Burnley 2 Rotherham Utd 0: Neil Warnock relishing the fight ahead for Millers

Rotherham United striker Jonson Clarke-Harris challenges Burnleys Joey Barton at Turf Moor (Picture: PA).

Warnock felt it could have been a different story entirely had they not missed a golden chance to equalise with 10 minutes remaining.

Joe Newell burst into the area, but put his shot wide when it looked easier to score and then Scott Arfield made the game safe six minutes later.

Warnock knew that miss was costly and said the end result would have been different had the chance fallen to a Burnley player.

“You are not going to get too many chances in a game like that,” he said. “I felt that in the second half we were a lot more positive.

“Joe is disappointed because he could have just side-footed it in; he rushed it a little bit. It would have been a nervous end to the game, but it’s not to be. Their lad (Andre) Gray would have just stroked it in really.”

On his side’s survival chances, Warnock added: “I am really happy, they can’t be too down. You don’t play Burnley every week.

“We have got some tough games, but teams that we will play against will have some tough games. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

The Clarets were the stronger side from the off and they took a lead that had seemed only a matter of time in coming after a sustained spell of pressure, which had seen Lee Camp save from Stephen Ward.

Sam Vokes was the scorer in the 27th minute as he converted from the spot after Lloyd Doyley had tripped George Boyd just inside the area.

It should have been two 10 minutes before the break, but Gray sent his header crashing into the crossbar from eight yards.

The chances kept coming after the break but Vokes could not connect properly with Joey Barton’s cross, and Gray blazed over.

The Millers had barely threatened, but wasted their chance when Newell stole into the area but put the ball wide. Burnley made sure of the points as Arfield fired home after Gray slipped him into space at the back post.

Burnley: Heaton, Lowton, Keane (Tarkowski 33), Mee, Ward, Boyd (Taylor 90), Jones, Barton, Arfield, Vokes, Gray (Hennings 90). Unused substitutes: Kightly, Robinson, Ulvestad, Darikwa.

Rotherham United: Camp, Halford, Doyley (Best 72), Broadfoot, Richardson, Burke (Shinnie 46), Green, Smallwood, Newell, Danny Ward (Grant Ward 38), Clarke-Harris. Unused substitutes: Thomas, Collins, Derbyshire, Kenny.

Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).

Man of the match: Joey Barton.