Taylor ‘We Are Moving In The Right Direction’

Rotherham United Manager Matt Taylor said that today’s game against Sheffield wasn’t ‘drab’.

Speaking after the goalless draw at the New York Stadium the Millers Boss told iFollow that he thought it was an entertaining game saying, ‘we came across a quality team today and generally held them at arms length. But we have to give respect to the opposition pinned us back at times and caused us problems.

‘We had two good chances in the first half but I know we didn’t create enough in the second half and we ran out of a bit of steam. We didn’t get close to their goal often enough but how resolute we were at the back was credit to everyone of them.

‘There were a few debuts out there today and a few returning bodies. Hopefully this is a sign of what’s to come.’

After not playing for some time, Grant Hall was taken off for protection while Jordan Hugill, who was missing at the start of the week due to illness, was subbed due to cramp. And then there was Bailey Wright who came off the bench for his debut and a minute later was taken off with concussion. ‘It’s just sods law,’ the Miller Manager said. ‘We want the squad to be stronger than it has been and through no fault of our own the injuries have hampered us.’ They will keep an eye on Wright, who wasn’t quite sure where he was when he first went down, but walked off with the physio’s. The concussion protocols will be checked and will be adhered too.

The last three opposition teams have all been in the top three of the Championship when the Millers have met them with Matt saying, ‘Regardless of who we play we have to approach the game with the same intent and the desire in the last three games has been spot on.

‘But we are moving in the right direction and it’s another confidence booster but we are also under no illusions that we are still in a dog fight.’

For me it’s just as though something has clicked over the last few games, which is a bit strange given that we have been getting new faces in. Yes, we did look tired towards the end of the game but it wasn’t as though the players’ legs went – they did keep going, even though it might have hurt.

And, you know, although we all know it’s goals that win games defending is just as important and probably, for the Millers in a game like today’s, more important.

It’s off to the seaside next weekend – but there will be no bucket and spades. As fans, all we ask is for more of the same.

Up The Millers.