Rotherham United Manager Paul Warne spoke to the local media ahead of Saturday’s hosting of MK Dons at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Up for discussion ahead of the top of the table clash was the manager’s latest team news, competition for places in the goalkeeping department and his reflections on the recent trip to Shrewsbury.
Read all about it in our press highlights below or watch all the video content on iFollow Millers, HERE.
Warne on Dan Barlaser becoming a dad…
“He’s got a new baby son, so he’ll have even more motivation to play well in the team now!
“All is good with everyone else and we’re looking forward to having Dan back for Saturday.”
Warne on the fitness of Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Mickel Miller…
“Neither will be available for the weekend unfortunately.
“Mickel will join training tomorrow, REG joined in today and I’ll earmark them both for Hartlepool.”
Warne on team news…
“We’ve had a bit of illness in the camp for the last few days, with a few lads feeling sorry for themselves!
“Hopefully we’ll be able to come through that before Saturday and put a vibrant group out to face MK Dons.”
Warne on Shrewsbury reflections…
“We made a few changes, but all for the right reasons. Some were enforced and others were for educated reasons.
“It was good to come away with a point, if you don’t play well, just make sure you keep a clean sheet.
“We played well in the first half and had a few good chances, but in the second half, we have to credit Shrewsbury.
“They put it on us a bit more and we didn’t have as many answers as I’d have liked. I made two attacking subs at half time because I wanted to win the game, but it didn’t have the impact we wanted.
“We’ve spoke to the lads today and they know we need to be at our very best at the weekend, against a very good team.”
Warne the hectic run of fixtures…
“They are elite sportsmen and there are injury risks with everyone when you’re playing so frequently.
“This is why we make changes, there have been a lot of games on some very heavy pitches and a lot of managers have said the same.
“There have been a lot of games recently, but we weren’t at our best and I’m not making excuses. Had I been offered four points from the last two away games, I’d have probably taken it.”
Warne on Josh Vickers…
“I haven’t been surprised by Josh’s form. He trains really well, him and Viktor are usually the first in and out of the building.
“He made an amazing save in the second half, which was a brilliant reflex save. His performances have been really good.
“Sometimes you need a goalkeeper to bail you out and there’s no better example than the Accrington game, or on Tuesday where his save preserved us a point.”
Warne on competition for places in the goalkeeping department…
“Competition is key and particularly with the goalkeepers, their strength comes from their collectively.
“When one of the goalkeepers does well, the other is the first to congratulate him and I know I’ve said this before, but I do trust them all equally.
“They drive each other on and are students of the game. It defiantly helps when you have two great ones and we’re fortunate to have them both.”
Warne on the promotion race…
“We’ve put ourselves in a great position, but that is all it is. If we can keep our performance levels to the same levels we have done for the majority of the campaign, we’ll give ourselves a really good chance.
“Everyone keeps winning, though, so we can’t take our foot off the gas.”
Warne on MK Dons…
“We know it’s a big game because of where they are in the table, but it is also not season defining. With the volume of games we can’t dwell on any result and win, lose or draw, that is what we’ll be doing here.
“Obviously, you want to beat the teams around you more, because you’re taking points off them, as well as gaining them for yourself.
“The lads know the importance of the game, against a very good team who are on as good form as us.
“We have to be at our very best.”
Warne on the previous game between the two sides…
“I was really pleased with how the lads played that day. We’ve watched the game back and clipped it, showing the lads what we liked and didn’t like.
“They did cause us a lot of problems on the day, even though we won 3-0 and had opportunities to score.
“The 3-0 away win was a very good win against a really good side and the performance will have to be just as good on Saturday.”