Rotherham United came back from one down to get a point this afternoon with Millers Manager Matt Taylor saying some of the players have put themselves forward to get an opportunity on Tuesday night.
‘I thought the game lacked quality,’ the Millers Boss told iFollow after the one-all draw against Queens Park Rangers. ‘I think both teams lacked a bit of quality in certain areas.
‘I thought we had the better of the first half without the end really coming to fruition and we should have hit the target a couple more times with Jordan (Hugill) who made the ‘keeper work once. We lacked a bit of set-piece quality but the game was relatively level.
‘Then we didn’t start the second half with enough brightness and energy and we fell behind from a goal by probably the best player on the pitch. And we could have folded then but we didn’t.
‘I thought we had good energy at the top of the pitch but lacked it elsewhere and then we got back into the game and Georgie Kelly got his finish with a brilliant strike. And his impact will continue to grow because we will keep on using him when the game suits.
‘I’m really pleased with the character today from the team and I believe this team have got fight, although we didn’t show it last Sunday, and the team have more skill than they’ve shown at times. But, with the league position and what happened last weekend, it’s not an easy to come into so I’m pleased we came out in the position we are but I always want more, always.
‘Haks (Hakeem Odoffin) probably optimised what we were about today. He’s been out for a long period of time and it was a lot of minutes in a position that isn’t his own and then almost to get the winner. And Viktor (Johansson) has made a couple of big saves as well and we praise him to the hilt for getting us a point.
‘Any one who wants to know how difficult it is at Championship level just look at QPR’s squad of players.’
I didn’t think we really started playing until after QPR opened the scoring, I also thought the crowd were quiet too until Georgie’s equaliser. It was better than Sunday – but then again it couldn’t be much worse could it.
Taylor seems to know all the reasons why we fail to perform after the event. The decisions he makes cost us each game with players left out and others pushed too hard. Injuries are a feature but lack of effort from some seems to have no penalty. After the S6 failure a real shake up was needed but the team today was basically the same to start. The first half reflected that and was poor given the obvious value of a win. Luckily Kelly came on and yet again clicked and won a point. He should be starting to give us the chance to score first and then to pressure our opponents into defending rather than attacking us at will. If Taylor can’t make this team click its probably time to move him on. Who would want to join us given our issues is the big question.
You see Bryan I’ve moaned about Kelly not getting a start but, on the other hand, he does seem to lift the crowd, who then lift the team, when he comes off the bench. So now, I’m in two minds about it.