Rotherham United manager Paul Warne described the first away win of the season as ‘pretty amazing’ after his side netted a stoppage time winner to defeat Queens Park Rangers.
The Millers looked on course for their first away win in the second tier since April 2016 when Semi Ajayi gave them the lead deep into the second-half.
An equaliser five minutes from time from Bright Osayi-Samuel looked to have rescued a point for the Hoops, but with virtually the last touch of the game Ajayi headed in Anthony Forde’s cross to seal a dramatic winner.
After the game Warne was elated, and speaking to the assembled press corps, he beamed:
“It is pretty amazing to be honest. I won’t underestimate how much it means to me, the dressing room and all the travelling fans who made a fantastic effort to come down here on a Wednesday night. It was a big game for us, we knew we had to come away with something, so to take a lead and then give it away, I was thinking the worst.
"I thought that we were much better in the second half than we were in the first. Someone has kindly told me that we haven’t won here for 68 years, so for us to come here and nick a goal so late on means a lot.
“It is important for us to pick up points obviously, and that’s our first away win for a while. It means a lot to the lads. I always go on about the game changers, it is not always about the 11, the subs came on and had a great effect. For Fordey to put in a quality ball in like that, and for Semi to attack it, especially where our fans were, was a really special moment.”
In a tight first-half there was little to choose between the sides, in a half that was also bereft of clear cut chances.
After the break though, Warne felt his side improved and after Michael Smith went close with a header, the Millers gradually cranked up the pressure.
Ajayi put the Millers in a great position, but after the QPR equaliser, Warne admitted that he didn’t see the winner coming.
“I didn’t (see it coming) because being a manager you are always feeling pessimistic,” he added.
“I was worried that they were going to score.
“But they had a chance early on when Marek made a save, they got the goal second-half, but aside from that he didn’t have much to do save-wise.”
The Millers have lost Joe Mattock for the weekend after he received his tenth booking, but Warne has backed his side to have the character to cope with the loss of the defender.
He continued: “Joe Mattock will be missing, that was his 10th booking, so that’s a problem. We’ll have to reshuffle the pack again, but there is no disputing the fact we have unbelievable character.
“We had a couple missing from the weekend, so for us to come here and do that was impressive.
“Every player shook my hand and said we are better without Will Vaulks, so that went down well in the dressing room,” Warne joked.
“It has been a really good day, and we need to try and pick something up Saturday against a really good team.”