Redfearn post Leeds....
MILLERS gaffer Neil Redfearn has labelled his first victory at the AESSEAL New York Stadium helm as a “sweet one” as Joe Newell’s second-half header helped gain a memorable victory at Elland Road.The Millers successfully ended a run of four successive defeats as a new-look Rotherham side, which featured nine changes from their last outing and the debuts of experienced duo Stephen Kelly and Leon Best helped shut out Steve Evans’ Leeds United with Newell’s header proving the difference.
At the end of last season, both Redfearn and Leeds boss Steve Evans were in opposite dugouts but it was the Rotherham chief who was celebrating victory at his old stomping ground following a red-hot White Rose derby.
“It was sweet but it’s the three points we needed and in the end it was the three points we deserved.” the Millers boss enthused.
“I thought they slightly shaded it in the first half and in the second half I thought it was us. In the 90 minutes, I thought we wanted it more than them.”
Redfearn was able to call on the services of skipper Lee Frecklington, who returned to the side following a calf injury, and the Millers boss was quick to praise the impact of his new and returning stars, who helped silence the Elland Road faithful.
“People put their bodies on the line and were getting in the way of things,” he enthused.
“They were running hard for the cause and they got their just rewards. We have had injuries but we had people like Freckington back today and he was outstanding for me. The signings came in and played their part. They did really well. Kelly was outstanding with Broadfoot at the back and Best led the line well so there were some real plusses.”
The only disappointment for Redfearn was the dismissal of Best late in the game following an altercation with Gaetano Berardi, with the Italian also seeing red, and although Redfearn is hoping the victory will act as a spur in the Millers’ fight, he has called on his charges to repeat this level of performance on a regular basis.
“This can be a good catalyst for us.” Redfearn insisted.
“There are going to be a lot of twists and turns but what we’ve got to do is put performances like that together more often than not. I think if we do that we will start picking points up.
“With the run of games we had before, we played six sides around the top ten which is a tough run of fixtures and never once did I get down on it because I knew there needed to be some perspective to realise what we were up against.
“It’s like everything else though as one swallow does not make a summer. What is does do is give the boys some belief. We’ve talked about staying in the game and toughing it out and we did that today."