Paul Warne post Southend United...
Manager Paul Warne felt that Southend’s extra experience was the difference after the Millers slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Roots Hall.
Goals either side of half-time from Stephen McLaughlin and Simon Cox sealed the win for the hosts on a pudding of a pitch on the Essex coast.
The Millers didn’t get the breaks in a tight encounter, with boss Warne admitting that a slow start cost his side against their more experienced counterparts.
“It was hugely disappointing,” Warne said after the game.
“We don't come away to lose games and our away form has been excellent in recent weeks and months. I think that if I am truly honest, I just think that we got a bit 'old-manned' today. We have a really young side and they have one of the more senior groups in the league. The lads need to learn as they go along and I just think that initially in the first 25 minutes, it wasn't a pitch to play football on, and I just think that they just played the conditions better than us.
"They kept turning our back four, we kept going back to our 'keeper. They were getting throw-ins and just kept turning us and they've got experience in their team and they were prepared to win ugly. There is nothing wrong with that.”
The Millers did have opportunities with David Ball going close in the first-half whilst Warne’s side had two chances cleared off the line in the closing stages as they went in search of an equaliser.
“I think that Pricey kept us in it a little bit first-half. We rode the storm and then Bally had a shot across the face of the goal, and Semi probably should have done better with a header as well,” Warne added.
“I thought that second half we were considerably better. I thought that we were the only team who were going to score. They went with one up, we changed it and went 3-4-3 to try and get the goal and I thought we were the only that team was going to score second half. Their 'keeper made a great save from Michael Smith, then a goal-line scramble off Jerry Yates. Unfortunately an individual error from one massive boot from the 'keeper has cost us.”