Rotherham United manager Paul Warne on a Sheffield Wednesday derby mission

ROTHERHAM United boss Paul Warne is looking add to Sheffield Wednesday's points-deduction woe when the derby rivals clash in tonight's South Yorkshire showdown.
Paul WarnePaul Warne
Paul Warne

The Owls are still feeling the effects of starting the season 12 points behind all of their Championship opponents because of a breach in spending rules and have so far clawed backed only two of them on the Millers.

Warne is well aware that a victory at AESSEAL New York Stadium for his men would increase that opening-day gap between the two teams to 13.

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"It is definitely in my head," the manager said. "It's not in my players' heads - we need them to just concentrate on the opponent - but I would be lying if I said it wasn't in mine."

Wednesday head into the clash still in bottom spot while Rotherham are five places higher and ten points better off in 19th.

"Any time you play a team in and around you, it is a bigger game," Warne said. If we were playing Coventry City (20th) or Bristol City (second), a win over Coventry would mean more for obvious reasons.

"You always try and beat the teams in and around you. If we did win against Wednesday, it would give us a 13-point buffer."

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With no fans allowed in stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic, Warne says there is no advantage to being at home.

He believes there will be goals at both ends as the Millers look for their first league home triumph against the Owls since 1976.

"We have only one way to play and that is on the front foot." he said. "Wednesday will definitely come to our place and attack."

In three of the last five fixtures between the two clubs, Wednesday have scored late winners or equalisers.

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"I have definitely run over a black cat if I am unlucky enough to concede another last-minute goal to them again," Warne said. "Hopefully, if we are winning, there won't be much added time going up on the board.

"When we are chasing the game, it is usually only three minutes, but when we are winning it always seem like 13!"