REACTION: Warne's pride as top-six finish confirmed

THE way Rotherham United’s players dug deep to make sure of a League One play-off place earned praise from manager Paul Warne.
Paul Warne: "Sometimes you have to win when you're not playing well and we did that."Paul Warne: "Sometimes you have to win when you're not playing well and we did that."
Paul Warne: "Sometimes you have to win when you're not playing well and we did that."

Possibly suffering a hangover from Tuesday’s long-distance assignment at Gillingham, the Millers were far from their best in the 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers but as has been the case many times in their rise into the top six, they found a way to win.

“Bristol Rovers are a good team with attacking threats but in fairness you could see which team had played midweek and got home at 3 o’clock in the morning and which team hadn’t,” said Warne.

“We didn’t play on all cylinders at any time, the players looked tired. It’s not a criticism, it’s just the way it is, and to get a clean sheet in the circumstances was good.

“My overall feeling is pride. Sometimes you have to win when you’re not playing well and today was that day.”

Warne’s intention now is to make sure Rotherham enter the play-offs in good physical shape. He says he will rest players in the two remaining games of the regular season away to Plymouth and at home to Blackpool.

Jon Taylor makes a break against Bristol Rovers.

He added: “I’m giving the lads a few days off to have a bit of down time, we’re pressing the refresh button and hopefully they will be football lively when they come back.

“Confirming our place in the play-offs takes the pressure off us a little bit. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to still try and perform at our max but it does allow me to possibly rest a couple and look at different things. I’m not going to disrespect the league and make eight changes but it does let me tweak.

“It will be nice to know that when I go to sleep on a Friday night it won’t be a do-or-die game the next day. I still want the lads to perform to a level but it’s not essential that we win.

 “Hopefully we will go into the play-offs and be strong and do something but as I sit here today I couldn’t be any prouder of the group.”