Richard Wood talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Experienced defender Richard Wood says the team are working hard to hit the performance levels in their last away fixture at Ipswich ahead of the trip to Derby County this weekend.
The Millers return to action following the international break looking to bounce back from the home defeat to Preston, as they travel to the iPro Stadium to face Steve McClaren's in-form Rams.
Kenny Jackett's side were denied their first away win of the season at Ipswich following a last minute David McGoldrick strike, but the performance at Portman Road was akin to the form which made the Millers a tough nut to crack on their travels at the back end of last season.
Wood, who has excelled since being restored to the starting line-up, says the hard work continues behind the scenes but has reiterated now is the time to start playing out their progress on the field.
"There is a lot of hard work going on at the training ground, the lads are all on board with what the manager is doing here," he told www.themillers.co.uk
"What has been said has been well received, we just need to start picking up points now.
"We haven't had the results yet that we have really wanted, but the manager has worked hard on getting our mindset to being difficult to beat and organised, we just need to play that out consistently on the pitch."
From a personal perspective it has been some turnaround for the former Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic defender.
Wood was a mainstay at the back end of last season but found opportunities hard to come by until Jackett's arrival, spending the majority of the current campaign out of the matchday squad.
Wood was immediately brought back in from the cold for Jackett's first game at the helm, and has since gone on to wear the captain's armband in the absence of Lee Frecklington.
"It has been a massive turnaround for me personally from being out of the team and not really being close to getting back in, to leading the team out which was a fantastic feeling," explained the 31-year-old.
"It was a proud moment when I was given the armband. I think that the last time I was given the captaincy was in my Coventry days, but obviously with Frecks being injured I was only too happy to accept the role in the interim .
"I was told at Ipswich in the hotel prior to the game by the gaffer, and I just thanked him before making sure I put in a performance that was required from a captain.
"The manager is wanting experience straight away, so I am really grateful that he has put me back into the side. I am now hoping to repay the faith, and hopefully I have gone someway to starting that with some of my performances over the last few games.
"It has been a long time coming to get an appearance so I really wanted to grab my opportunity. There are still areas where I am looking to improve, but I know if I can keep my level of performance high I will give myself a great opportunity to keep my place in the team."