Neil Warnock post Burnley...
Rotherham United boss Neil Warnock was pleased with his side’s effort as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of promotion hopefuls Burnley at Turf Moor.
Goals from Sam Vokes and Scott Arfield either side of half time meant that the Millers returned to South Yorkshire empty-handed but could have seen a different outcome if Joe Newell had converted a golden chance with the hosts 1-0 up.
The Millers boss was delighted with his side’s application and believes an equaliser in the second half may have proven pivotal in the result on a wet afternoon at Turf Moor.
“I can’t fault the lads and I thought I they were super today in everything that they did,” Warnock enthused.
“They had a bit more quality than us but that’s where they are at the moment. That doesn’t mean that we couldn’t have got something out of the game because I think that was our best period when we had that chance and it’s a great chance and Joe is disappointed.
“I thought we showed a lot of spirit today. Then the opportunity to get something out of the game came along and we missed it unfortunately.
“I don’t think Lee has had many saves to make if I am honest. They’ve got quality and they’d be delighted to beat us 1-0, let alone 2-0.”
The Millers slipped behind to an early penalty which Vokes converted after George Boyd was upended in the area but the visitors continued to battle despite conceding early on.
“I love it when I see lads giving me everything today like they have today. I can have no complaints whatsoever,” Warnock added.
“I was really pleased with what they put in. We had an opportunity and when Joe missed that chance to make it 1-1 you felt that was it really.
“I think then it would have been a little bit nervous for Burnley and we gave them a penalty early on which made it a little bit easier for them.
“I thought we were equal to them and they had a lot of diagonal balls put into them and you get what you pay for with players like Andre Gray.”
Greg Halford was handed a starting berth after impressing in a cameo outing as a substitute in the goalless draw with Birmingham while Lloyd Doyley wore his new club’s colours for the first time.
“It was a first game for Greg Halford for a long time and Lloyd Doyley as well , so overall I thought they did ever so well and that includes young Wardy [Grant Ward] coming on.
“Lloyd is a good player and you know what you’re getting. He could have let it run through to the ‘keeper but that’s the decision he’s made. The way things were going today it was Sod’s Law that they were going to get a penalty.”
Danny Ward was withdrawn in the first half after a collision with a Clarets’ player rendered him unable to continue and Warnock says he will wait on the fitness of the striker who will have his injury assessed.
“He’s a little bit dazed and we’re not sure if he’s concussed or not so we’ll monitor him and see if that’s the case. We’ll know more in the next 24 hours or so.
“He wasn’t knocked out but we just don’t know and you can’t be too careful with things like that.”
The Millers boss concluded by heaping praise on substitute Grant Ward who replaced the injured namesake Danny Ward in the first half and admits he is looking forward to the remainder of the season in the Rotherham United hotseat.
“Grant has been desperate to get in the team for me. I went with Burkey last weekend against Birmingham with it being his former club but I think today he proved that he’ll make a contribution to our survival plan,” Warnock explained.
“I think I’m going to enjoy the last 14 games because the lads are going to give me everything. When you’re a manager in the dugout like that you can’t as for any more."