Neil Warnock post Sheffield Wednesday...
MILLERS chief Neil Warnock was quick to express his pride of his players following their derby day victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Matt Derbyshire’s first-half strike helped Rotherham earn the South Yorkshire bragging rights and maintain the Millers’ fine recent record at Hillsborough.
Speaking afterwards, Warnock was full of praise for his players, who withstood second-half pressure from the hosts, to notch back-to-back victories and give their Championship survival fight a timely boost.
“I’m just very proud of them,” Warnock enthused.
“The only disappointment for me was that we had some good chances to finish but we just couldn’t get the second goal- that was the only downside really.
“I thought we created some really good chances and we took it to them when we could and I thought tactically we got it spot on.”
Warnock pulled off a tactical masterstroke by employing Greg Halford as an added ring of steel defensively, as he sat in front of the back four, and the Millers boss reserved special praise for the contributions of Halford and matchwinner Derbyshire- in a superb team display.
“We had a chat on Thursday and changed the formation,” Warnock added.
“We thought we couldn’t let Bannan and Lee have the freedom to do what they are good at and they thread needles at times, so we stopped that. I thought Greg did a good job there but I thought everyone did.
“Matt is playing out of position and he’s playing everywhere for me. He did a right shift today and he managed to get the winner which is fabulous for us.”
The Millers were rewarded for their early pressure with Derbyshire’s predatory strike midway through the first half.
Danny Ward came within a whisker of making it two just shy of half-time before Richie Smallwood almost put the icing on the cake with a late second.
After earning his first win at the Rotherham helm against Brentford last week, Warnock admitted the Hillsborough victory was a sweet one especially with his Sheffield United affiliations.
“To come against a good side and to get the three points was fabulous for us,” Warnock added.
“We had four quality chances. I can’t really remember anything clear they had, apart from when they hit the bar with a speculative shot. I thought we thoroughly deserved it but it was difficult for us.
“It was doubly enjoyable for me. I think they are a good side and they’ve got a chance in the play-offs.
“I got a really good welcome when I arrived off the coach, as you would imagine. Wednesday know it’s a tough game when they play against one of my teams, but I thought we edged it today.”