No complaints at Norwich City defeat but Rotherham United’s Paul Warne remains optimistic

The Millers are in the bottom three but are just two points behind Birmingham City with two games in hand.

They entertain Nottingham Forest tomorrow as Birmingham welcome Norwich and Warne remained optimistic on Saturday, saying: “I would be lying if I said the best team hadn’t won but I was pleased with the way the lads played.

“Our plan was to try and stop them playing out from the back and having too much possession but in the first half I didn’t think we were brave enough with our press at times. We gifted them a goal and if I am being honest it could have been more than 1-0 at half-time.

“I thought we were a lot better in the second half. We didn’t come here to park the bus, we created some chances, but in the end I don’t think we did enough to come away with anything.

“Most managers seem to say Norwich are the best team in this division and I would echo that.

“There is still a long way to go but I would be amazed if they didn’t go straight up – although crazier things have happened.”

Norwich manager Daniel Farke was keeping his feet firmly on the ground after watching his side move seven points clear at the top.

Teemu Pukki’s well-taken first-half strike, his 15th of the season, gave the Canaries a well-deserved win while defeats for closest rivals Brentford and Swansea made it a perfect day for the leaders.

Farke is looking no further ahead than Tuesday night’s trip as he plots an immediate return to the top flight.

He said: “To be honest, other results are not important to us, it is about us staying switched on in each and every game because nothing is guaranteed in this league.

“I am not interested in the table at the moment, just the points, and I am very happy to have 64 now.

“But if we stop now we would not even have enough points to get in the play-offs so we must keep up the momentum. If we can get up to 80 and make sure of the play-offs then we can start thinking of other things.”

Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Giannoulis, Skipp, McLean; Emi, Vrancic (Tettey 90), Cantwell (Rupp 90), Pukki (Idah 90). Unused: Dowell, Quintilla, Sorensen, Hernandez, Omobamidele.

Rotherham United: Johansson, Angus MacDonald (Olosunde 46), Ihiekwe; Robertson, Harding (Jozefzoon 84), Wiles, Barlaser (Ladapo 67); Wing, Giles, Smith (Hirst 67), Crooks (Sadlier 76). Unused substitutes: Shaun MacDonald, Wood, Clarke, Blackman.

Referee: T Harrington (Cleveland).

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