Player meetings as Rotherham United bid to hit back from midweek misery
ROTHERHAM United players have held a pre-derby get-together in a bid to turn around their League One season before it's too late.
The Millers head into tomorrow's South Yorkshire showdown with Doncaster Rovers at AESSEAL New York Stadium entrenched in the drop zone after defeats in their last two matches ended a mini revival of two wins and a draw.
Captain Joe Rafferty describes the present plight as one of the most difficult times in his 16 years as a pro and revealed that there were heart-to-hearts at the club's Roundwood training base yesterday.
“We've had meetings between the players to try to iron some things out,” he said. “I look around our squad and we have got quality. Yeah, there are inconsistencies as well, of course - that's what you're going to get with a younger squad.
“We've got to find a way to make sure we're as consistent as possible.”
The 32-year-old was referring to youngsters like Harry Gray, Gabriele Biancheri, Lino Sousa, Brandon Cover, Jamal Baptiste and Ar’Jany Martha.
Rotherham went nine matches unbeaten in the third tier earlier in the campaign before a seven-match losing sequence saw them slide towards the foot of the table.
Victories over Northampton Town and Exeter City lifted the mood but defeats and poor performances against Cardiff City on February 7 and Burton Albion in midweek have left Matt Hamshaw's men in 23rd spot.
Rafferty said: “You don't want a relegation on your CV. There have been a lot of inconsistencies this season. Sometimes we played really well and then, in the next game, really badly. We understand the game on Tuesday night was really bad.
“But, you know, there's definitely hope there because we've put in some good performances. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we beat Exeter 4-0.
“It's about the more experienced lads driving the younger pros and all of us coming together as a team to win a match.”
Supporters turned on the manager and players during the 1-0 reverse at Burton and Rafferty acknowledged that the 800-strong following in the away end had a right to be angry.
“We felt it,” he said. “There are times when little things happen - probably sometimes self-inflicted; say, for example, a bad corner or bad free-kick and we don't do well enough with the delivery.
“You heard the fans moan and show their frustration, which is understandable, completely understandable.
“It's always a case of, who gets who going? Does it take us getting in a tackle to get the fans going, or do the fans get us going, get us into the game?
“Fans have expected a lot more from us this season. As players, we've expected a whole lot more. I've been open about that in previous interviews.
“We understand the frustration. Us, as players are the most frustrated people there are. We expect a lot more from ourselves and we haven't given that so far.
“The plus point for us is that we've got 16 games left. Confidence is probably being shot a little bit, but there's no reason why we can't think about the games where we played really well and get back to doing our good stuff.”
Rovers arrive at New York for the 12.30pm kick-off in 18th spot and Rafferty believes that the heat of a derby offers the perfect opportunity for him and his side to ease their drop concerns.
“They're in a similar position to us,” he said. “There's absolutely no reason why we can't go and beat them on Saturday.”