Match Reports

Rotherham United 3-1 Albion

An image of Taylor Gardner-Hickman on the ball against Rotherham

Albion were beaten 3-1 by Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon.

John Swift’s spot-kick gave the Baggies the lead on the half-hour mark, but goals either side of the break from Jordan Hugill - and Tariqe Fosu’s strike - were enough to hand the hosts all three points.

Carlos Corberán’s team are next in action this Easter Monday, hosting QPR at The Hawthorns.

The boss made two changes to the starting XI, bringing Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Daryl Dike in for Adam Reach and Okay Yokuslu.

Albion created the first chance through their American international – the striker seeing a venomous volley well-saved inside two minutes.

Rotherham then had opportunities themselves, Hugill missing from close-range and Josh Griffiths saving strong Leo Hjelde and Jamie Lindsay shots.

But Albion saw out a difficult spell and found an opener. A great captain Conor Townsend run winning a penalty, which was confidently converted by Swift.

Griffiths made another excellent stop to deny Shane Ferguson’s low finish shortly after the Baggies’ goal.

He could do nothing to prevent Hugill’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time, though, as the forward headed home a dangerous corner.

Rotherham’s skipper almost nodded the hosts ahead seconds later in first period stoppage time, too – his effort hitting the bar and a sea of Albion defenders ensuring subsequent shots stayed out of the net.

However, within five minutes of the restart Rotherham managed to go in front – another set-piece enabling Hugill to net his second of the game.

Griffiths prevented him from grabbing a hat-trick when United looked to extend their advantage almost immediately, the goalkeeper palming away Hugill’s volley.

Corberán soon turned to the bench and brought on Kyle Bartley, Tom Rogic and Marc Albrighton.

Yet it was Rotherham who scored next, Fosu hammering one into the top corner after Chiedozie Ogbene had initially hit the crossbar.

And Albion were unable to salvage anything in the later stages, the Millers taking all three Championship points.

Albion: Griffiths; Furlong (Rogic 58), Ajayi (Bartley 58), Pieters, Townsend; Wallace, Chalobah, Gardner-Hickman, Swift (Albrighton 58); Dike, Thomas-Asante (Grant 74).

Substitutes: Palmer, Andrews, Malcolm.