Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United boss Paul Warne believes his side will thrive on the atmosphere that as a nearly 4,000-strong support follows his side to Saturday’s South Yorkshire derby at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The Millers manager leads his side into battle against local rivals Doncaster Rovers this weekend confident that a packed away end will ensure his side perform to their best in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
“I think with a local derby, especially with a good following, as a player you feel like you can that bit harder, tackle that bit stronger and they're the games you want to play in,” Warne told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I think when we get to the game on Saturday and the lads warm up and they can see the fans there when the game starts it will add a bit more excitement.
“From a players' point of view, if I knew that there was 4,000 fans cheering me on it would give me a right boost.
“It's always great, especially if you score an away goal, with that sort of following. I think the lads will really appreciate that and hopefully that will help them to perform to the level.”
“When we played at Rochdale there was a good percentage [of away fans in the crowd] and they were loud and that really helped the lads and hopefully that will be the same for the Donny game.”
Warne continued to add that he is confident that Saturday’s all-South Yorkshire clash will produce a compelling contest whatever the result, but admits that the varying styles of both sides could mean that individual battles could be the difference.
“I'd like to think it will be an entertaining game with goals in. We're on tv and we're in the entertainment industry, so we're looking forward to it and hopefully we can come out victorious,” he continued.
“I think all derbies in the end merge into the same sort of thing. I think it will be a competitive game and Doncaster are a good footballing side, with what they do predominantly within the width of the goal area.
“It will be conflicting styles so to speak. We'll set up with an eye on trying to stop them as they will with us, so it might end up just being a man for man battle.
“When the whistle goes it will be a humdinger of a game and we'll explain to the lads the importance of the game and the way we are going to play today, so we'll build them up and look forward to the challenge.”