Satisfaction for Millers chief despite awards near miss

IT was a near miss for Paul Warne and Joe Newell in the monthly League One awards but the Rotherham United chief and his team have still reached one of their goals for the season.

Warne was pipped to the manager’s gong for February by Plymouth’s Derek Adams and Newell for the player’s award by Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong.

Just like the Millers boss, Adams led his side to five wins out five in February, a run that included the scalps of Shrewsbury and Blackburn. Plymouth have shot from the bottom four to play-off contention in recent months.

Warne acknowledged that Adams was a worthy winner but can still take pride in three nominations this term. He was put forward back in September and won the award in December.

“Like I said last time I was nominated for Manager of the Month, I see it as a team award,” he told the Advertiser.

“We said at the start that if we could get three (Manager of the Month) nominations in the course of the season then we'd be there or thereabouts.

“With two months to go and being nominated three times, the last for February, that's credit to the lads.

“They have taken on the messages me and the coaches are trying to give them.”

Darren Potter: back in full training.

Fourth in League One and unbeaten in 14, the Millers chase an eighth straight win when they host Rochdale tomorrow and they’ll do it with no fresh injury concerns. Long-term absentee Darren Potter is back in full training and striker Jamie Proctor could return before the end of the season.

Despite their hot form, Rotherham still have it all to do to nick an automatic promotion spot but Warne promised his players wouldn’t stop pushing.

“Of the top three, we’ve still only got Wigan to play but it’s great that the players believe they can win every game and hope someone slips up above them.

 “If we could finish in the play-offs, we’d have all taken that at the start,” he added.

Catch today’s Advertiser for the latest on Paul Warne’s contract situation and his exclusive weekly column, plus an in-depth look at this weekend’s game. And don’t forget to follow developments at the NYS right through tomorrow afternoon on our Live Matchday Blog.