Richardson ‘We Were Well Beaten’

Rotherham United Head Coach Leam Richardson said that the first half at Coventry last night was the ‘worst forty-five minutes’ he’s ever been involved in.

And I can’t disagree with him. It was just awful.

Speaking to Radio Sheffield after the five-nil defeat the Millers Boss said, ‘You can defend footballers as long as you can, and I always will, but that’s probably the worst forty-five minutes that I’ve been involved in. You just can’t start games like we did in the Championship.

‘At this level you have to be careful that you don’t open yourself up to nights like this. It’s the first time I’ve experienced this since I came to the club and I will do my best so it will never happen again. We conceded three, four goals in the middle of our goal which were avoidable and not acceptable and we are very aware of the situation we are in.

‘We missed a big chance at one-nil and that might have settled us down a little bit. But when it’s quickly two then three the games away from you. When I came in they were used to losing and when you get into that mode it’s a big one. Winnings a habit and also losing is a habit. But we’ve come here and been well beaten tonight.

‘When you are trying to fix and mend and put people in positions that aren’t really theirs it’s what we are carrying. We have seventy even sixty per cent availability in the Championship with people playing out of position since I’ve come into the building. You can make excuses for everybody but I will take the full blame.

‘I’ve been here a number of weeks and it became apparent really quickly that, with the amount of challenges we have at the football club, that we’ve got to move it forward and I’ll always back myself to do that.’

And the injuries? Asked about Morrison Leam said, ‘It’s one of them that he felt it and we thought he’d be OK within a week but he’s not made the last couple of games and as of this morning we are still no clearer.’