Express & Star

Rotherham 3 Wolves 3 - match report and pictures

[gallery]Wolves came back from 3-1 down to rescue a point in a see-saw thriller at Rotherham.

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Kenny Jackett's side looked dead and buried after former Molineux loanee Nouha Dicko struck in the 10th and 53rd minutes either side of Kieran Agard's 36th-minute header which cancelled out Danny Batth's header on nine minutes.

But Bakary Sako's penalty on 59 meant it was 'game on' and James Henry rifled home the equaliser five minutes later.

Wolves, who produced a much-improved second-half performance, then looked in the ascendancy and substitute Leigh Griffiths had a clean-through chance and Sako and Henry further efforts as they tried to snatch the winner.

Head coach Jackett made two changes from the starting line-up that lost 2-0 to MK Dons last week.

Jack Price replaced the suspended Kevin McDonald and Bjorn Sigurdarson came in for Griffiths up front.

That meant Sako kept his place after being accused of a lack of effort last week.

Wolves started brightly in a highly-charged atmosphere in a snappy tempo and should have done better in the third minute when Sako ran 50 yards after Sigurdarson headed away Ben Pringle's free kick.

He teased the Millers defence before finding the unmarked Henry to his right but the winger ran into trouble and ended up winning a corner when he should have shot first time.

Dicko gave notice of Rotherham's intentions in the sixth minute when he volleyed wide before strike partner Haris Vuckic fired inches wide from eight yards out after Scott Golbourne headed away a throw.

But Wolves broke to take the lead when Batth stooped to head home Henry's whipped-in free kick for his first goal of the season.

The visitors' lead lasted only a minute however as Rotherham levelled through Dicko, who tapped home at the near post from close range to convert Pringle's centre after Ikeme punched clear and Sako couldn't get close enough to close the cross.

Inspired by his goal, Dicko tried an over-the-shoulder volley from 30 yards out that dropped a yard wide of Ikeme's far upright on the quarter hour mark.

Instead of forcing the pace again, Wolves couldn't respond and it was Rotherham who took hold of the game.

Ikeme was left screaming at his team-mates on 23 as right-back Mark Bradley was allowed to race through unmarked to latch onto Kieran Agard's left-wing cross but fortunately for the visitors, he ballooned over.

The Millers remained on top and got a second goal as Agard climbed above Golbourne at the far post and sent a towering header in at the opposite side of the goal.

Ikeme had to be alert again seconds before the break but this time from one of his own players as Sam Ricketts' backpass threatened to go over him and he managed to tip the ball over the bar as Wolves welcomed the half-time whistle, relieved to get to the break without suffering further.

Things went from bad to worse for Wolves as Ricketts was booked for pushing Dicko on 51 and two minutes later, the on-loan Wigan forward made it 3-1 when he ghosted into the box to chest home Pringle's cross after the hosts worked the ball from right to left.

The goal was little more than the Millers deserved at that stage as they were far hungrier than Wolves, who lacked ideas and creativity.

But just six minutes later the game turned on its head to give the visitors renewed hope just when all seemed lost.

Doyle, Sigurdarson and Batth all went up for a header from Golbourne's cross and the referee signalled a penalty for handball.

Sako needed no second invitation as he rifled home his seventh goal of the season from the spot, keeper Adam Collin's hand merely helping the ball into the roof of the net.

Griffiths replaced Sigurdarson on 62 and within two minutes, Wolves were level.

Dave Edwards threaded Henry through in the inside right position as Rotherham were left four on two but he didn't need his team-mates as he held off a defender before lashing in a fierce shot off Collin for his fourth goal for the club.

For the first time since briefly taking the lead through Batth, Wolves were in the ascendancy as they finally took the game to the Millers.

Griffiths found himself clean through on 68 only for his control to let him down and the chance was lost.

Then Wolves had two chances within seconds of each other in the 71st minute.

First Sako tried his luck with a curling shot that bounced in front of Collin, who parried but just out of Griffiths's reach.

Wolves retained possession and Henry popped up on the left, lifting a chip that landed on top of the net.

The visitors continued to look the more likely scorers but couldn't add to their tally and had to settle for a point.

But it was a much-improved second-half performance from Jackett's side and they will hope to have regained their form as they go into Christmas.

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