Paul Warne reveals pride on his milestone night as Rotherham match Stoke

ROTHERHAM UNITED manager Paul Warne stressed that pride was his overwhelming emotion despite seeing his Millers side pegged back twice in the second half in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Stoke - on a night when victory would have moved them out of the relegation zone.
Paul WarnePaul Warne
Paul Warne

In his 200th match in charge, Warne saw his side produce a high-energy and assertive performance and exhibit the very best characteristics of his time at the helm on a night when Stoke struggled to contain two-goal Matt Crooks and fellow goalscorer Michael Smith in particular.

Unfortunately, goals from Danny Batth and Nick Powell in the second period ensured that Stoke, who made a number of changes and brought on the likes of Steven Fletcher, Joe Allen and James McClean from their expensively-assembled bench on the restart to turn the tide after the hosts took the lead twice, took home a point.

But Warne's glass was steadfastly half-full afterwards.

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He said: "I thoroughly enjoyed that and I don't normally say that. I am a nervous kitten.

"It is sad that the fans were not in. If it had been a full house of Stoke and Rotherham fans, I think both would have really enjoyed it and clapped the teams off.

"It is just a pity everyone was not in. I don't very often say this, but even I might have paid to watch that. It was a really good game for a neutral and I am really proud that I manage them as they were pretty amazing.

"Both were not settling for a draw and both wanted to win and the game virtually had everything. We created enough chances to win the game and we could have easily lost it as well.

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"There is no complaints from me. I always ask the lads to leave everything out on the pitch and physically, they did.

"Their bench was very strong and if you can bring a £10m winger on and an ex-Liverpool player, you are doing alright with yourself. I think Stoke have probably assembled the best squad in the league and assembled the best strength in depth and the longer the game went on, they kept freshening it up.

"There are no complaints from me at all about the goals we conceded. Overall, I am absolutely cock-a-hoop with our lads and I am really proud of them.

"The dressing room was really down after and I have just told them how amazing I thought they were. They feel like they have let two points slip, but I did say when you conceded that early on with a team like that, they had a ten-million winger in Ratonda on one side and they bring Jack Clarke on. They are world-class players."

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