Ball: We can bridge the gap

Ball, still just 21, got the nod over the experienced Kelvin Wilson in central defence at Huddersfield on Tuesday and did as much as anyone to keep the in-form Terriers on the leash in the second half.

The Millers still couldn't get over the line, suffering their sixth league defeat in ten, and their “goals against” tally remains the worst in the four divisions.

But Ball wants the Huddersfield match to be a turning point, proof that with a bit more concentration and belief bonus points can be collected from the leading sides.

He told the Advertiser: “We need to start getting more results and we will if we play like we did.

“As an away performance, that was our best one, although defensively we were gutted about the first goal. To get back into the game and then concede again was annoying but we produced more solid defending.

“A few of the boys said at half time, 'let's stay in this game because we'll get chances.' We did, four or five of them, and if we'd taken them we'd have got a result.

“We've got Newcastle and Norwich coming up and they're tough but if we play like we did against Huddersfield then we can bridge that gap and get results. Anyone can beat anyone in this league and we can rattle Newcastle like we did Huddersfield in the second half.”