Rotherham 1-2 Middlesbrough: Boro miss out on play-off place despite victory
- Published
Jon Mikel Obi's first goal for Middlesbrough put them 2-0 up before half-time
Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis said finishing seventh was a "bigger achievement" than last season's run to the play-off semi-finals, after his side missed out on the top six despite winning at relegated Rotherham.
Derby County's win against West Brom saw Boro squeezed out of the Championship's play-off places by a point.
Britt Assombalonga's penalty and a fine strike by John Mikel Obi put Boro 2-0 up before a late Michael Smith penalty pulled a goal back for the Millers.
At one stage, Pulis' side looked set to steal the last play-off spot when Derby were pegged back to 1-1 by West Brom early in the second half, but ultimately their fate was out of their own hands.
"This has been a bigger achievement that last year really, if you're selling who we have done, with the players that we've got and the players that we've worked with," Pulis told BBC Tees.
"Overall, although I'm desperately disappointed we're not going to play Leeds over two games, I can't be too harsh on the players.
"We've played clubs this year that have spent £50m or £60m, and they're below us in the league, they're not even in contention for the play-offs."
Nottingham Forest and Pulis' former club Stoke City were among the clubs to have spent significantly on signings last summer, but finished ninth and 16th respectively.
Boro - who now face a third straight season in the Championship since their relegation in 2017 - were eliminated by Aston Villa in last season's play-off semi-finals.
Despite winning five of their last six games, what cost Boro their chances of promotion this term was a run of six straight defeats between March and April that saw them drop from fifth to eighth.
Rotherham's immediate return to League One was confirmed by defeat at West Brom last week, but they showed glimpses of why they will be contenders for promotion again next season.
Before Assombalonga's penalty broke the deadlock when he was fouled by Clark Robertson, Smith forced a smart save out of Boro keeper Darren Randolph.
Mikel's goal was just his second in English league football in his 267th appearance. It was his first in five years and 226 days since scoring for Chelsea against Fulham in September 2013.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I thought we were the better side in the first 20 minutes but didn't take our chance. The spirit from my lads has been amazing.
"After relegation last week they could have downed tools and given up but that wasn't the case, they've trained really well and wanted to finish on a high.
"Getting a goal back was nice and I don't think the lads had any more to give. For that I am immensely proud."
- Published3 May 2019
