Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Rotherham: Freddie Ladapo stunner wins six-pointer for Millers
- Published
Freddie Ladapo had failed to score in his previous seven games before grabbing a late, late winner at Hillsbrough
Freddie Ladapo's stunning last-minute winner gave 10-man Rotherham United victory over fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday in Darren Moore's first game in charge of the Owls.
It looked like a keenly-fought game was destined to end level before substitute Ladapo cut in off the left and smashed a brilliant 20-yarder beyond Joe Wildsmith to give the Millers a vital win.
They had earlier taken the lead when Michael Smith headed home from Florian Jozefzoon's cross, but Smith was then sent off following the break after tangling with Wednesday centre-back Julian Borner.
Rotherham defender Matt Olosunde saw the ball ricochet off him and into his own net for the leveller but, with a point not much use for either side's survival hopes, both went in search of a winner and it was Ladapo who was the hero with a beautiful strike in the seventh minute of time added on.
Defeat for the Owls means they remain seven points adrift of safety, while the Millers, who had lost their previous five, are now just three points off 21st-placed Birmingham.
Moore left Doncaster on Monday to take over at Hillsborough and this game will have left him in no doubt about the size of the task he has on his hands.
Wednesday have now lost five on the bounce and are facing the very real possibility of being relegated back to League One for the first time since 2012.
They could have won it themselves when Matt Penney crossed for Callum Paterson but he could not make a clean connection and the ball flew over the crossbar.
Moore's side travel to play-off hopefuls Reading on Saturday, while Paul Warne's men visit second-placed Brentford.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"Football has got a funny knack for kicking you right where it really hurts.
"I don't want the players to be too disappointed because tonight I saw a performance and players working really hard.
"We need to keep believing because we created enough chances to have scored more goals, it was just the final contact that was lacking.
"We've put some good work in in the two days we have been here and the longer we're here the more understanding they will get. We need to find a rhythm.
"I've learned a lot tonight and it's always hard to take losing a game in the last minute but the performance was there."
Rotherham boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"It's a very special night for me and the team. It's the nicest walk off a pitch I have ever had. It was like Escape to Victory.
"As soon as Freddie hit it I thought it had a chance and then when it hit the net... wow. I've said it loads of times but it was like Disney. I'll never forget it.
"I thought the red card was very light. I'll need to see it again but it's disappointing because his performance up until then had been virtually faultless.
"We got what we deserved in the end."