to a 2-1 win over struggling Middlesbrough at Oakwell on Monday. Boro took the lead when Justin Hoyte's attempted cross flew into the net from 35 yards after 23 minutes.
The Reds struggled to contain Middlesbrough in the first half, but Daniel Bogdanovic was pushed forward after the break and it was the Maltese striker who crafted the equaliser when Emil Hallfredsson's corner dropped to him and he flicked into the path of Stephen Foster to nod home.
Bogdanovic was also crucial to Barnsley's winner, crossing from the left for Hugo Colace to head home and inflict Boro's sixth defeat in 10 games and extend the Reds' unbeaten run to eight games.
Barnsley travel to fellow Championship side Scunthorpe United on Saturday in the FA Cup third round. Despite their struggles, the Iron have a strong home record and Glanford Park should be a tough place to visit for Mark Robins' side.
Doncaster did manage to play on Boxing Day, but it proved to be an unhappy Christmas as they suffered their first defeat in six to Coventry City.
Clinton Morrison's 85th-minute penalty earned the Sky Blues the win in an entertaining clash. James Chambers was judged to have fouled Gary Madine, an incident Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll described as 'soft.'
Coventry could have been ahead much earlier but Leon Best hit the post from the spot after being brought down by Neil Sullivan. Best almost netted what would have been an embarrassing strike when he attempted to pass back to Sullivan from a drop-ball, but struck the bar.
Freddy Eastwood and Michael McIndoe both also hit the woodwork for Coventry while Dean Shiels missed a great chance firing over the bar.
Rovers next travel to in-form League One side Brentford in the FA Cup. The Bees have lost just once in their last seven and sit 11th in the table.
Sheffield Wednesday were also in action on Boxing Day, as they grabbed their first point in seven games and first goals in eight, in the 2-2 draw with Championship leaders Newcastle United.
The Owls stormed out of the blocks after a string of lifeless performances and took a deserved lead through Luke Varney's superb header. Loanee Varney was featuring in his final game before returning to Derby County.
Newcastle hit back just five minutes later when Kevin Nolan headed home unmarked, and they were ahead within three minutes through Shola Ameobi's fine finish. Replays showed Ameobi was two yards offside.
But rather than laying down and dying as they have done so frequently in recent months, the Owls continued to battle and came out strong for the second half, going close with five chances in the first six minutes of the period. Their persistence paid off when the ball fell to the industrious James O'Connor after Varney forced Steve Harper to drop the ball and he fired in from close range.
Wednesday survived a lively late flurry from the Magpies, orchestrated by substitutes Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands to claim an all important point. The Owls dropped to second bottom in the table, four points adrift as Plymouth Argyle picked up two wins over the weekend. Though it will hardly be their priority, Wednesday face Crystal Palace at Hillsborough on Saturday in the FA Cup.
Sheffield United enjoyed mixed fortunes from two entertaining festive clashes, losing at Leicester in Boxing Day before a hard fought triumph over Preston at Bramall Lane two days later. The Foxes were victorious in a well matched contest at the Walkers Stadium. Michael Morrison headed the hosts in front after 25 minutes from a corner before Matt Fryatt doubled the lead from the penalty spot 10 minutes later following a clumsy challenge from Nick Montgomery.
Kevin Blackwell's introduction of Henri Camara at the break proved inspired as he netted just 61 seconds into the second half. The Blades pushed hard for the equaliser while Leicester had their chances to seal the win but the clash finished at 2-1.
United left it late but earned a 1-0 win over Preston with Jamie Ward's superb free kick four minutes from time. Camara was rewarded for his exploits at Leicester with a start and went close for the Blades throughout the first half but could not find the way in. The match looked destined to end goalless but Ward hit a free kick from 30 yards which flew into the bottom corner to give United the win.
The three points took the Blades into seventh, though eighth-placed Blackpool have two games in hand. United welcome Queens Park Rangers to Bramall Lane on Saturday in the FA Cup.
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Weather for South Yorkshire
Friday 25 May 2012
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