Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United interim boss Paul Warne insists his side will be doing everything in their power to overcome Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night and will not ‘roll over’, despite their opponents having their sights firmly set on promotion to the Premier League.The caretaker manager is keen to ensure that his players turn in a competitive performance against one of this season’s Sky Bet Championship heavyweights and will not consider the recent results that have gone against Chris Hughton’s side.
“I don't want to let him [Hughton] down and think my team will just roll over because that's not what our teams will do,” Warne told www.themillers.co.uk.
“They'll fight and scrap for everything they can get and hopefully it will be a competitive game that the fans will like to watch.
“I've just watched the Forest game this morning and yesterday and I could see certain things in there, but what I do know is that Chris will get them fired up knowing it will be a battle here.”
Heads were turned at the weekend as the high-flying Seagulls slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but Warne is adamant that will not change his opinion of what he believes to be quality opposition vying for a return to form in midweek.
“They need to get back to winning ways because if they don't their season will disintegrate pretty rapidly and it's a crucial time for a lot of teams, ourselves included,” he added.
“I know they've been on the back of a couple of defeats and the Newcastle one, they were good in fairness for 70 minutes and played really well at home.
“It would be a better time to play them if we had won on Saturday as well. They're a good side and they play 4-4-2, or they have been.”
Meanwhile, winger Anthony Knockaert has been heralded as one of the second tier’s most dangerous players since his arrival at the Amex Stadium but interim boss Warne insists he needs no reminding of the threat that he will pose.
However, there will be no special treatment for the Frenchman with the Millers’ chief keen to instil belief in his own team first and foremost ahead of the midweek match against their South Coast opposition.
“I can't afford to double up on him. I have to let my players play and give them confidence to play against him and whoever I have playing against him will know the situation and sometimes in football, people go past people,” Warne continued.
“He is a good player, he's got pace and he comes inside. When he really wants to play he can pull teams apart and he reminds me a little bit of Mahrez at Leicester.
“As long as the cross is being defended when it comes in or the shot is being blocked then I haven't got any issue."