Boss Paul Warne decides on pecking order for Rotherham United goalkeepers

PAUL Warne has confirmed Jamal Blackman will be his first-choice goalkeeper but admitted it was a hard decision to leave out young understudy Viktor Johansson at the weekend.
Jamal BlackmanJamal Blackman
Jamal Blackman

Loan shot-stopper Blackman came straight back from an ankle injury to play in Saturday's 1-0 loss at Swansea City even though Johansson had performed admirably on his Championship debut two weeks earlier as the Millers beat Preston North End 2-1.

Warne, whose team are at QPR tomorrow (Tuesday) night, spoke to the pair in the build-up to the trip to South Wales to explain his thinking.

"Yeah, it was a very tough choice," the manager said. "I had a conversation with them.

"Jamal, apart from the Luton game when his kicking was all over the shop, has hardly put a foot wrong. He has come in as my number one.

Viktor Johansson

"I made a mistake in previous seasons where I just kept swapping the goalkeepers all of the time and no-one got a fair crack at it.

"Viktor is a great keeper. I said to him 'If you had played ten games on the spin like Jamal had and someone came in for one game when you are missing, would you expect your shirt back?' and he said 'Yes'."

However, Warne has warned Chelsea's Blackman that he must show his best form to keep Swede Johansson out of the team.

"Viktor is pushing him all of the time," the boss said. "If Jamal has a bad game then Viktor will have his chance."

The Millers head to QPR in 19th place after their defeat at the Liberty Stadium.

They were poor in the first half but four substitutions sparked a second-half revival and they could have earned a point but for a terrible decision from referee Matt Donohue who turned down 85th-minute penalty appeals despite a clear handball from Ryan Bennett.

Warne brought on Mickel Miller, Trevor Clarke, Michael Smith and Kyle Vassell and reserved special praise for left-back Clarke who was in the squad for the first time this season.

"Trev is pretty fearless," he said. "In the best possible way, he doesn't respect everyone. He is not in awe of anyone.

"Going forward, he was really good. I was pleased with him."