Rotherham United v Nottingham Forest - Time still on Millers side

CANVASS the opinions of Paul Warne, the club’s supporters and most Championship observers and Rotherham United have not done a lot wrong so far in 2021.
KEEPING THE FAITH: Rotherham United manager Paul Warne shouts encouragement in last week's Championship clash against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesKEEPING THE FAITH: Rotherham United manager Paul Warne shouts encouragement in last week's Championship clash against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
KEEPING THE FAITH: Rotherham United manager Paul Warne shouts encouragement in last week's Championship clash against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

On the contrary, they have done plenty right.

Herein lies the paradox. Despite securing some excellent results and delivering some consistently good performances in the New Year, the Millers find themselves back in the bottom three.

Rightly feted for outstanding displays against the likes of Middlesbrough, Stoke and Derby, Warne’s side have now narrowly lost three matches on the spin almost within the blink of an eye.

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A presentable weekend display at a side who are starting to look nailed on for automatic promotion in Norwich City saw United lose out by a single goal.

The post-match words from those behind the scenes at Norwich – a club which Norfolk-born Warne knows very well – were sincere and benevolent.

Warne has banged the drum continually about his belief that consistently good performances do eventually yield points. But, ultimately, he knows that survival is dictated by the business of points.

In the here and now, the pragmatist in him would settle for a few average displays if it meant his side keeping ‘scoreboard pressure’ on those around and above them.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Rotherham United's Jamie Lindsay could be in line for a return to training sooner than expected. Picture: Tim Markland/PAAHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Rotherham United's Jamie Lindsay could be in line for a return to training sooner than expected. Picture: Tim Markland/PA
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Rotherham United's Jamie Lindsay could be in line for a return to training sooner than expected. Picture: Tim Markland/PA
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The Millers chief said: “Our performances have been great and I have everyone telling me the Norwich game was not a performance of a team who look anywhere near relegation. They are nice things to hear, but unfortunately we need the points.

“No games are easy in this league. But Bournemouth and Norwich away in this league cannot get much harder.

“The lads were disappointed to lose. But they are pleased that when they do take the information on and they are fearless, they can compete against two of the best teams in the league.

“Hopefully we give ourselves a chance in these next two games and put smiles on people’s faces again.”

INJURY CONCERN: Rotherham United's Matt Crooks, left, is doubtful with an ankle injury. Picture: Martin Rickett/PAINJURY CONCERN: Rotherham United's Matt Crooks, left, is doubtful with an ankle injury. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA
INJURY CONCERN: Rotherham United's Matt Crooks, left, is doubtful with an ankle injury. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA
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In previous years, the bedrock of the Millers’ escapology acts has been home form.

In their ‘Great Escape’ of 2015-16, they picked up 30 points at home and 19 on their travels.

In the previous season when they again narrowly stayed up, the Millers pocketed 31 points at the AESSEAL New York Stadium and 18 on the road.

When they went down in 2018-19, home form could hardly be blamed either. A total of 29 points were amassed at home compared to just 11 away.

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So far this season, Rotherham have collected just one more point at home (15) than away, with Warne adamant that the extenuating circumstances involved in an extraordinary season without fans has diluted the significance of home or away advantage.

“Covid has been a leveller with no fans in stadiums so it does not make any difference if we are playing at home or away,” the Millers chief added.

“The only advantage of being at home is that we don’t travel.

“I do not think the players need picking up with the enormity of two ‘home’ games. We want to try and get as many points as we can without over-playing it.

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“I do not want to start going down that route of ‘we need six points, these are ‘must win’ because there are plenty of games and football left.

“However, it is a performance and points business and none of the players or staff want to be letting the club down.

“We will do everything we can to pick the points up in the next two games.”

On Forest, whose loss on their last trip to Rotherham was their first in 11 visits, Warne said: “They are in good form. They won again (on Saturday) and made some amazing signings in January.

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“We know it is going to be a formidable challenge to compete with them, but we are going to have to because we need to put some points on the board.”

The Millers will run checks on influential duo Matt Crooks (ankle) – the Championship player of the month for January – and Ben Wiles (calf) with Warne hopeful that both will be involved this evening.

The club have also received positive news regarding workaholic midfielder Jamie Lindsay, who could return earlier than expected from a hamstring injury with the Scot and explosive wingman Chiedozie Ogbene to provide a boost for the Millers during the run-in – all being well.

Warne commented: “Jamie looks like he is ahead of schedule and it looks like he will be back on the training ground for the international break.

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“Instead of being 10 weeks, it looks like it will be about seven, which is a real positive boost for us, obviously with Chieo (Ogbene) coming back too.

“They are the good stories, but fortunately the bad stories are we have lost three on the spin..”

Last six games: Rotherham LWWLLL; Nottingham Forest DWWDLW.

Referee: M Donohue (Greater Manchester).

Last time: Rotherham 2 Nottingham Forest 1, April 6, 2019; Championship.

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