RUFC – Warne Disappointed With Errors Today

Rotherham United Manager Paul Warne had some harsh words to say to his players after their three-one away loss at Charlton Athletic this afternoon.

‘I thought we started the game really well,’ the Millers Boss told Radio Sheffield after today’s defeat, ‘and we limited them to very little in the first half.

‘There was an individual error for the first goal and at half-time we told them to just stay in the game and we’d more than enough fire power to do that. But you’ve got to be able to defend a wide free-kick which we didn’t do then we’re going for it and they went three-nil on the counter attack. And it could have been four-nil but we got it back to three-one and we changed our system to try and get back into it.

‘In both boxes today I think they were better than us and we didn’t get many first contacts and Anthony Forde took a free-kick which went out of the back and that didn’t please me.

‘But their free-kick is my biggest issue and I don’t think we had the desire to win it which is something I don’t like to say about my team but if we defend a set-piece like that then it’s an issue. It’s disappointing that their lad gets a free header in the box, I don’t see any of our lads getting a free header at the other end.

‘I’m aware that I will get the criticism for this and I’m also aware that it’s not my job to hammer the players in the press. But I am allowed to say what I want in the dressing room and I have.

‘I’m not getting down beat about it but the lads need to know the enormity of every game and every incident whether it’s defending a set-piece or attacking a set piece or having your marker. Winners do more and they did more than us today and deserved to win.

‘We’re still in a good position and we can’t expect to come in at full time to see all the other teams around us have lost which certainly isn’t the case today. Although Saturday isn’t a must win game we have to be looking at winning games and keeping ourselves in a play-off position.’

Asked about the changes, Warney said, that Joe Mattock tweaked a hamstring on Friday and although Richie Towell should be fine for the weekend after going off in the same game with deferred back the Millers Boss didn’t want to risk him today.