REACTION: Pointer in right direction for Rotherham United boss

Paul Warne and opposite number Simon Grayson on the touchline at Deepdale. Picture: Jim BrailsfordPaul Warne and opposite number Simon Grayson on the touchline at Deepdale. Picture: Jim Brailsford
Paul Warne and opposite number Simon Grayson on the touchline at Deepdale. Picture: Jim Brailsford

PAUL Warne pointed to “green shoots” of hope for next season after seeing Rotherham United snap their losing away run at Preston.

The 1-1 draw ended a barren sequence on the road stretching back to October and continued the Millers’ late-season improvement, collecting five points from the last four Championship games.

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Although Richie Smallwood’s early strike was cancelled out by Stevie May just before half time, team chief Warne had few quibbles with the performance of a team missing injured top scorer Danny Ward.

“We had to shake the pack up a bit,” he said. “I had to ask our captain, Lee Frecklington, to play in a position he is not too keen on but is more than happy to play. Jonson Clarke-Harris was a threat up top and Tom Adeyemi always had the chance of a goal.

“From the back to the front we were great. Richard O’Donnell has really grown into his shirt and his back four have confidence in him and I think you could see that throughout the team.”

Jonson Clarke-Harris battles it out.

The result didn’t stop relegated Rotherham ending a league campaign without an away win for the first time in 84 years but Warne sees positives as his attention turns to life back in League One next season.

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He added: “We’ve kept a good team spirit among the lads and they’ve kept going when they could have easily have downed tools. I don’t think you can say they have done that in any of my games.

“It was a great goal from Richie Smallwood and Preston’s goal was a wonder strike. There are green shoots and the lads can take confidence from this.

“If we had conceded late on it would have been a heartbreaker. The fact we came away with a point is good for everyone.”