Rotherham United’s recent 1-1 away draw at Shrewsbury Town marked their 39th consecutive away game in which they have not managed to secure a victory. Their barren stint dates back to November 8th, 2022, when the Millers managed to pick up a shock 1-0 victory away at local rivals Sheffield United. Academy product turned captain Ben Wiles scored the only goal of the game, helping his side to their first victory at Bramall Lane in 42 years.
However, in the nearly two years since then, the Millers have suffered relegation to League One, while their hero that memorable evening, Wiles has since departed for fellow Yorkshire side Huddersfield Town. But the one thing that has remained is that Rotherham are as toothless as it gets on the road.
Rotherham’s Away Day Misery
The Millers suffered relegation last season, picking up just five wins all term and finishing a whopping 24 points away from safety. Despite that fruitless campaign, the bookies were surprisingly optimistic about Rotherham’s hopes this season, especially thanks to the return of Steve Evans. However, a dismal start to the campaign in which the Millers have won just once has seen them drop down to 19th place in the table, and the latest League 1 betting odds now make them a 15/2 outsider for promotion.
That stunning evening at Bramall Lane then now feels like an eternity ago. And in truth, it was. Here are two things that were happening in the footballing world the last time the Millers picked up a win on the road.
📽️ | Ben Wiles' grandad Eddie Colquhoun played over 300 games for Sheffield United between 1968 and 1978.
Yesterday, Ben skippered his hometown club at Bramall Lane, scoring the winning goal in the process.
This is what it meant to him. #rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/d2Icwnw48J
— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) November 9, 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Gets Underway
12 days on from Rotherham’s famous win at Bramall Lane, the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off with hosts Qatar facing off against Ecuador. Websites providing online football tips were out in force predicting who would win the tournament, with one outlandish source on Twitter claiming that debutants and hosts Qatar would win their opening game against Ecuador. Ultimately, they were handily thumped 2-0 by the South Americans and exited the tournament without picking up a single point.
Of course, the star of the first-ever World Cup was Lionel Messi. At the ripe old age of 35, he managed to roll back the years and lead Argentina to glory for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona some 36 years prior. He was named player of the tournament after scoring seven goals – including two in a spellbinding final against France – to help his side to glory. His exploits cemented his legacy as the greatest footballer that ever lived in Lusail on December 18th, 2022, six weeks after Rotherham’s last away victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Fiery Interview with Piers Morgan Airs
Another significant story that unfolded more recently than the Millers’ victory at Bramall Lane was Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational interview with Piers Morgan that subsequently ended his second stint with Manchester United. On the eve of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Portugal captain made several explosive statements expressing his dissatisfaction with the Red Devils. The former Real Madrid superstar criticised the club’s management, facilities, and his treatment by certain figures within the organisation, all of which made for blockbuster viewing.
This candid interview sent shockwaves through the football community, sparking debates about Ronaldo’s future and the internal dynamics at Old Trafford. Ultimately, it spelled the end for the great CR7 at the club that made him a star almost two decades prior, with United having no choice other than to cancel his contract and allow him to leave the club.
He would then go on to sign the biggest deal in football history with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr, triggering a huge power shift in the beautiful game. A number of the planet’s finest players joined him in the Arabian Gulf, such as former Los Blancos teammate Karim Benzema and French World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté. The last time Rotherham won on the road, nobody even knew who Al-Nassr was. Crazy.
Source: Unsplash