Rotherham United manager Paul Warne was on iFollow Millers duty ahead of the trip to Southend United in Sky Bet League One this weekend.
The Millers boss spoke about his nomination for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month award for November, his thoughts on the team's progress in 2019/20 so far, Michael Ihiekwe and his ever-present record and the test awaiting his side at Roots Hall.
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Warne on Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month nomination for November...
"It's just nice for the team, I think. Obviously my head is on the block but it is just a representation of the month that the lads had. I think if we would have won at Portsmouth, which at 2-2 I thought we were going to, we'd probably have had a greater chance as a club to win it but I don't think we will because there were better teams than us in November.
"We had a good month and hopefully we can have a good December.
"We don't set up to draw any game, we set up to try and win every game. You're better off winning a couple than draw three. That's the way we play, we try and create chances and score goals to win. Fortunately for us, we got a few wins in November which did push us up the league."
Warne on progress in 2019/20 so far...
"We are really pleased. In fairness, on the back of a home defeat I wouldn't say I'm in the mood of being over the moon because that would be a lie. Generally speaking, I think we've done really well.
"We still lack a little bit. I don't think we have enough guile and cutting edge at home when teams set up to frustrate us. I still don't think our set pieces are as good as I would like.
"Considering the change we had and we lost some really good players. Hopefully it is a young team and they're improving. I like to think they are. They're going in the right direction and I'm with them every day.
"We just need to keep going. There are 20-odd games to go and we need to try and collect as many points as we can and see where we are."
Warne on Michael Ihiekwe featuring in every league game so far this season...
"He's been excellent. I've brought him in as captain now and Joe Mattock is back in, but I've kept Icky as skipper.
"He's hardly put a foot wrong from the start of the season and in pre-season. He's been really good and it is no surprise if you're a stat man, that he is on top of virtually every stat in the league.
"In fairness, in losing Semi [Ajayi] in the summer, he's had big shoes to fill but I think he's doing a great job.
"It did him well to go out on loan and play.
"Sometimes you get to a good result by a different route and sometimes it is being coaches by us and others it is by going out to play. For Icky, it just seemed a better path that he went out and got games and he came back, was excellent at the end of the Championship season and he's been virtually faultless this season."
Warne's pre-Southend United injury update...
"I've got a few issues that I don't really want to promote publicly. We will put a strong side out anyway, but I've got a couple of issues out wide and a couple in the middle of the park.
"He's okay [Joe Mattock]. He trained tentatively on Tuesday but I'm hoping he's fine today.
Warne on Richard Wood injury...
"It has been 10 days for 10 days. I think he is running but he can still feel it a little bit which means he isn't ready to join in with the rest of the group."
"Him and Shauny Mac are training today and hopefully the latter might be involved in full training tomorrow."
Warne on trip to Roots Hall to face Southend United...
"In fairness, there is no easy game in this league. It's a bit of a cliche but that's the truth.
"They're fighting for their lives and they're at home.
"In fairness, they absolutely dominated Bristol Rovers in the first half the other day and went 2-0 up which is virtually unheard of there, they have a great home record.
"They drew away at Burton a week before Hammy and Andy Warrington went for me.
"They're in good form, they just haven't had the results. Sometimes when you're down there and things go against you, it feels like everything is, I know that feeling.
"They're a really big, strong, organised team that play."