Rotherham United manager Paul Warne has admitted that he didn’t see Semi Ajayi scoring a late winner for the Millers in their 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road on Wednesday, reports Completesports.com.
Ajayi scored his second goal of the match in additional time to hand Rotherham United their first away win since 9th April 2016 and their first victory over QPR in 68 years.
The four cap Nigeria international fired in a stunning strike in the 71st minute to hand the Millers the lead but Osayi-Samuel bundled home the leveller from close-range for QPR.
The 25-year-old sealed a crucial win for Rotherham when he rose high to power home a header from Anthony Forde’s free-kick for his side’s crucial win in the race to avoid the relegation.
“I didn’t see Ajayi’s goal coming because being a manager you are always feeling pessimistic,” Warne said in his post match interview.
“I thought that we were much better in the second half than we were in the first. Someone has kindly told me that we haven’t won here for 68 years, so for us to come here and nick a goal so late on means a lot.
“It is important for us to pick up points obviously, and that’s our first away win for a while. It means a lot to the lads.
“I always go on about the game changers, it is not always about the 11, the subs came on and had a great effect. For Fordey to put in a quality ball in like that, and for Semi to attack it, especially where our fans were, was a really special moment.”
Ajayi will make his 100th appearance for Rotherham United in their next game at home to Norwich City.
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COMMENTS
Had opportunity of chatting with this humble lad through his team mates phone Taylor who is a mate.
Meanwhile,Semi is gradually turning to a beast of a player.I hope he keeps up that performance consistency.Nigerian players lacks consistency,they are either blowing cold today hot tomorrow and cold again sadly so.
However,I see this young bloke playing in the premiership in the nearest future and for his recent form I do not see a reason why he won’t be on the aeroplane to Egypt
100% Agree.
This guy is good
I am glad that Semi is doing so well for his club and may well translate this form to the national team which will spell doom for our upcoming opponents.
When this guy was unveiled as a Super Eagles international, I wrote the piece below on this platform :
_Who is Semi Ajayi?_
Semi Ajayi is nothing but a joke; yes a joke.
Don’t take it from me, take it from his manager Paul Warne at Rotherham FC who was quoted just over a week ago on http://www.thestar.co.uk as saying :”Semi was a joke. He could play anywhere for me.
He could play up front, on the wing or full-back – I know you might think I’m a bit crazy.”
This came after his manager needed manpower in defensive midfield and had to take a gamble to draft Semi – a center defender – to that position.
The London-born former Nigeria U-21 player’s versatility impressed his manager so much that he said :”I could do with signing a few more Semi Ajayis.
He is everywhere for me at the moment. I like him there (defensive midfield), he looks more confident and he does cover the ground for us and gives us protective cover.”
It is indeed a joke that we have this kind of player in the Super Eagles at this moment.
Once described in his Arsenal days as”adept at making interceptions; massive in the air and comfortable on the ball”; should this 24 year old adapt himself to the challenges of international football ( which are: travel time away from family, tedious weather conditions, harsh critisms from fans, playing in some appalling pitches against physical opponents and reduced injury-recovery times), then we have a true treasure in our midst for seasons to come.
Welcome Semi, we love you.
With Semi in the team, we have an added advantage that we must take seriously. Attacking from set pieces. Typically tall defenders are sent up to supply a threat from corner and free kicks, with Semi, we don’t have to go kamikaze, sending both defenders to take advantage of headers or hot shots from outside the box, Semi takes care of that, so we don’t need to leave the back door open and to have our defenders sprinting the length f the field to cut out a breakaway by the opposition.
The two goals he scored yesterday, a rasping shot from outside the box and a header shows that wherever he is in the opposition half he can cause concern.
Oh, and he can also deputize in the attacking midfielder (number 10 position).
The midfield is full of Generals!
This guy might be as good as Ndidi if not better. It will be a huge surprise if he doesn’t make the AFCON squad.
AY, as I didn’t want to offend some fans, I resisted the temptations of sparking a Semi vs Ndidi debate.
But being that you are so brave, I have to say that if it comes to it, I will pick Semi ahead of Ndidi in my fantasy Super Eagles team (not least because of all the attributes mentioned in BigD’s contributions above).
I don’t need to highlight Ndidi’s credentials as these are well documented.
However, should Semi start in that holding role against Seychelles and Egypt, I think he will display qualities that will severely put Ndidi’s automatic starting position in jeopardy.
Add to that is versatility and you have a player worthy of comparison to “established” Ndidi.
In my minds eye, I could see Semi playing alongside Ndidi once Mikel retires. With Mikel out of the picture until at least the AFCON (if he is recalled) I would like to see a midfield trio of Ndidi, Semi and Iwobi, with Etebo and Ogu as backup
He surely will be in the party to Egypt.
A player with his qualities,height,aerial prowess,goal returns,and versatility should be a great asset to the team and should be in the team for Egypt on merit.
Semi is gonna grow into a Patrick Viera very soon. Only need a bit more belief. Truth is, there are loads of very good Nigerian born players in these lower divisions of English leagues. This rasicm thing has been their obstacle of playing in the top leagues. If not for what Dele Alli did to Man utd, he may have still being with MK Don and possibly end his carrier there. When our national teams coaches start to understand that a whole lot of politics including racial politics, agents politics go into playing for big teams n not necessarily pure quality,only then will they start to assemble the best players to play for Nigeria. At the moment, I ll pick Freddy ladapo or Ofoedu ahead of iheanacho in my Super Eagles team.
Nice research.
You ve got your facts, thanks
But Ofoedu plays his football in Israel elite division
Yeah I know but our national teams coaches rate these leagues as lower leagues instead of looking at d quality in d players. I only need one look at a player to tell his quality. Ofoedu is quality. First touch on a ball tells u a good or bad player. I can tell Iheanacho could hv bn d dream striker for any team in d world because he takes his chances well but his first touch is really poor n often lets him down as it seems most defenders have come to notice this his weakness as they quickly harass him every time d ball gets to him.
Yeah true,back in the day Ofoedu was immense for Rangers of Enugu.Very daring and skillful but needs another good season or possibly move club to a better league to achieve his eagles ambition.
Semi vs Ndidi, I think is a good debate I was thinking of the same thing is not about offending anybody the national teams belongs to all. I think Ndidi is a typical Nigerian player, the lad has reached is full potential, while Semi still has potential for growth.Is like comparing iheanacho with Iwobi.Regardless were are blessed to ve both of them playing for us.
In-form Nigeria international Semi Ajayi has been named to the
Championship Team of the Week by Whoscored following the conclusion of 37th round of matches in the division on Wednesday, March 13.
The former Arsenal U23 skipper starred in Rotherham United’s 2-1 win over Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Queens Park Rangers, scoring two goals at Loftus Road Stadium (London) which proved decisive.
In doing so, Ajayi took his tally to an impressive five goals in his last four appearances for The Millers.
These days, the Super Eagle is being deployed as a central midfielder, just in front of the back four, and he occupied one of the four midfield positions in the Team of the Week.
With a rating of 9.4, Ajayi was the second highest ranked player in the TOTW, behind Aston Villa’s John McGinn who was rated 9.5.
Against Queens Park Rangers, the Nigerian had a game-high four attempted shots and won 14 aerial duels, more than any other player on the pitch.
If u ask me, Semi looks more solid as a central defender while pairing with Ekong.
Or at central midfield pairing with Ndidi. kudos
very good player in the person of semi,one good thing about him, is that he can also play in every position at back four, but his ability to run things in the middle Parks is always amazing, his scoring ability is also extraordinary… Eagles really get future ooo