Rotherham United boss Paul Warne spoke with the local media ahead of the club’s final game in-hand which takes them to Luton Town for their penultimate 2020/21 Sky Bet Championship fixture on Tuesday night.
It presents the Millers with another chance to put some points on the board and potentially lift themselves out of the relegation zone at Derby County’s expense ahead of the final round of fixtures which take place on Saturday.
The Millers follow up Tuesday night’s trip to Kenilworth Road with a finale against Cardiff City in South Wales, whilst Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday do battle on the last day in another game which could significantly affect the landscape of the final table.
Below is what the Millers boss had to say heading into the last week of the season…
Warne on Nathan Jones and his Luton Town side…
"I'm friends with their manager - not friendly enough that he'll do me a favour obviously because we're all professional people.
"They're a well-organised side with a really fit and determined group.
"I've been really impressed with them this year and when they came here it was a really competitive game and they scored off a set piece.
"They have got energy throughout their team and the ability to change it and I think they have had a really successful season.”
Warne on Luton’s survival last season and their progression in 2020/21…
"For us to pick up anything tomorrow night we're going to have to absolutely be at our best and take chances, that is for sure.
"They've done really well, haven't they.
"Last year especially they were a really good home side and I've said a number of times I would have liked the home fans in for us this year.
Warne on the constantly changing landscape at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship…
"If we are to stay up, I think we'll need at least four points. It would be an amazing story and one that I would like to tell my grandkids in the future.
"If we get three points, we'll be out of the bottom three but Derby are playing Sheffield Wednesday on the last day and one of those you would definitely think is going to want three points.
"I think even if we win on Tuesday, we're going to have to back it up again.
"We can't have an 'L' beside our name in the next two games.
"It would be nice if we could get a win or it might be that we get an 86th minute wondergoal from Wingy again, we get a draw and it goes down to the last game of the season and we cross our fingers that they [Derby and Sheffield Wednesday] cancel each other out.
"Stranger things have happened and sport is great for that. Like if you watched our team on Saturday and you are a Rotherham fan you probably needed a good lie down after the game.
"Hopefully we'll be in it after the game on Tuesday night to go to Cardiff on my birthday and make dreams come true, which would be great.”
Warne on the Millers’ needing to be collectively more “ruthless” at the top end of the pitch…
"I don't think creating chances has been a problem. We have lost 19 games by one goal and it could have happened on Saturday. I think we've had 10 of those games where we have had more shots that the opposition.
“We haven't been good enough collectively this isn't an individual thing. We've got two strikers that have scored a lot but collectively, as a team, we haven't been ruthless enough with half chances and above. To be successful you have to score goals and that has probably been our one miss this year."