Neil Warnock post Derby County...
Rotherham United boss Neil Warnock hailed his side’s never say die attitude in the wake of a sensational comeback which saw the Millers snatch a point from the jaws of defeat in a 3-3 draw against Derby County.With the Millers 3-0 down with just seven minutes remaining on the clock, the hosts looked down and out but Danny Ward found the bottom corner with a low strike to give Warnock’s side a glimmer of hope.
Sensing an opportunity, the Millers poured forward snatching a point after substitute Leon Best registered a double salvo in front of the home fans to send them into raptures.
Millers boss Warnock struggled to hide his delight as he paid tribute to his side’s brave performance in the aftermath of the match at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“In The Championship you shouldn’t get a draw from 3-0 down in fairness, it should be game, set and match but our never say die attitude is fabulous,” he beamed.
“The fans were getting into it and it was rocking, someone said to me ‘I’ve been coming 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like that, Warnock’!
“The lads never surprise me, we have got a really good bunch here. In most games we have got stronger late on, but after what we have achieved in the last week I couldn’t have complained if we had got beat, because they have given me everything. It just shows the resilience and determination of the lads.
Darren Wassall’s side thought they had wrapped up the points when Tom Ince made it three in the second half, which Warnock admitted made it all the more sweet when Best bagged the equaliser.
“When you see a team like that, who think have won and were quite celebratory on the bench, it is nice to get the equaliser and shut them up.
“Nothing worries me about opponents; I just think about ourselves really. A lot of teams would have packed in and tried to keep it to three, but we haven’t got that in us.
“We want to go forward and that first goal gave us a lift and then the second, you could see the nerves starting to set in. It is a great goal, the third. The way Wardy turns and then the cross and Besty coming in like that.”
The Millers boss continued to praise the work ethic of his side, saying that his Millers outfit will continue to turn in industrious performances for the fans who have backed them wholeheartedly since his arrival.
“People like Danny Ward, who was just unbelievable; I don’t know where he got it from. It is just great to send the fans home happy, South Yorkshire is a hot-bed of football and it is great when you have comebacks like that against a very good team.
“I think coming from South Yorkshire it is in you, I am just happy that I can bring a little bit of dedication from the players for the fans at Rotherham. The fans have been fabulous, they have chipped in and bought a massive bouquet of flowers for my wife and that epitomises the club.”
Warnock finished by admitting that his side will not surrender in their quest for Sky Bet Championship survival and was proud of his side for reducing the deficit to draw with the Rams.
“We have got to go for it, but I have to say at 3-0 down I was thinking how proud how I was that we were still going right to the end. The week that we have had, to get nine points from three games was unbelievable. The effort we have had to put in for those points – there were some tired legs. The subbing was good, and they couldn’t really cope with us, and credit to the three lads in midfield – they stuck at it."