This season’s EFL Championship campaign has been a memorable one. There’s been a plethora of talking points right the way through the division, and West Bromwich Albion’s Good Friday trip to Rotherham United was no different. The Baggies have enjoyed a renaissance under new manager Carlos Corberán, who took over when the club were in the relegation zone. He has since led them to within touching distance of the playoffs and oddschecker, which compares football odds and offers, had made the West Midlands outfits big favourites for their short trip north to South Yorkshire.
The Millers meanwhile were right in the midst of the relegation dog fight. Following Reading’s recent points deduction, no less than seven teams are fighting to avoid relegation from English football’s second tier this term. Matt Taylor’s men are one of them, and the club has been relegated from the Championship in each of their last three seasons in the division. Heading into this clash, they were without a win in three, and with Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield Town beginning to pick up results, United were starting to look over their shoulders.
Hugill Brace Inspires Rotherham to Victory
The game got off to a perfect start for the visitors when John Swift netted from the penalty spot with barely half an hour on the clock. By half time, however, the hosts were level courtesy of a goal from former West Brom striker Jordan Hugill. The veteran striker then added a second just three minutes into the second half to give the hosts a deserved lead.
More chances were to follow, and it wouldn’t have been an injustice if the Millers had managed to bag five goals in this one. But with the game entering its final stanza, they finally managed to net a third time through the impressive Tarique Fosu. Republic of Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene rattled the post from distance, but the hosts managed to keep the ball alive. It then found its way to the Brentford loanee inside the penalty area, and he thundered home off the crossbar to spark scenes of jubilation inside the New York Stadium.
The result fired the Millers up to 18th in the table. However, they are still just three points adrift of the bottom three. The Baggies’ playoff hopes may well be over now. They are five points behind Blackburn in sixth, but they do have a game in hand on the teams above them.
