Paul Warne reacts to Rotherham United's League One promotion setback against Charlton Athletic

BOSS Paul Warne believes Rotherham United's Wembley triumph could have worked against them as his team lost ground in the race for automatic promotion from League One this afternoon.
Match action. Picture by Kerrie BeddowsMatch action. Picture by Kerrie Beddows
Match action. Picture by Kerrie Beddows

The Millers paraded the Papa John's trophy they won last weekend prior to their home clash with Charlton Athletic but the team in jubilant mood at the final whistle were the Londoners.

Warne's men are now three points shy of the top-two berth they have occupied for so long this season in their bid to make a quickfire return to the Championship.

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The manager said: “We were just not at our best. Maybe it was a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' or emotional fatigue, although I don't want to use that as an excuse.

Charlton scored a stunning long-range goal after the break to take the spoils 1-0 on a day when too many players were out of form for the Millers who didn't muster an effort on target

“I am not sure we deserved to lose but I don't know if we did enough to win," Warne said.

“Our first-half performance was okay. We looked like we were going to nick a goal and I thought that if we got one we'd go on and win handsomely.

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"But wasn't the case, and it is happening a few too many times at home at the moment.

“After we conceded, we didn't play well enough to get back into it. We haven't worked their goalkeeper enough.”

The Millers have now won only one of their last six league matches.

Addicks boss Johnnie Jackson said: “Rotherham are a good side with good players and threats all over the pitch. To come here and win 1-0 - and with the manner of the performance - is magnificent.

"We limited them to very little and I don't think our goalkeeper has really made a save. We defended our box very well and had chances on the break.”