Matt Hamshaw reacts to a first Rotherham United league loss in more than two months
MANAGER Matt Hamshaw bemoaned his lack of attacking options after watching his Rotherham United side give up their long unbeaten record in League One tonight.
The injury-hit Millers hadn't tasted third-tier defeat since September 27 – a sequence stretching to nine matches – until struggling Blackpool came to AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Rotherham have only one fit striker in Jordan Hugill and they passed up on a number of chances to reduce an early 2-0 deficit - twice hitting the woodwork - before conceding again late on and falling to a 3-0 loss.
“I think it’s quite clear that in the final third we are lacking,” Hamshaw said.
“I don’t think it was a game too far. We started off sloppily. The goals in that period are ridiculously poor, from our point of view, and that knocked the wind out of the sails of the fans.
“We have done all right through this run of games. To lose in this manner ... that isn’t who I am or what this club is. It’s for me to put right.”
Defensive deficiencies played a part in all three goals for the visitors, scored by Danny Imray, Tom Bloxham and Ashley Fletcher.
Rotherham fought back after the interval but couldn't make a breakthrough.
“I think we had enough chances,” Hamshaw said. “They needed to go in. You have got to take opportunities and not doing that is the frustration for me. It just wasn’t our night.”
The Millers will now make the lengthy trip to Plymouth Argyle at the weekend when they could be lacking the services of Reece James are almost certain to be without Benson.
The former was forced off by a blow to the jaw and the latter picked up a calf issue.
Meanwhile, new Blackpool boss Ian Evatt said: “I am so proud of the players. They have executed the game-plan brilliantly.
“We have shown a different side to us. My teams are associated with possession but we’ve shown that we are okay without the ball as well.
“We can transition, we can counter-attack, we can press at the right times and we can defend the box. You have to do that in this league, and this is a place that is always challenging
“The players are learning every day and taking on board exactly what we want. The first goal in particular is something we work on. The detail of it is coached.”