Rotherham United of England duo, Chiedozie Oghene and Freddie Ladapo were in action against Barnsley in Saturday’ English Championship fixture, but they failed to save their side from losing 1-0 away, megasportsarena.com reports.
Alhough Barnsley’s in-form Nigrian-born sriker, Daryl Dike also failed to score in the encounter, he had a better collective day to flaunt ahead of Ladapo and Oghene, as Carlton Morris’ controversial early goal gave Barnsley a 1-0 win.
While Oghene and Ladapo will rue their blunt edges with Rotherham, Dike would relish the victory that saw his side virtually seal their place in the promotion play-offs, while putting a further dent in their South Yorkshire rivals’ survival hopes.
Dike’s side now need just a point from their remaining two games to be certain of a top-six spot while Rotherham, who spurned a host of chances, are four points adrift of safety following their fourth straight defeat.
The hosts got off to a flying start with Cauley Woodrow’s downward header turned over by Viktor Johansson inside the opening minute and Morris scored from the resulting corner, with the goal allowed to stand despite the striker appearing to impede the ‘keeper as he jumped.
With the Rotherham players still protesting about the incident, play was held up as Johansson received lengthy treatment before being helped off the pitch and replaced by Jamal Blackman, after which Ogbene fired a long-range effort straight at Brad Collins and the ‘keeper was forced to race out of his area to clear when Ladapo threatened.
There was a great chance for the visitors when Ladapo found Michael Smith in a good position inside the area, but he delayed his shot, allowing Callum Brittain to close him down and make a vital block.
In the closing stages of the half, Ladapo lost his footing as he shaped up to shoot and his effort was smothered by Collins and Ogbene posed a threat soon after the restart on the right-hand side of the area, but the keeper rushed out to narrow the angle and turned the ball wide.
Ladapo wasted a great opening when Smith found him in space inside the area with the goal at his mercy, but he failed to make contact with the ball, much to Barnsley’s relief, after which Rotherham’s coach, Paul Warne made a change on the hour by replacing him with George Hirst.
Dike had a chance to double Barnsley’s lead, but Wood came to his side’s rescue, turning the ball wide and, at the other end, another chance for Rotherham went begging when Smith headed wide from Wes Harding’s pinpoint cross.
Ogbene also had a glorious opportunity to level in the 88th minute, putting his close-range effort straight at Collins, while Hirst had a shot deflected wide in stoppage time with many of the Rotherham players sinking to their knees when the final whistle blew.
