Paul Warne post Brentford...
MILLERS boss Paul Warne admits that his newly-promoted side had a “rude awakening” as their eagerly anticipated Championship return ended in defeat at the hands of Brentford.
The Millers slipped to an opening-day defeat in the capital as Neal Maupay’s double with strikes from Sergi Canos, Lewis Macleod and Ollie Watkins condemned Warne’s side to an opening day defeat.
Will Vaulks’s late strike added a little bit of respectability to the scoreline at Griffin Park but it was scant consolation for the Millers boss, speaking to the assembled media afterwards.
“I think the lads physically gave me everything they had in a tough game on a hot day,” Warne said.
“Brentford are a possession based side and we asked them to play narrow but they kept switching the play and left us with one-on-one’s. They have got amazing players.
“It was a rude awakening for myself included but we are not the only side who are going to get beat down here. Hand on heart all around the pitch they were better than us.”
Following the disappointment of Maupay’s early opener, the Millers gradually got a foothold in the game and Joe Newell was denied an equaliser by Daniel Bentley’s superb save before Sergi Canos gave Rotherham a mountain to climb with a second goal, just prior to the interval – in a few key moments which Warne believed gave Brentford the initiative, which they never relinquished.
“At one-nil, we had a good chance to score through Joe Newell. If we get a goal we could have got under their ribs a little bit. At this level, you have to take their chances when they come.” Warne added.
“After the first half drinks break, we looked a good side but we conceded just before half-time which was a killer for us.
“I thought their set-pieces were excellent and we struggled to deal with them but if we would have gone in one behind at half time, it may have been different while it was a case of damage limitation near the end.”
Despite the nature of the score line in West London, Warne was pleased with the impact of his substitutes, including youngster Ben Wiles, who acquitted himself well on his Millers senior debut, near the end.
“I thought Willo (Ryan Williams) added a bit of pace while Vas (Kyle Vassell) came on and gave us a presence up top. Young Wilsey came on in the middle of the park and did well for us.” Warne added.