REACTION: Warne dying for a different story

PAUL Warne had no reason to question little other than Rotherham United's finishing power after a particularly painful defeat at Wolves.
Paul Warne following defeat at WolvesPaul Warne following defeat at Wolves
Paul Warne following defeat at Wolves

Danny Ward's failure to capitalise on two one-on-ones, plus Semi Ajayi's late miss, allowed Paul Lambert's side off the hook as they notched a first win in seven to pull a point clear of the Championship safety line.

Interim boss Warne had supportive words for both, praising their week-by-week contribution to the team, but it couldn't dull the disappointment of a sixth straight defeat.

"My overall emotion is pride, but also disappointment," he said. "I can't keep saying the same things every week, I can't blame bad luck all the time. I have to look at each game individually and in this game did the lads do what I asked them to? Yes. Did they knit together? Yes. Did they give their all for the team? I thought they did.

"They competed against a significantly better side than ours but there wasn't many of their team I would pick out and want in my dressing room.

"I'm honest and I thought we were the better team. We created three really good chances and the one right at the end would have given us a good point and would have been a nice little bit of sugar for us.

"People at home might think it's the same old story but it wasn't. It was a really good performance away from home and I don't think we deserved to lose."

"After a shaky start, Aimen Belaid was back to his best. Will Vaulks has taken the right-back position on really well and it was good to have Lee Frecklington and Tom Adeyemi together in a team again. Richie Smallwood was Richie Smallwood, stopping play and trying to build it.

"I thought Joe Mattock was outstanding. For the penalty, I've got no issue with defenders who can shield it out of play but you have to be strong enough to do it and he wasn't.

"Unfortunately I've come out to do the press again on the back of a defeat but I'm not in tears, I'm not holding onto you for support, I was proud of the way the lads played and it makes us look forward to the next game."