Rotherham United

Paul Warne post-Cardiff City...

Millers Manager Paul Warne reflected on his side’s 2-1 victory over Cardiff City at the AESSEAL New York Stadium this evening.

Goals from Matt Palmer and Michael Smith earned the Millers a win after an opening goal from Josh Murphy.

“It’s nice to win, it’s always nice to win football matches,” said Warne. “We like to get signs of where the players are going to be in another 10 days’ time. We take a lot of credit with the way the lads played against superior opposition. I’m proud of how they played and they’re competing to win a jersey for the first weekend. In that respect, there are no injuries and we can go home pretty happy with our day’s work.

“To get two goals against a Cardiff side is pretty impressive. I thought we definitely created more chances than they did, so the lads can take a lot of credit for that.

“Sean Raggett, I tried to sign him in the January window. You could see why he’s right up my street. He nearly scored off his first touch. He’s a bit old-school. I like my centre-halves to be men, to head it and not take any chances. On set-pieces, you can see how if he was in the team at the same time as Woody, we’d cause mayhem.

“Obviously Marek, it’s been going on for weeks but I knew which player I wanted to sign. I was prepared to wait and it’s for the benefit of everyone. I was really pleased to get him back.”

With one more pre-season clash to go – away at Mansfield this weekend – Warne is excited for the Championship curtain-raiser at Brentford on August 4^th.

“We’re going to have to be defensively strong this season,” he continued. “I’m probably one or two away from where we need to be. We need something else in the middle of the park. We’re not too far off where we want to be.

“What I have in that dressing room is 20 amazing human beings. They do everything they can for us. As a group with the staff, we’re a very positive group. I’m hopeful we can make the fans and the town really proud of us.”