He's a young manager to reach 250 matches in the hot-seat. Rotherham United boss Matt Taylor reflects on the achievement
HE’D been focusing so intently on Rotherham United’s survival fight that he hadn’t realised a landmark was looming.
“Ooh, I didn’t know,” said Matt Taylor when I told him the clash against Coventry City would be his 250th game as a manager.
His debut in the hot-seat had come as the new boss of Exeter City on August 14 2018 when goals from a couple of Millers old boys, Nicky Law and Jonathan Forte, helped the Grecians to a 3-1 win over Carlisle United.
Just turned 41, he’s a young boss to reach the milestone. At the same age, Paul Warne, his predecessor at AESSEAL New York Stadium, was still taking baby steps as a fitness coach.
“It’s not a bad marker,” Taylor said. “It’s incredible how quickly it goes. You get no time to think about it. There are managers a lot older than myself who haven’t got to 250 matches.
“I’m just really pleased and proud to be working at Championship level, and I want to keep on working at Championship level!”
The mission to stay up consumes the former centre-half who always had Exeter in play-off contention before finally leading them into League One five months before receiving the call from Rotherham.
“We’re hell-bent on doing everything we possibly can to keep this team in this league and then improve from that point on,” he said. “We’ve got a really good chance of doing that. We’re all about picking up points. Those 249 games previously, I’ve cared only about winning.
“Football is an incredible thing to go through as a manager. The hurt you feel when you lose and things don’t go to plan is beyond belief. It’s bigger than anything you felt as a player, I can guarantee that.”
The boss is a serious man but there was a flash of humour.
“I’m pleased I’m not sitting here with grey hair, or less hair,” he grinned. “I’m pleased that I’m still looking relatively youthful at times.
“People sometimes tell me in interviews that I’m looking tired but I think that’s more because I’ve got a five-month-old baby who’s keeping me up at night!
“I love my job and I’m looking forward to the next 250 matches.”
Of the first 250, some linger in the memory more than others, and none more so than that summer day in the south west four and a half years ago.
“The first one is a big one because it’s the start of the journey,” he said. “That’s why Carlisle at home will always be special.
“The one I can never get out of my head is getting beaten 4-0 (by Northampton Town in 2020) at Wembley in the play-off final.”
We were speaking last Friday, the day before the visit of the Sky Blues to New York.
“I’ll make sure the team is competitive this weekend, then maybe on Saturday night I’ll have a quiet beer and think ‘250’,” he said. “But I can guarantee I’ll be doing that while watching a little bit of (next opponents) Sunderland on the laptop as well.
“Hopefully I’ve not changed as a person. Hopefully I’ve stayed the way I have always been. I’ve just tried to be honest, work with a bit of integrity and improve players. I always tell them the truth.”
Of course, the Millers ruined the script by losing 2-0 to Coventry, so maybe there was no quiet beer after all. Taylor is a driven man and the laptop will still have been turned on.
He searched for more high points and another Exeter one sprang to mind.
“The Devon derby at home when we beat Plymouth Argyle 4-0,” he said.
He neglected to mention Sheffield United 0 Rotherham United 1, November 8 2022. The end of 42 years of Millers hurt at Bramall Lane.
But I’m sure it’s right up there.
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MATT Taylor believes Rotherham United may have to hit the half-century mark to keep their place in the Championship.
In the past, a points haul in the low 40s has at times been enough for clubs to secure their second-tier survival.
However, the competition is so fierce this season that the Millers boss is expecting a bigger total to be required.
Speaking before the games at AESSEAL New York Stadium against Coventry City and Sunderland, he said: “It’s going to be mid to late 40s if not into the 50s.
“The disparity between the top and bottom of the league isn’t that great. Teams around us are going to pick up points so we have to make sure we get as many points in the bag as we possibly can.
“Five out of the next seven are at home. We need to make the most of home comforts.”