Tilson's plan backfires as fringe players are mauled

Steve Tilson gambled with a mass change of personnel for the home game against Rotherham on Friday night. It was a big gamble and it certainly didn't pay off as Rotherham left Sincil Bank with a 6-0 victory.

Despite only narrowly losing to Stevenage, City made seven changes from that game. Only Adam Watts, Julian Kelly, Mustapha Carayol and Scott Spencer kept their place, whereas fringe players Patrick Kanyuka, Joe Anderson and Ali Fuseini all returned to the squad along with Hutchinson and McCallum. Parish and Kilbey made their debuts.

Harrison blasted over from 25 yards early on for City before Spencer hit a shot over for the Imps. A slow opening saw Rotherham secure a ninth minute corner and after a scramble, Ian Thomas-Moore hit the ball goalwards and Patrick Kanyuka's clumsby legs deflected it over the line and a goal was awarded. Marshall's double footed challenge four minutes later saw the Rotherham man lucky to escape with just a yellow card.

It wasn't long before it was 2-0 as Harrison broke down the middle before drilling home from 25 yards. Spencer failed to find a quite response as he failed to get a shot in on goal from less than 6 yards.

Parish made a rare save tipping over from Marshall before Ryan Taylor sliced an effort wide. Thomas-Moore had an effort deflected onto the roof of the net before Harrison shot just wide for a dominant Rotherham. Kanyuka was booked to end the first half.

Cresswell replaced Fenton for the visitors. It wasn't long before Carayol slipped and didn't even attempt to get back up as he watched Rotherham burst forward, with Thomas-Moore eventually launching a volley beyond Parish and into the net. It didn't stay 3-0 for long though as Kanyufuck gave away possession sloppily and Taylor hit the ball beyond Parish and made it 4-0.

Fuseini had a rare shot for the hosts but it wasn't long before Rotherham became the third side to hit five at Sincil Bank. Rotherham burst forward before Calamity Kanyuka fouled Thomas-Moore, giving away a penalty and gaining a second yellow. Thomas-Moore slotted home his hatrick.

Hone came on for Spencer for City before Le Fondre replaced Thomas-Moore for Rotherham. Bradley volleyed over before being replaced for Jason Taylor and it wasn't long before it was six as Marshall hit home from 25 yards.