West Bromwich Albion vs Rotherham United. Sky Bet Championship.
The HawthornsAttendance24,534.
Saturday 27 April 2019 18:41, UK
Rotherham were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship after promotion-chasing West Brom came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at The Hawthorns.
The Millers looked set to keep their survival hopes alive when Clark Robertson gave them a 50th-minute lead.
But Jay Rodriguez drew Albion level from the penalty spot in the 77th minute before Rekeem Harper's first goal for the club two minutes later - on the day he was named as their Young Player of the season - sealed Rotherham's fate.
The defeat left Rotherham, who hit the bar in the final minute through Joe Newell, four points adrift of Millwall with one match remaining.
Rotherham went down fighting having impressed against their high-flying opponents.
They made a bright start and midfielder Semi Ajayi came close to giving them the lead after 10 minutes, heading a cross from Anthony Forde over the bar.
The lively Ajayi then had a shot blocked two minutes later, before Rotherham were denied by the woodwork.
Newell swung over a corner in the 17th minute and Robertson rose above the Albion defence to meet the ball with a towering header that crashed against the post.
Robertson then connected with another Newell corner just after the half hour but this time his header flashed across the face of goal before dropping well wide.
Albion briefly came to life when Dwight Gayle had a cross-shot saved by Marek Rodak and then skipper Chris Brunt flashed a shot wide before they almost gifted Rotherham the lead at the end of the first half.
Central-defender Kyle Bartley tried to head clear a long throw but all he did was deflect the ball towards his own goal and he was relieved to see Craig Dawson clear off the line.
After their low-key display in the first half, Albion started the second period on the front foot and Stefan Johansen fired a shot just wide from Mason Holgate's 46th-minute cross.
But Rotherham's greater endeavour was rewarded when Newell floated a free-kick to the corner of the Albion area.
Robertson met the cross with a looping header that dropped over the line off the underside of the bar despite the best efforts of Brunt to hack the ball clear.
Ironically Albion enjoyed their best spell of the game after falling behind and drew themselves level when Gayle was fouled by Michael Smith and Rodriguez converted from the spot.
Their comeback was complete when Harper picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and beat Rodak with a powerful low drive.
James Shan: "I think that if I am being honest, the performance was a poor performance. I don't think that we got going. Obviously it was difficult today with the conditions and difficult with the way that they (Rotherham) play.
"They put the ball around your backline as often as possible. Our back five defended that well but we just didn't gain any control with the ball. There were moments we could have worked harder to gain control. But we just didn't get going today."
Paul Warne: "I am hugely proud of what the lads have tried to do this year. But it is obviously tinged with disappointment. After 65 minutes I was thinking this could be a Disney ending to the season. Unfortunately it wasn't to be but the way we played and the way the West Brom fans clapped my team off, everyone could appreciate how hard they tried to win a football match and on another day we might have.
"I told the players I was really proud of them and obviously there were a few tears in the dressing room. There is a genuine feeling between the fans and the players at the club and in the dressing room they were disappointed. I felt like a primary school teacher at the end of the years when the kids leave and you don't see them again. I know a few of my players might leave but hopefully I can keep the majority of the group together. We will enjoy our summer and then turn up again with a smile on our face ready for another fight."
