Neil Redfearn post Middlesbrough...
MILLERS boss Neil Redfearn was quick to pay tribute to his side’s much-improved second-half performance against promotion chasing Middlesbrough, but was left ruing the mistake which saw Stewart Downing’s first-half strike settle the clash.
Aitor Karanka’s side deservedly took the lead just past the quarter hour when Downing pounced on Grant Ward’s error to put Middlesbrough ahead and the home side squandered further chances to extend their lead before the interval.
However, with Redfearn’s words ringing in their ears, the Millers were a transformed outfit in the second period and sub Jordan Bowery wasted a superb opportunity to grab a point when he blasted wide from a promising position- to the disappointment of the Rotherham boss.
“I thought at times we played really well tonight I have to say.” he said.
“They’re a good side and created chances and perhaps could have had another goal or another couple of goals but we also had our chances.
“Jordan Bowery has gone clean through and it was a great chance. The lad slipped and he was through on goal and he needs to keep his composure. Scoring goals is a problem that we’ve got and something we’ve got to address.
“It wasn’t a bad away performance and if you look back at the goal then it’s a mistake. Grant Ward gets caught on the ball and if you cut that mistake out it finishes nil-nil and you’re looking at a good point.”
Despite the Millers slipping to their third successive defeat, Redfearn saw positives from his side’s second-half display which left the Riverside faithful on the edge of the seats in a nervy finale.
“We’ve got to keep our heads up and we’ve got to keep going.” Redfearn added.
“It was a really diligent, tough performance tonight and we stayed in it.
“We had little pockets of possession either side of half time and there were times when the crowd were getting restless. We kept the ball well and we moved it about and we opened them up.
“The performance was good tonight, we showed a toughness and we stuck at it and I can work with that. If they give me that every week and we can add the players to put the ball in the back of the net then we’ve got a chance."