We deserved more, says Ronnie

MANAGER Ronnie Moore insists Rotherham United were unlucky not to come away with a decent result at Oxford United on Saturday.

They had play for the last half-hour with only ten men after debutant Callum Kennedy, in on loan from Swindon Town, was sent off for a foul which led to the home side's match-winning penalty for 2-1.

The Millers upped their game after the setback and had a strong penalty claim for a foul on leading scorer Adam Le Fondre by home goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.

Moore said: "I think we deserved more. The lads' heads were on the floor in the dressing room afterwards but I thought it was a fantastic performance from them.

"To go down to ten men so early in the second half and to show the effort and determination that we did was a credit to them. We were punished for a lack of concentration and a bit of inexperience from the young kid (Kennedy)."

Moore was forced into an early reshuffle when striker Ryan Taylor limped off injured with a groin problem.

That meant an early run-out for another debutant, Omar Daley, and the Bradford man marked his arrival by setting up Nicky Law's 36th minute equaliser, cancelling out Simon Heslop's early opener for Oxford.

Nevertheless, the defeat was Rotherham's fifth straight loss on the road and leaves them three points below the automatic promotion frame ahead of tomorrow night's home date against Accrington Stanley, for which Taylor is a doubt.

Moore added: "We just have to knuckle down and keep going because if we play with that determination and commitment then our luck has got to change."