In the absence of first team boss Paul Warne, who was missing from the dugout at the City Ground as he continues to self-isolate, assistant Richie Barker was again heaped praise on the work rate of his side as they earned a point on the road at Nottingham Forest.
The Millers took the lead on Tuesday night as Dan Barlaser smashed home a spot kick but were pegged back when Sammy Amoebi capitalised on a spell of home pressure to level the contest up.
Barker’s side were called on to weather a storm as the game progressed but did so successfully leaving the man in the dugout pleased with another point on the road.
“It’s a very good point. We’re unbeaten away from home against some very good teams,” he explained.
“They [Nottingham Forest] are off the back of a very good win at Blackburn and a clean sheet and obviously under a new manager, so they are full of enthusiasm, they have loads of players with loads to prove.
“After the work ethic and the effort that the players put in on Saturday, to come here and do it three days later I think makes it an excellent point.”
Barker continued to admit that lady luck finally smiled towards the Millers after a couple of cruel twists of fate in recent weeks but added it was a fitting reward for the endeavour shown in Nottingham.
“Heroics and a bit of luck. I think a couple hit the woodwork and I think sometimes you get a little bit of luck by doing the right things,” he continued.
“I thought we were extremely brave putting their bodies on the line. That was pretty much the first goal that someone has scored against us that isn’t a penalty, an own goal or a mistake so far – it was good play. For us to get so far into the season and have someone score against us from good play is probably a positive for us really.
“Sometimes you feel hard done by after a game, as we did on Saturday and sometimes you have to wait until the following week or something for a little bit of luck. I suppose you could argue we deserved something out of the game on Saturday but tonight, we maybe nicked a point on the last 10 or 15 minutes.
“What I can say is that the players asked everything we asked them to do. They worked extremely hard and at the moment, we’re mixing it with some very big clubs and holding our own.”
Barlaser netted confidently from 12 yards to score his first goal since returning to the club on a permanent basis with Barker explaining it was something that had been worked on prior to the game.
“I think I may have said this before but it is me who decides who takes the penalties, so it was a big thing to change it tonight. I got Dan in beforehand and spoke to him about it and we spoke about what he was going to do, so I’m extremely pleased.”