Manager Paul Warne was left pleased with his side’s display despite bowing out of the Emirates FA Cup at the Third Round stage.
The Millers played the majority of the tie against Hull City with 10 men after Adam Thompson’s first-half dismissal, but the Championship side scraped through following a late winner from Tom Eaves.
“It seemed a bit harsh,” said Warne of the 3-2 defeat.
“I’m really proud of my team and it’s a bit cheesy after a defeat when a manager goes on about ‘my team’ but I thought they were excellent. We had 66 minutes without a player and asked a lot of the lads out of possession.
“They made their changes bringing their superstars on which, obviously, made a difference. I still thought we defended well. I might have been on the back-end of a couple of bad decisions.
“We had a block from an offside player on Matt Olosunde which led to a goal. There’s an offside for the third goal which they got a corner from. Maybe I’ve got it wrong.
“Overall, I’m proud of the team. We hit the post late on for a draw. Unfortunately today wasn’t our day but I’m not knocking anything the lads did.”
Speaking of the red car for Adam Thompson, Warne was pleased with how his side reacted to go on and take the lead despite a numerical disadvantage.
“Adam says he got some of the ball but, in the modern day game, if you’re off the ground and out of control it’s deemed a red. If that’s all the case, I have no complaints,” the Millers boss said.
“We’ve got good characters. We make them fit and motivated to play for this great club and they give everything. The fact we played for so long with 10 men and scored two great goals, we maybe could have had another couple.
“My only disappointment was the first ten minutes, we showed them too much respect. I asked them to start quicker. The other 80 minutes I have no complaints with. I’m really proud to stand here as their manager.
“I’ll leave the stadium happy because I’m happy with what I’ve seen. Sometimes you get the rub of the green, sometimes you don’t. I don’t think our play got the luck I thought we deserved.”
The goal of the game, though, was scored by Kyle Vassell. A terrific first-time half-volley saw the former Blackpool man register his third of the season.
“It was a great goal. Vass has got lots of great things to his game. He’s a great player and great around the place. I was happy to start him today,” Warne enthused.
“We’ve asked a lot of our players over the Christmas period and you’re a brave manager to take people like Chieo off. But we were fatiguing a little bit and I didn’t want him not available for Oxford. We’ve got issues already with Joe Mattock, Thommo (Adam Thompson) and Robbo (Clark Robertson) not available. We’re struggling at the back, massively.”