Paul Warne post Scunthorpe...
MILLERS boss Paul Warne was quick to hail his side’s clinical display after they secured an eye-catching 2-1 victory at promotion rivals Scunthorpe United in an enthralling encounter at Glanford Park.
Goals either side of the break from Joe Newell and Semi Ajayi earned the Millers their fourth win on the spin, at the expense of Graham Alexander’s side and stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games in the process.
Speaking to assembled press corps afterwards, Warne was full of praise for his side’s efforts in North Lincolnshire.
“I was really pleased, obviously. I thought it was a really good game with two really in-form teams,” Warne stated.
“I knew if we could get in and around Scunthorpe and compete against them then we are taking good strides forward. We are happy with how we played.
“There were not many chances in the first-half, although not through a lack of effort from either team.
“We took our chance well and in the second-half, we more than matched them. We were the stronger side in the second half and on another day, we might have scored more. I was disappointed with the goal we gave away but apart from that I don’t think our ‘keeper had much to do.”
Following Newell’s first-half opener, Ajayi looked to have given Warne’s men some much-needed breathing space in the second half, with a well-taken header but sub Lee Novak put the game back in the balance, almost immediately.
Despite the Millers having to weather eight minutes of second half stoppage time and Duane Holmes squandering a gilt-edged chance for the hosts – the Millers army of over two thousand fans made the short hop back to South Yorkshire in jubilant mood - to the delight of the Millers chief, who praised his side’s defensive display.
“Our subs came on and changed the game. I want my lads to run and scrap for the shirt. The subs had a positive impact.” Warne enthused.
“We tweaked a couple of things at half time. We couldn’t always press because of the way they play, they can pick you off in the middle. I knew they would come at us. I thought we started the game really well. They put pressure on us after we scored, but we absorbed it well. We defended really well. We weathered the storm and kept breaking away. With the pace, energy and enthusiasm of our team, we are always going to cause problems.”