Paul Raynor post Doncaster Rovers...
Assistant Manager Paul Raynor praised another positive workout for the Millers after a 2-1 success over Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.A second half salvo saw the Millers take control of the pre-season friendly following goals from Matt Derbyshire and Ryan Hall in front of a healthy travelling contingent from Rotherham.
With a week to go before the big kick off against Derby County the Millers host Premier League Leicester City at New York on Tuesday night before the first league fixture at the iPro Stadium.
“These games are about game time, they are about preparing for the game with Derby so we have to be pleased,” he told Millers Player.
“It was a good performance; there were some good individual performances. It was a little sketchy at the start for the first 15 minutes, we were a little disjointed but once we settled into the game then I thought it was a good performance.
“We are still a work in progress but we did look a little more composed (in the second half), we did keep the ball better and that is something that we will need to do in this division, if we give the ball away cheaply then we’ll get punished. Our ball retention today was a lot better and that comes with the boys being fitter, getting to know each other better and as I say there were some good individual performances as well.”
Raynor praised the strike duo of Jordan Bowery and Derbyshire, who has now netted three times during pre-season.
“Matt missed the start of pre-season so we are easing him back in and he’ll feel the benefit of having 75 minutes today,” added Raynor.
“He’s getting there, we have another seven days to get him ready for Derby, but his working very hard and he is getting sharper and sharper. He’s a predator in the box and he works very hard for the team, closing people down from the front.
“We were particularly pleased with a great performance from Jordan Bowery as well, we saw more of him today than we have in recent weeks. He seems to be understanding how we want to play and how we want to utilise his strengths and I thought he put in a powerful performance today.”
The Millers were missing two players and Raynor explained the absence of Febian Brandy and Frazer Richardson.
“Febian played 45 minutes at Stocksbridge and he worked really hard so with thigh injuries you want to aire on the side of caution so we are hoping Febian will be in contention to play on Tuesday. Frazer has a little foot problem but it is getting better day by day so he will also be assessed on Monday with regard to next week.”