Paul Raynor post Swansea City...
Assistant Manager Paul Raynor was disappointed to go out of the cup but believes the Millers can leave with their heads held high following a 1-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium this evening.
With five changes to Rotherham United’s starting line-up, only a bit of Premier League quality from Bafatimbi Gomis separated the sides in the Capital One Cup second round tie.
“I’d like to think we can leave with our heads held high,” Raynor said after the gane. “We’ve come up against a very talented Swansea team and apart from the last 10 minutes I think we created some good chances. If we were a bit more ruthless we might have gone into extra-time. We’re disappointed to go out of the cup but we gave a god account of ourselves.”
Swansea, who themselves made 10 changes to the side who beat Burnley at the weekend gave a debut to Federico Fernandez and a start to Ecuador World Cup star Jefferson Montero, whilst messrs Bony, Sigurdsson and Shelvey were also introduced.
“They brought an £8million centre-half in, a man who starred in the World Cup and someone on loan from Tottenham so we knew what we were up against but he showed us a compliment by bringing the likes of Bony and Shelvey on because we were still in the game.”
The Millers more than held their own in the tie, and but for a lack of composure in the area on more than one occasion could have taken the tie further against their elite level opposition.
“We’re a bit disappointed we didn’t do a bit better in front of goal at times but there’s teams who will come here in the Premier League and not get the chances and not get as much time on the ball and we gave them very few clear cut opportunities until the end when we have to go and open up a bit more.”
The Millers made several changes to the side that beat Millwall and Raynor admitted that there was a discussion to have to see if any of tonight’s faces could force their way into the side for Brentford on Saturday.
“We will sit down and assess the situation,” he said. “We’ll have a look at it on the way back, we will review the DVD and look at the good things and look at things that we can work on. We have three quality players to add to the squad for Saturday which is a positive. We have changed things and we have had a look at people and we’ll see if they are part of the plans moving forward.”
Finallly, Raynor gave an update on Mat Sadler who was forced off with a cut following a challenge with Nathan Dyer.
“He has a nasty cut, he is in with the doctor now and it looks like he will need some stitches. He was brave to go for the ball, and that shows the desire, he wants to go and win the ball. I think he has done okay tonight but he was never winning that header and he has come off worse for the challenge.”
The Millers made several changes to the side that beat Millwall and Raynor admitted that there was a discussion to have to see if any of tonight’s faces could force their way into the side for Brentford on Saturday.
“We will sit down and assess the situation,” he said. “We’ll have a look at it on the way back, we will review the DVD and look at the good things and look at things that we can work on. We have three quality players to add to the squad for Saturday which is a positive. We have changed things and we have had a look at people and we’ll see if they are part of the plans moving forward.”
Finallly, Raynor gave an update on Mat Sadler who was forced off with a cut following a challenge with Nathan Dyer.
“He has a nasty cut, he is in with the doctor now and it looks like he will need some stitches. He was brave to go for the ball, and that shows the desire, he wants to go and win the ball. I think he has done okay tonight but he was never winning that header and he has come off worse for the challenge.”