MATCHDAY CENTRE: New voice but same outcome for Rotherham United

THE real story of Rotherham United's 14th league defeat of the season wasn't the match itself.

It was the sight of Paul Warne, choking back the tears after the match as he spoke about the upset of not being able to produce a long overdue win for a club he has graced with nothing less than 100 per cent commitment in all his years as a player and coach.

Warne shouldn't be so hard on himself because many more experienced men than him would struggle to get to the grips with the multitude of problems surrounding the Championship's bottom team.

The players wanted to play for him at Burton on Saturday, you could see that, but no amount of hard graft can make up for the old limitations and weaknesses, even against moderate opposition.

JON TAYLOR GIVES CHASE AGAINST BURTON

Despite the closeness of the scoreline, Nigel Clough's robust, athletic team won reasonably comfortably and the gap of 15 points between them and Rotherham will surely not now be bridged.

Caretaker boss Warne shook it up, handing a first start since August to winger Anthony Forde. He brought Joe Mattock, Will Vaulks and Jon Taylor back.

Before the game he was out leading the warm-up, as normal, and when the players emerged from the tunnel he was there, geeing them up. It was the sort of passion that's been missing too often this season.

The Millers started brightly and if an early Jon Taylor chance had gone in, who knows?

The sequence leading up to the goal saw time Millers wages rebel Chris O'Grady outmuscle young defender Dominic Ball with ease.

It happened time and again, O'Grady's hold-up play the focal point of all the home team's best work. The Millers couldn't get to grips with him or the Brewers' eager and combative five-man midfield.

WARNE'S WORDS: Emotional Warne deflated after defeat

The fingertips of stand-in keeper Lewis Price stopped O'Grady making it 2-0 and even though Izzy Brown flashed a scoreable header wide before half time, the match was as good as over as a contest when Matty Palmer volleyed in their second goal just after the hour.

The long-suffering Millers fans had already had a few laughs at their own expense and delivered some less than complimentary chants about Alan Stubbs and Kenny Jackett by the time Tom Adeyemi hooked in a late consolation goal from Brown's centre.

PLAYER RATING: Our player ratings from Burton defeat

The gap to safety, now at 13 points, looks more daunting than ever.