Millers manager Paul Warne caught up with the press following his side’s 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley at AESSEAL New York Stadium this afternoon.
“I think we’ll play a lot better,” said Warne. “I thought, first-half, we were good. We caused them some problems. Carlton took his goal really well, it was a good header. But we needed that second goal, really.
“They put us under a lot of pressure in the second half. We had to defend a lot and it felt a bit edgy. But we’ll play a lot better and that and lose. I’m not complaining. At the end of the season, it’s three points which is the same as a 3-0 win.
“To go down to 10 men, the lads showed real character. I felt the fans really helped when we went down to 10. They got behind the team which was good. We will play a lot better than that. We’ve gone up to sixth and I still don’t think we are all guns blazing.
“Hopefully, we will improve and can have a good season.”
The match was soured as Chiedozie Ogbene was shown a second yellow card for an alleged dive when he nipped in to win the ball deep inside his own half, meaning the winger misses next week’s visit to MK Dons.
“Obviously I’m a long way away,” continued Warne. “I’m not sitting on the fence because I wouldn’t defend the indefensible. I thought we won the free-kick. I thought Chieo just got there and felt contact then went down. The ref was a lot closer and I have to respect the fact he has seen something. I haven’t watched it back.
“It’s a big blow for him. But it’s the next man up and if the next person does well he’ll have to fight his way back in.”
The only goal of the game arrived on the stroke of half-an-hour, as Ben Wiles’ free-kick was powered home by the head of Carlton Morris.
Warne continued, “As a forward force, Crooksy has got sore groins and wasn’t as effective as he has been in recent weeks. Carlton was a bit of a threat in the first half but Chieo was a biggest threat. He likes to keep things simple and he put a lot of crosses into the box. We probably should have scored off one after three or four minutes which would have settled our nerves.
“We got three points and I hope the fans go home happy. But they’ve been through the ringer.
“Three points are essential. Three points at home count the same as away. But we have to send our fans home happy. I would have liked to have played a lot better. But they’ve (Accrington) taken three points off some really top teams this season and you can see why.”