'I wish fans had been there to see it' ... Rotherham boss Paul Warne reacts to the 3-3 draw with Stoke City

The Millers and Potters went toe to toe to produce one of the Championship games of the season, with the home side fighting back from a goal down to twice lead before honours finished even.

"I thoroughly enjoyed that and I don't normally say that," Warne said. "I am usually a nervous kitten.

"It is sad that the fans were not in because of coronavirus. If it had been a full house of Stoke and Rotherham fans, I think both would have really enjoyed it and clapped the teams off.

"It is just a pity everyone was not in. I don't very often say this, but even I might have paid to watch that. It was a really good game for a neutral and I am really proud that I manage my players as they were pretty amazing."

Rotherham were 1-0 down early on but goals from Matt Crooks, Michael Smith and Crooks had them eyeing a famous victory at one stage.

"Both teams were not settling for a draw and both wanted to win," the boss said. "The game virtually had everything. We created enough chances to win we could have easily lost it as well.

"I always ask the lads to leave everything out on the pitch and they did.”

Rotherham remained third from bottom - with matches in hand - after their exploits against big-spending visitors bidding for a play-off spot.

"Their bench was very strong," Warne said. "If you can bring on a £10 million winger (Jack Clarke) on and an ex-Liverpool player (Joe Allen), you are doing all right for yourself.

"I think Stoke have probably assembled the best squad in the league and assembled the best strength in depth. The longer the game went on, they kept freshening it up.

"There are no complaints from me at all about the goals we conceded. Overall, I am absolutely cock-a-hoop with our lads and I am really proud of them."

"The dressing room was really down afterwards. The lads feel like they have let two points slip. I have just told them how amazing I thought they were."