Paul Warne post-Derby County...
MILLERS boss Paul Warne is backing his side to shrug off the setback of a heavy reversal at the hands of play-off chasing Derby County, in the remaining seven games of the campaign.
The Millers’ Championship survival hopes were dealt a blow as Frank Lampard’s side ran riot at the Pride Park Stadium. Martyn Waghorn’s hat-trick, including two spot-kicks, alongside strikes from Bradley Johnson, Mason Mount and Duane Holmes left Warne’s side on the end of a humbling defeat at the Pride Park Stadium, despite skipper Richard Wood’s second half consolation.
Speaking to the assembled press corps afterwards, Warne admitted that the nature of the result was a tough pill to swallow for all those of a Rotherham United persuasion.
“The score line is hugely disappointing.” Warne stated.
“I knew they would start well but I thought we started really well. Willo had a good chance that I thought he should have put in but they won a penalty and they got their tails up. The second goal has fundamentally killed us.
“I asked the lads in the second half to win the half but I don’t even think 6-1 flattered them, to be honest.
“I’m disappointed and a little bit embarrassed because I don’t think it doesn’t sum up our season and how we are. We are playing against a team, who have four or five internationals on the bench, so I know what we are up against but I still expect us to be better than that.”
Warne conceded that the absence of key personnel, in the shape of Joe Mattock and Will Vaulks, through suspension and a bout of illness which swept through the Millers camp in the days leading up to the game, undermined his side’s hopes in Derbyshire – although the Millers boss admitted that his injury-hit side were second best for large spells of the game.
“I have got a few of my main men out,” Warne added.
“Zak (Vyner) played today when he wasn’t well enough to play but we had no other full-backs. We had Billy (Jones) playing left-back. I’ve got Will Vaulks, who has been monumental for us, out and Joe Mattock and Michael Smith out, but it doesn’t take away from how disappointed I am. We gave away the ball too many times today and they cut us open.”
Despite the nature of the score line, Warne dismissed the notion that the result will have any lasting effect on his side’s aspirations to preserve their cherished Championship status, at the first time of asking.
“I’ve asked the lads to take a look at themselves and we have seven cup-finals games left,” Warne added.
“We’ve had defeats before, so we have to bounce back and have a positive reaction for the Forest game.
“We will come back in Monday and look through the good and the bad and learn from it. No-one can have any complaints, if I don’t play them next week. The players want to do well but that wasn’t the case today. I want the lads to stay together. We all want to do well for the club and we do not want our season to tail away.”