Paul Warne post Bristol City...
MILLERS caretaker manager Paul Warne believed his side were worth a share of the spoils as Milan Djuric’s late winner saw Rotherham United make the long trek north empty-handed despite a hardworking performance.
Following an even first half, devoid of clear cut chances, the clash looked to be heading for a goalless draw until sub Djuric headed home the rebound after Richard O’Donnell had superbly denied fellow sub Matty Taylor’s thunderbolt shot.
Speaking afterwards, Warne insisted that his side were not duly rewarded for their efforts at Ashton Gate.
“I didn’t think there was hardly anything between the sides,” Warne bemoaned.
“It was a game of few chances. People will think it’s the same old story but I have to be honest I don’t think we deserved to lose. I think a point would have been a fair result. No-team ripped the other side apart.
“The lads gave me loads of endeavour and effort which I asked for but unfortunately for us, we were on the wrong side of it again. You can guarantee a performance level but not a result.”
In a close first 45 minutes, Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham fluffed his lines by firing wide with the goal at his mercy before Danny Ward had Rotherham’s best effort of note, soon after, when he fired wide following good work by Joe Newell.
However, Rotherham’s work was undone when Djuric notched his first goal for the hosts - to the disappointment of the Millers’ interim boss.
“We set up 4-1-4-1 initially and I thought we curtailed them quite well in the first half,” Warne insisted.
“They didn’t have many chances, although we did not have a lot either. Wardy had one early one, when he nicked his shot just wide of the post.
“I thought we looked pretty comfortable. I thought it was a tight game and I’m not saying either side were great attacking forces. Majority of my lads performed to their limits so as a manager I go in after and I don’t know how much more I can ask of them physically.”
Despite Rotherham slipping to another away loss, Warne was quick to praise the impact of Ben Purrington, who impressed on his first outing in Millers’ colours.
“I thought Purrington was outstanding,” Warne enthused.
“I thought Ben was excellent and that was the reason we brought him in. You can see he is athletic. He stopped a lot of crosses in the first half and he was against no mug, in David Cotterill. I thought he kept him really quiet and you could see his physicality.
“He kept going till the very end in what was a tough situation when we went three at the back but he’s going to have a great career in the game.”