Rotherham United Manager Paul Warne said he had ‘mixed emotions’ after losing in the Carabao Cup at home to Accrington Stanley this evening.
Speaking to Radio Sheffieldafter the two-one loss the Millers Boss said he was disappointed to lose but that they have to move on now to the next game.
‘We had to get some minutes into some of the lads,’ Warney said, ‘but I didn’t think we played great. I don’t think we got to grips with the speed of the game in the first half and they (Accrington) dominated us.
‘JJ was competitive up front but they were three of the biggest centre- halves you will ever see. But it improved and when we equalised I thought we would be the team that went on to win it.’
Speaking about the new boys who made their first starts for the team tonight the Boss said, ‘They’ve only trained two or three times with us, they haven’t been here that long. I thought Hacks (Odoffin) grew into the game and it will be a good learning curve for him to realise how it is in English football and that you have to move the ball really quick. Shane (Ferguson) had touches of class and put some great deliveries in. I thought Ollie (Rathbone) was probably the stand-out of the new players then there was Reg (Rarmani Edmonds-Green) whose only played forty odd minutes pre-season and he obviously blew up at the end. So, all in all they can be reasonably pleased but we expect more going forward.’
I actually didn’t think Reg had a bad game, got a couple of really good tackles in and saved a goal by kicking it off the line.’
‘We do need to smarten up on a few things,’ Warney said. ‘We might have team that out-physical us so we will have to play a bit more out from the back and give the lads a bit of confidence and tighten up.
‘But there were some positives tonight. I was pleased that we didn’t concede off a set-piece. But we do need to sharpen up for Saturday.’
Asked about new signing Tolaji Bolawho signed from Arsenal today, the Millers Boss said, ‘He’s an athletic left-back who can play left wing-back and left centre-half. We watched him quite a bit at Rochdale last year where I thought he did well and he’s a good addition and hopefully he’ll wriggle his way into the first team sooner rather than later.’
Share this article
Related Articles
Thank goodness i didn’t make the 4 hour round trip this evening , dominated by Accrington with a inept display by all accounts , worrying because Plymouth also dominated us on the opening day ,they passed us off the pitch actually but we somehow managed a win ,early early days of course but food for thought .
I think we’ve all been saying for a while now, Stuart, that we need to keep the ball on the floor more. A couple of loose balls on Saturday and another last night shows our passing needs looking at, in my opinion.
Stuart, I’ve basically given up arguing. Many supporters – particularly those who post on forums – have decided that Paul Warne is a top manager. No evidence, no experience will shift that belief. We have just come down from the Championship but already goalposts are being moved with a number of Warne loyalists telling me they will be happy with a top half finish and top six will be a “great performance”. It really is pathetic.
To be honest Kevin I’d be happy with a top ten finish and probably another season in League One to cement the team – though I’d be really really happy if we went back up. Last night gave the players we’ve only recently brought in – not sure but don’t think that will be the Manager’s fault – time for minutes on the pitch. Yes, to have a ‘cup run’ would be good but the only thing we might get out of it really is a round against a Premier League club. Last night showed me that there are problems but I think they are problems that can be rectified.
Caz, you make a fair point but two observations that make me question PW’s mental flexibility. First, we have one of the best passers of the ball in L1, a player who has played well at a higher level and yet we are ruining him by our style of play. I suspect DB will lose interest, drop out of the team and end up playing well for someone else. Second, PW refers to the size of the Accy defenders. Yet he played into their hands by the service given to Kayode and Freddie. The manager never learns and I just don’t get what others see in him.
I can’t accept top ten is any way good enough. Talk of cementing the team sounds good but doesn’t work; morale drops, players leave, players get injured. This squad is good enough NOW. If PW can’t get the best out of it he should let someone else have a go.
I think Barlaser hasn’t been at his best since midway through last season, can’t decide if he’s been carrying an injury/illness but, yes, Kevin, it could well be the style of play we are using him in – although I do question is that style any different to when he first arrived and set our team on fire, maybe or maybe not. And I agree that playing balls up to Freddie and JJ when they had extremely tall defenders is a bit of a worry, certainly a time to play the ball on the floor. Personally, I still think an extra season in League One wouldn’t be a bad thing, but that’s just my opinion.