MILLERS chief Paul Warne was adamant that his side were worth a share of the spoils, as Lewis Grabban’s late penalty saw the Millers slip to a heart breaking last-gasp defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
Warne’s side looked well set to secure their first away point of their Championship campaign following a hard-working display at the City Ground but Grabban came back to haunt his former side – with the decisive goal from the spot, with just four minutes to go.
Speaking to the assembled media afterwards, Warne was frustrated that his side were not duly rewarded for their backs-to-the-wall performance – which saw the highly-rated hosts frustrated for large periods of the game.
“I thought we were excellent. I was really pleased,” the Millers boss enthused.
“We set up the right way I thought. I’m not even sure that Forest had a shot on target today. Out of possession, we asked the lads to do a lot and we frustrated them and on the counter-attack, we looked really dangerous.
“If I’m honest I felt really comfortable throughout the game and I think we more than deserved a point.”
With chances few and far between for both sides, Rotherham weathered an early Forest storm at the start of the second half – with Joao Carvalho smashing a point-blank effort against the foot of the post.
Warne’s side gradually grew in confidence and they came close to breaking the deadlock when Kyle Vassell was inches away from turning home sub Michael Smith’s cross before Richie Towell brought the best out of Costel Pantilimon with a rising effort.
With the game meandering to a draw, there was a cruel twist for the Millers when Williams was penalised for felling Ben Osborn in the box and Grabban coolly stepped up to deny the Millers any reward for their efforts – to the disappointment of the Millers chief.
“It’s difficult to take at the moment but I said to the lads that if you play like that every week, you will make everyone at the club proud,” Warne added.
“If you come away from home and perform like that then you are going to pick up points and the win will come sooner than later.
“I’m proud of how they performed and that’s my overall feeling. One mistake has cost us.
“I haven’t seen (the penalty) back. At the time we were screaming because I saw him running on the blind side of Willo. I don’t know but I thought Willo got a part of the ball but realistically, if that was up the other end, would I want that as a penalty kick, yes I would so I’ve got no complaints with the penalty.
“The lads do not make errors on purpose and I’m going to support them fully because their effort was excellent.
“The lads have given me everything and I feel sorry for them that have come away with nothing because our overall performance was good today.”