MATCHDAY CENTRE: Emotional Warne deflated after defeat
Taking charge of his first match since the shock resignation of Kenny Jackett, Warne had hoped a new voice and fresh ideas might spark a revival at Burton.
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Hide AdChasing a first win in 15, the Millers never looked like ending that sequence despite the stand-in manager's best efforts.
He said: "I built it up to be a bit of a cup final and I gave many a lecture to the lads. I spoke to them about fate — I honestly believed it was fate I would take the team for one game in my life and that if there was a soccer God, it would give me a win.
"I set out to win, not draw. We started well and tried to get Izzy Brown in between the lines to get at their back three. At half time I asked the players to have more belief and we went 4-3-3 and we had a go.
IZZY BROWN TUSSLES FOR POSSESSION
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Hide Ad"The lads tried to create things but they're low on confidence. When you're top of the league, you have a belief you'll get back into games, in our position some of the lads may crumble. That's the harsh reality.
"I would have loved to have won for all the fans who came, my family and myself. I gave everything I could, it wasn't enough and it's hard to take but I have no regrets. I look in the mirror and I'm a good person and a good man."
Warne is working on bringing in an assistant but believes the latest setback, which leaves Rotherham 13 points below the Championship safety line, could add more urgency to the club's search a new manager, the fifth this calendar year.
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Hide AdHe added: "Three days ago I didn't want to do the job full time and you'll be surprised to know this result hasn't flipped my mind.
"If we had won, everyone would have been on a wave of euphoria and I don't think the rush would have been as needy.
"You can see there's problems and knowing the chairman, he will want to sort them out quickly and I would wholeheartedly agree with him.
"I will do it as long as the chairman wants but I think something will happen sooner rather than later."