Paul Warne's message after Rotherham United defeat

MANAGER Paul Warne called for patience after Rotherham United lost their opening League One home match of the season.
Paul WarnePaul Warne
Paul Warne

The Millers dominated the first half at windy AESSEAL New York Stadium yet went on to lose 2-0 to newly-promoted Lincoln City.

Warne was disappointed with his side's display but warned against expecting too much too soon while summer recruits and a new 4-3-3 system are bedding in.

“We have players who have played together for only three or four games," he said. "It's going to take a little bit of time to gel.

“I think if we would have scored first half when we were on top - and we had plenty of chances to do that - the game would have taken a different path. But it wasn't to be.​"

After Kyle Vassell and Michael Smith had spurned glorious chances to open the scoring, Lincoln went ahead against the run of play with a Shaun MacDonald own goal just before the break and added a second three minutes after the restart when poor marking allowed Harry Anderson a free header at a corner.

“It wasn't a great game or spectacle," Warne added. "The conditions played a major role in that.

“I don't think we played as well second half as we did in the first half. We just didn't take our chances when we were on top and we got sucker-punched.​

“We didn't make their keeper work hard enough. I wasn't over the moon with the performance. We didn't do enough to warrant a draw. The effort was there but the confidence wasn't.​

“Lincoln, and I don't blame them for doing this, slowed the game down to its death and it frustrated our players.​"

Imps boss Danny Cowley said: “We were playing against a team who have just come down from the Championship and we all know the difference between the Championship and League One, let alone League Two where we have come from.​

“We knew there was going to be a huge gap to bridge. I'm just really proud of the boys and their efforts.​"