Leeds denied late winner as Hakeen Odoffin earns Rotherham a point

Managerless Rotherham put in a spirited display as they held Leeds to a draw that denied the visitors a seventh win in eight Championship matches. The Millers were under the guidance of interim manager, Wayne Carlisle, following the dismissal of Matt Taylor and battled hard to earn a point against their third-placed visitors.

Leeds opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Crysencio Summerville but failed to take advantage of a series of chances to add to their lead in the first half before Rotherham levelled in stoppage time when Hakeem Odoffin pounced to fire past Illan Meslier.

Jaidon Anthony thought he had won the game for Leeds in the closing minutes but his effort was ruled out for offside against Patrick Bamford to add to the visitors’ frustration.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke said: “The first emotion is definitely disappointment. That dominance should normally be enough to win all three points.

“It’s football and we had the chances to bury the game. I was very happy with our performance in the first half. We enjoyed our dominance a bit too much and we lacked the last few per cent to really bury the game. If you don’t do that it can happen in this league.

“In the last 20 minutes we created more than enough opportunities to win the game. Although the major feeling is disappointment. It’s a draw on the road and in this league that is never a bad result.”

Leeds dominated the first half and should have added to their lead which came from their first meaningful attack. Georginio Rutter played in Summerville down the left and he had time to perfectly pick out the bottom corner.

The visitors threatened again with another lightning move but Dan James firedoff target after getting clear while Viktor Johansson had to be alert to deny Summerville a second after he was slipped in on goal by Joel Piroe and then Rutter missed the target from the edge of the box.

Glen Kamara also lashed an effort into the side netting before Rotherham struck against the run of play as Odoffin took advantage of some defensive hesitancy to level. Liam Cooper was incredibly alert to stop Rotherham going in front early in the second half as he got back in the nick of time to stop Sam Nombe’s goalbound shot from going in.

Hakeem Odoffin fires home Rotherham’s equaliser. Photograph: Mark Kerton/Shutterstock

Leeds changed things for the final 20 minutes after offering little goal threat in the second period. Bamford and Ian Poveda came off the bench as Daniel Farke hunted a winning goal.

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It took some last-ditch defending to deny a Leeds opening through Summerville’s jinking run in the box after Bamford failed to get on the end of Piroe’s pass. Wilfried Gnonto was then found by a superb ball from James but his effort was just off target.

Rotherham were still causing their share of problems at the other end and Meslier was forced into a save when Fred Onyedinma burst clear down the right. Leeds ramped up the pressure late on and Pascal Struijk was inches away from nodding Leeds back ahead from James’ cross before Anthony’s disallowed effort.

Interim Rotherham manager Carlisle was delighted with the performance. He said: “The boys worked their socks off. I think in the first half, when we look back at it, there will be parts we were disappointed with but we were more than good enough for a point in the second half.

“The momentum shifted from them being on top, to us getting a foothold in the game in the second half. The goal gave us hope going into the second half. It was always going to be a bit sticky for the players because Matt was popular. Once they got some confidence they started going about their business well.”