Reading v Rotherham United- No more territorial gains for Millers chief Paul Warne

IN their previous two seasons in the Championship, Rotherham United’s travel sickness became a contagion.
Paul Warne: Lack of fans having an effect.Paul Warne: Lack of fans having an effect.
Paul Warne: Lack of fans having an effect.

In all, 46 fixtures yielded just one win and resulted in 35 losses and a derisory total of 13 points from a possible 138.

For the Millers to be unbeaten on the road in 2020-21 and to have taken five points from nine available – it would have been more but for a stoppage-time concession at Birmingham – is substantive progress.

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Although manager Paul Warne, back on the touchline after his spell in self-isolation after a family member contacted Covid-19, adds a caveat or two.

He said: “We have done well away from home. We got a draw at Forest on the other night and I don’t think we have won there for 70 years or something, so it was probably a point more than some people had us down for.

“We have been performing well away from home. Although, ironically, I think the two best performances we have had, we have lost (at home).

“But the away form is promising. In fairness, I think it was better than our home form as well last year. We have tried to tweak a few things with the lads away from home and, touch wood, it has been good so far.”

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Warne is also the first to admit that the unique situation at away grounds where stadiums are empty is a massive leveller.

He added: “I wasn’t there at Forest the other night, but speaking to the lads, I would have normally said: ‘You are not playing the European champions any more.’

“Then you walk out and they (Forest fans) sing their song and you can get a few goosebumps on the back of your neck and think: ‘This is going to be some game.’ You have not lost before you started, but think mentally that this is going to be ‘wow.’

“It is a bit like the All Blacks doing the Haka. I would much rather play them if they did that, but they have already got into you (mentally).

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“It (fans) is a home advantage and playing away is a bit easier now, but playing at home is not easier. It is a bit harder.

“It is swings and roundabouts and it feels like every game is on a neutral ground.

“Reading away to Reading at home is not much different in my head. Apart from the fact they have a bigger pitch and know their dimensions. It has sort of neutralised home and away fixtures in my opinion.”

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