Richardson ‘Matched Sunderland In Large Parts’

Rotherham United Head Coach Leam Richardson told Radio Sheffield that he thought his team were ‘value for a positive result’ after last night’s draw with Sunderland.

‘It was disappointing not to go in ahead at half-time,’ Leam said after the one-one home result, ‘and the levels of effort and commitment are commendable. In terms of the turn around in games and the bodies we’ve got the lads have taken in information superbly well.

‘Sunderland are in the top half of the table for a reason and a team full of quality players but I thought we matched them in large parts and had some really good performances out there.’

I have to agree with our Head Coach I thought we did, for most part, match up to the same quality as Sunderland which was probably helped by keeping the highly rated Jack Clarke quieter than the Black Cats were hoping.

Sam Clucas put the Millers in front just after the break with a cracker of a goal (you know we might not score many goals but the last two have been brilliant in different ways) with his manager saying that just coming back from injury his levels probably aren’t up to speed. ‘But, fair play to him I spoke to him and he was desperate to play and would have played the ninety if I’d let him. And what a goal it was and probably deserved to win a game.’

Asked about a penalty claim for the Millers Leam laughed saying, ‘I’d say yes because it was for us and it would be interesting if it had been down the other end. I haven’t seen it back so I can’t fully commit to that but sometimes you get the decisions and we have respect for the referee whose a top referee.’

Injuries? Ollie Rathbone missed last night due to illness with Leam saying, ‘the lads who came in Clu (Sam Clucas) and Caf (Cafu) probably shouldn’t be playing at the minute. But they’ve put the shirt on and gone out there for the cause which is commendable for their professionalism and, in large part, for that result tonight.’

And Daniel Ayala? After missing three games recently due to two red cards he is now walking about with a boot on after getting an Achilles tendon injury and is going to be out for some time with Richardson saying, ‘the treatment room is full’.