Matt Hamshaw reacts to a Rotherham United defeat and a poor display
ANGRY boss Matt Hamshaw damned Rotherham United's performance as “too passive” as he accused his players of complacency in their defeat at the hands of League One leaders Cardiff City today.
The Millers had gone into the clash at AESSEAL New York Stadium in high spirits after taking seven points from their previous three matches and bringing in four new faces on transfer-window deadline day.
But they failed to step up when the high-flying visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute and paid the price as they fell to a comprehensive loss.
Hamshaw reckons his team thought that their afternoon was going to be an easier one when Ryan Wintle received a straight red card for impeding Harry Gray who was through on goal.
“I just felt we got too complacent as a group,” he said. “I stressed that at half-time but we didn’t get much better.”
Rotherham played three at the back in a first half in which Omari Kellyman gave City the lead. He switched to a four-man defence at the interval only for Chris Willock and Isaak Davies to add further goals following the break.
“Cardiff were good, but we have to be better than we were,” Hamshaw said. “We have to lay a glove on them, we have to be better in duels.
“We were too passive, we were too negative, we weren't on the front foot. I mean this respectfully - I think Cardiff are the best team in the league, I think Cardiff will get promoted this year, but I've got no interest in Cardiff.
“My interest is in Rotherham United. I wouldn't say that we've given them a leg up, but we've performed miles below the standards we expect.
“I thought that when they went to 10 it was a really good opportunity for us. But we played into their hands.”
The result dropped the Millers two places in the table to 23rd and they now have huge matches coming against two sides also in the relegation reckoning, Burton Albion and Doncaster Rovers.
Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy said: “I was very pleased with the players' character and mentality and how they played the game.
“When Ryan was sent off, we had to show clear signs of the team we want to be and I am really grateful that the players did that for us.
“We focused on ourselves from the first minute, I had a good feeling with the team. We looked really like ourselves and I was very confident at all stages.
“To score the goals and create the chances that we did is testament to the players and the work they are doing.”