Warne Says Opening Goal Was ‘Massive Blow’

Rotherham United Manager Paul Warne set the team out to score goals this afternoon and although we had chances we only managed one – but what a one.

‘We played an attacking system and I thought we started the game really brightly,’ the Millers Boss told Radio Sheffield, ‘but a mistake at this level means that the striker doesn’t miss. It was a massive blow.

‘We rallied in the second half and were desperately trying to get that goal and help this club stay up and when you are trying to do that you have to turn half chances into goals.’

We got our chance in the eighty-fourth minute when captain Richard Wood won a free-kick on the edge of the area – although I did hold my breath while the referee seemed to take an age to give it. There were three players round the ball but I think we all knew who would take it and up stepped Lewis Wing to score a cracker of a shot to get his first goal for the Millers – a goal, that in my opinion, is long overdue.

‘It’s just a pity there wasn’t a sell out behind the goal,’ the Gaffer said about the free-kick.’But we did ride our luck and, at times, I thought we looked a bit jaded. But let’s not underestimate the ability of the opposition with some of their players being an absolute different level.

Jamal Blackman kept the Millers in the game with two great saves and it was a good entertaining game. I’m surprised Warney said he thought some of our players looked jaded as, for the first time in a month, I didn’t think they did. In previous games I’ve thought some of them looked like they were running on empty but I didn’t today – might just be me of course.

Two games left now and the most important two games of the season. It’s never dull being a Miller is it.