Boss Paul Warne's reaction after another Rotherham United survival blow

The third-bottom Millers lost 1-0 to Birmingham City this afternoon after being beaten by the same scoreline against Coventry City on Thursday.

Warne's men had numerous opportunities to go in front before falling to an 88th-minute goal and remain four points behind nearest survival rivals Derby County with two games in hand.

“The lads are hugely disappointed but they are still in it," the boss declared. “They are hurting but they will lick their wounds and get ready for another battle.

"We play Middlesbrough on Wednesday and if we get a win against them it will feel great.

The Millers, who have taken four points from their four-match 'Week of Death', did enough to see off the Blues only to fall to Harlee Dean's 88th-minute winner and now have six fixtures left to save their season.

Warne said: “I thought our performance was good. We didn't take our chances. If you don't score at this level there's always the chance you will get done.

"We didn't deserve to be on the losing side of that game. If it was in October we would not be feeling as sore about it. We need points and wins and we came up just short.

“The lads are obviously jaded but they give everything they possibly could."

After making it four wins out of six under new manager Lee Bowyer, Birmingham are nine points clear of Rotherham.

Bowyer said: “It's a big win. I knew it was going to be a tight game with two teams pushing each other and wanting the three points. It was never going to be pretty.

“At this stage of the season, all I care about is winning and getting three points.

“We had the same formations and cancelled one other out. It was about who took the chance when they got it."