Boss Matt Taylor reacts to Rotherham United's loss to Preston North End

The Millers went into the clash on the back of a 2-0 loss at Birmingham City and the boss believes some of his players were still feeling the effects of events in the Midlands.

“I am always honest," he said. "Maybe I'm too honest at times. I thought a few were a little bit flat tonight in terms of being scolded from last Saturday.

"They were a little bit low on the back of their performance and how the game panned out at Birmingham."

The loss against Preston reduced Rotherham's cushion to the Championship drop zone from eight to five points and Taylor believes the nine-game survival run-in could go down to the wire

"We expect that,” he said. “I can't control what other teams do. The only thing I can control is the way the players feel and approach a game.

"With only a day’s turnaround from last Saturday, maybe I should have sensed something with the personnel."

Next up for the 20th-placed Millers is a huge match at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday against a side below them in the table, Cardiff City.

“We are searching for different ways to get a little bit more happiness into the players' bodies before then," the boss said..

Against Preston, Rotherham fell behind to a Thomas Cannon strike and equalised through Hakeem Odoffin's header before the visitors re-took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Ched Evans turns and shot from the edge of the area.

"Their goals are a frustrating aspect," Taylor said. "Both were down to poor moments of defending. It shows a little bit weakness through the spine of the team.

“We were overrun in certain parts. It comes down to quality and execution, something we have been short of for too long, I am afraid.”