Warne believes Rotherham’s best is yet to come

Posted Thursday, January 02, 2020 by PA

Rotherham manager Paul Warne feels there is more to come from his side after they moved up to second in Sky Bet League One with a 2-1 win over Blackpool.

Michael Smith put the Millers in front with a powerful header, only for Armand Gnanduillet to level up the scores before the break.

Dan Barlaser proved to be the match winner when he curled in a free-kick with just five minutes left on the clock, securing a third win on the bounce for Rotherham.

Warne said: “I thought we played really well and it was nice to back up a performance from our last home game.

“It was an optimistic and positive place and we leave the stadium in second and I still think we can get better.

“I thought we deserved to go in in the lead. I thought we were the better side first half.

“I wasn’t content with the draw, I wanted the win. I thought a goal would come. We are good when we shoot that way and I just thought sooner or later something would drop.

“We didn’t create enough chances to win as comfortably as I would like, but I can’t knock the lads’ efforts. The amount of effort they put in was really impressive.

“I tried to squeeze the game out of Blackpool from the first kick.

“I’m not going to get giddy at this time of year because it counts for nothing.”

Blackpool manager Simon Grayson’s winless run was extended to five matches.

Grayson made a tactical change at the break but conceded Rotherham had too much for his side.

He said: “We asked questions of them in the second half. We were in a battle and asked questions of them but again there is a lack of quality in certain areas of the pitch.

“We didn’t do enough in the first 25 minutes or so, if I’m being honest. It could have been dead and buried. They played exactly how we expected them to play, with a lot of balls into the box and set-pieces.

“They went in front and we could have been two down before we got back into the game.

“We made a tactical substitution at half-time to go five at the back and in the second half we were a lot better.

“There is still a lot of work to do to get to where we want to and that does not happen overnight. We have been saying that all season.

“At this moment in time it’s not going for us but I am sure it will do.”