Neil Warnock post Birmingham City....
Rotherham United boss Neil Warnock praised his side’s application as they earned a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw against Sky Bet Championship high-flyers Birmingham City.The Millers were unable to break down a resilient Blues side at AESSEAL New York Stadium but forged notable chances with Kirk Broadfoot and Matt Derbyshire coming closest.
Neil Warnock’s side finished the game with nine men following the dismissals of Richard Wood and Joe Mattock but the Millers’ boss paid tribute to the hosts’ endeavour on a chilly afternoon in South Yorkshire.
“I’ve got 16 games to have a go and that’s what they did, it’s all I can ask. I said after the game to the lads they couldn’t have given me any more,” Warnock enthused.
“We go to Burnley next week now and they’re all tough games coming up, but I really enjoyed it. I thought the fans were very good, and if the players give everything, you can’t ask anymore than that.
“I thought we deserved all three points today, but I’m normally biased aren’t I?”
Warnock reserved special praise for the recalled Paul Green as well as commending Danny Ward for his contribution in the forward line and says that it will be up to substitute Greg Halford to grasp his opportunity.
“I thought Green was superb today. He’s played for me before, so he knows me inside out, but then I thought everyone played well.
“I can’t remember Lee Camp having too much to do, apart from the one save where he got a little bit of a knock.
“I thought Danny Ward had a good game up top, and the two wide lads ran all day for me. I was delighted.
“I think Greg Halford has his strengths and his weaknesses; we’re just trying to work on his strengths. The opportunity is there for him, he knows that, it’s a short time – only a couple of months – but places are up for grabs.”
Wood and Mattock both received their marching orders for second bookable offences and Warnock admitted that the resulting suspensions for the pair will allow other members of his Rotherham United squad to stake a claim for a place in the starting 11.
“The referee has been consistent all day, but I don’t think either of them deserved to go,” he explained.
“In fairness to the referee, I don’t think he remembered he booked Mattock, and when he realised he had to give a red.
“It will give someone an opportunity. This is how I see it, it was the same when I was at Sheffield United.”
Warnock concluded by expressing his delight at being back involved in the cut and thrust of first-team action and insists his side must continue to battle right until the final whistle is blown on the 2015/16 campaign.
“I do enjoy the match day, especially when you have a group of lads like this, when they're honest that’s all you can ask for,” he added.
“I said to the lads that it’s only one game gone, imagine what you can do in the next 15? It’s exciting times.
“We’ve just got to carry on, we’re all going to win games, all the three teams above us all won. We got to look after ourselves, it’s a good point, and we got to move on now.
“Its Burnley next week and no one will give us a chance, but I think we can compete with anyone at the moment."