MILLERS chief Paul Warne believed that individual errors were behind his side’s narrow defeat at the hands of Peterborough United.
Kieffer Moore’s fourth goal of the season looked set to earn Warne’s side their first away points of the season after he cancelled out Jack Marriott’s opener but Marriott’s second goal of the afternoon dashed any Millers hopes of a share of the spoils when he latched onto Semi Ajayi’s error to loop the ball over ‘keeper Richard O’Donnell with the decisive winner.
Speaking to the assembled press corps afterwards, Warne believed that the result was a harsh one on his side, who always looked a constant threat at the ABAX Stadium during an exciting tussle.
“It was end-to-end and I thought there would be goals in the game,” Warne admitted.
“Prior to the game, I thought it would be a 3-2 or a 4-3. In the first half, it was a pretty even match although I was not best pleased with how we played in the first half. In the second, we played a lot better but a couple of individual errors massively cost us a couple of goals.”
In a see-saw first half, Marriott crashed an effort against the underside of the crossbar before Posh had ‘keeper Jonathan Bond to thank for a superb double save to deny Ryan Williams and Jamie Proctor before Moore drilled an effort against the upright.
Marriott was proving a thorn in the Millers side and he opened the scoring, just minutes into the second half, as he squeezed a low effort past O’Donnell before Moore levelled matters with a towering header.
“We got back into the game and I thought we were the only team going to win,” Warne added.
“We were in the ascendency and made attacking changes, to try and win the game.
“I set the team up the same every week and I think we are a good attacking side. I don’t come here to sit back and play for draws. I set the lads up to get the ball out wide and get crosses in the box and I think we did that. I don’t think we played with enough intensity in the first half, but we did in the second. We created enough chances to win the game three times over.”
With the game in the balance, Proctor had a goal chalked off for offside before Marriott’s cool strike turned the game in Posh’s favour- to the disappointment of the Millers boss.
“The lads were obviously disappointed in there but they have to take responsibility for what they do,” Warne added.
“I’m pleased with the performance. I thought the fans were brilliant and loud. They clapped the team off and I think they appreciate they have seen an exciting game of football but unfortunately we were at the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline, which I thought was a bit harsh on us.”