Rotherham United manager Paul Warne admitted that the first goal was crucial to his side’s success, during the Millers 3-0 victory over Derby County tonight.
Both teams had chances to open the scoring in a tightly-contested affair and it was the home side who got their noses in front with just under 15 minutes left to play.
Michael Smith netted his sixth goal in eight games to double the lead and Ryan Giles found the net with two minutes to play to add gloss to the scoreline, as Rotherham completed their first league double over the Rams since the 1965/66 campaign.
“The first goal was always going to be crucial, but to come away with three was very pleasing. Viktor has come in and done well and fair play to my defence who protected him really well,” Warne told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I don’t think we were running as hard as I’d have liked in the first 20 minutes, I thought they moved the ball well and we struggled to create as much as we’d have liked. After that we grew into the game and finished the game stronger.
“We got them in at half time and asked them to play a little bit quicker and I thought if we did that we’d be able to run over them in the second half and it turned out to be the case.
“The lads have done really well tonight, I’m sure they watched the results come in last night, but you control your own destiny. We’ve got enough games to get enough points and we’ve just got to try and carry on what we’re doing.”
The Millers were without goalkeeper Jamal Blackman for tonight’s success over the Rams, with manager Paul Warne confirming that the on-loan Chelsea man is self-isolating.
“Jamal Blackman is self-isolating, unfortunately he wasn’t available, but Viktor came in and did brilliantly, Josh Vickers could also come in and play as well, so we’re in a great place in that department,” Warne explained.