Rotherham United 1 Plymouth Argyle 0: Morris so delighted to join the Millers’ crusade

Kieran Agard is a product of 
Arsenal’s academy who enjoyed a three-year stint at Everton, while Josh Morris has emerged through Blackburn Rovers’ youth system.

Both have dropped out of the Premier League limelight and their last port of call was at Yeovil last season.

Agard, 23, was released from Huish Park and, after protracted negotiations, agreed to sign for the Millers, netting his first goal for the club after coming off the bench against Plymouth on Saturday.

Morris is still under contract at Blackburn but has signed on loan until January and proved a more than able replacement for left-back Bob Harris, who has returned to Blackpool following the end of his loan spell.

England Under-20 international Morris refutes the suggestion that he has taken a backward step by moving to the New York Stadium, while Agard is aiming to cement a place in the starting line-up after failing to make the grade at the highest level.

Agard came on in the 62nd minute when Rotherham were starting to run out of ideas as to how to break the deadlock in a game they had dominated and his acceleration allowed him to get in front of his marker and sweep home a low cross from Daniel Nardiello in the 73rd minute.

It gave Rotherham a third successive win but the margin should have been wider. Plymouth were indebted to four great first half saves from Jake Cole and to referee Darren Bond for disallowing Kari Arnason’s header for pushing.

Ironically, Millers chief Steve Evans was happier with his side’s second-half display when chances were at premium.

He was, however, delighted with the impact made by Agard – “With Kieran you have to accept you are going with a front three when you put him on the pitch,” explained Evans, who is now employing a 4-4-2 starting formation – and by Morris, who has been on his radar for some time.

“I have tried to sign him before and he was outstanding today. He has great pace and is strong and will be a top player for us,” said the manager.

Morris was more than happy to join the Millers’ crusade, stating: “I was training at Blackburn on Thursday morning and I got the call in the afternoon saying Rotherham were interested. It was a no-brainer for me because I need to play games.

“I had played in the Reserves on Monday at Blackburn but it’s nothing like this kind of football. It’s competitive, it’s three points on the line, it’s not like a development kind of thing. I really enjoyed it.

“It’s not really a step down for me. I thought I would be playing at Blackburn this season – I played in all the pre-season games – but the manager has been changed and for whatever reason that was going to be it for me this season.

“I am now looking forward to playing. It doesn’t matter what level for me as long as I’m playing every Saturday. I can’t do with sitting around watching the results come in. There is nothing worse for a player.”

Apart from a smattering of Premier League and European experience with Blackburn, Morris played three times for England in the Under-20 World Cup and described it as a “great experience”.

But he had no hesitation in moving to South Yorkshire. “I knew they had a new stadium but when I arrived I couldn’t believe it because it’s such a nice set-up for League Two. The facilities here are unreal and you can see the aspirations of the club, they obviously want to get promoted.”

Evans obviously wants to keep Morris for the entire season but is resigned to the fact that, like Harris, if Morris continues to impress then his parent club could recall him.

That is the price you pay for entering the loan market but Evans still intends to strengthen particularly after losing right-winger Lionel Ainsworth for up to 10 weeks with a dislocated shoulder sustained in the pre-match warm-up and a second-minute knee injury to right-back Dale Tonge, who could be missing for three weeks.

At least they have a break from league action on Saturday when Stevenage arrive for an FA Cup first round encounter when Agard hopes to get a starting role.

Of coming off the bench, Agard said: “I just try to make an immediate impact and that’s what I did today. I have been patient waiting for my chance. I know I can score goals and I hope I gave the manager some food for thought. When I am on the pitch I am always confident that I can score and, hopefully, the manager can see that.”

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Rotherham United: Warrington, Tonge (Bradley 4), Sharps, Morgan, Morris; Evans (Agard 62), Arnason, Frecklington, Pringle; Revell, Nardiello (Odejayi 87). Unused substitutes: Thompson, Taylor, O’Connor.

Plymouth Argyle: Cole, Berry, Nelson, Blanchard, S Griffiths; MacDonald, Lowry (Bhasera 78), Young, Cowan-Hall; Gurrieri (Chadwick 72); Madjo (Feeney 59). Unused substitutes: Gilmartin, Lennox, Richards, R Griffiths.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).