Injury-free run out pleases Assistant Manager...
Assistant Manager Paul Raynor was pleased to see the Millers pick up another victory in the Final Third Development League Cup as they overcame Doncaster Rovers 2-1 yesterday.
Matt Derbyshire opened the scoring, whilst Richie Smallwood slotted home the winner at Roundwood, with the emphasis for the Millers management again on preparing the squad for the Championship campaign.
“It was nice to get 90 minutes under the belt,” Raynor told www.themillers.co.uk. “I know I might sound like a stuck record but that’s what these games are all about. Performances are important and I thought we were a bit patchy at times but we created a lot of chances as a team especially in the last 20 minutes as the opposition tired and it should have been more convincing than 2-1.
“We’ve come through injury free with Kirk Broadfoot and John Swift amongst others getting a good 90 minutes under their belt and Matt Derbyshire getting a good run out after only playing a small part on Tuesday. I was pleased with the couple of young lads as well, Bradley Peace-McDonald at the back did well and Alex Wiles put a good shift in even though we used him out of his natural position.”
Robert Milsom played 90 minutes whilst Conor Newton made it through the second half on his return from injury.
“The boys are starting to come back now slowly but surely. People don’t realise how many people we had out an one point because we don’t make a song and dance about it, but Richard Wood will be back soon and it was nice to see Conor get 45 minutes and the hard work of the medical team is now starting to show through.”
Derbyshire netted the first goal of the game with a neatly placed header and was a constant thorn in the side of the Rovers team and Raynor was pleased to see him on the scoresheet.
“Matt’s got a fine goalscoring record and although he’s had a bit of a lean period in the first team and a couple of chances that have gone array but he’s taken his goal well today and hopefully that will give him a confidence boost for the coming weeks.”