Ronnie Moore desperate to avoid repeat of play-off misery

If the Millers beat Crewe Alexandra at home this weekend, they will be guaranteed a place in the League Two play-offs.

However, if they lose, it will crank up the pressure ahead of the final game of the season away at Hereford United.

Only 12 months ago, Moore was sacked as manager of Tranmere Rovers after failing to secure a win on the final day of the season that would have secured League One play-off qualification.

To make matters worse, his side were only two minutes away from victory when Cliff Byrne grabbed a dramatic late equaliser for opponents Scunthorpe United.

The goal meant Scunthorpe, rather than Tranmere, had qualified for the play-offs and three weeks later the Iron were celebrating promotion to the Championship after beating Millwall at Wembley.

"They say football can be a cruel game and that was like a knife through the heart," recalls Moore. "I definitely don't want to go through that again which is why I want to wrap it up this weekend.

"We have control of our own destiny and we know what we have to do against Crewe," he added. "What we don't want is to have to go to Hereford on the last day of the season needing to win. If we beat Crewe, we can relax."

The Millers may have missed out on automatic promotion but Moore feels his players are now coming back into form at just the right time.

"We did have a good opportunity to go straight up but we threw that away during an awful patch where we just couldn't win a game," he admitted. "But every team at this level suffers inconsistency at some stage. We are unbeaten in three games now and we have kept three clean sheets."

Although all three automatic promotion spots are now taken, just six points separate the next eight clubs who are chasing the four play-off spots.

The Millers are fourth in the table with Aldershot, Bury, Port Vale, Morecambe, Chesterfield, Northampton Town and Dagenham breathing down their neck.

Moore said: "All those other teams would rather be in our position right now than their own. We might only need a point on Saturday but a win would remove any doubts. Two of those eight teams are going to finish the season at Wembley so why can't one be us?"

Veteran striker Andy Liddell could yet be available to boost the Millers in the play-offs.

The former Barnsley and Sheffield United player, 36, managed just five appearances for the Millers at the start of the season before suffering an Achilles injury. Last night, he was scheduled to make his comeback for the club in a reserve game at Newcastle United along with defender Stephen Brogan.

"Andy has been through a torrid time," said Moore last night. "It would be nice if he could be involved in the first team again between now and the end of the season."

Defender Liam Darville, who joined the Millers on loan from Leeds United last month, is still recovering from a training ground injury which has delayed his debut for the Millers. Darville, 20, was involved in clash of heads and needed to spend a night in hospital after scans.

The Millers, meanwhile, are urging supporters to create a 'sea of red' at the Don Valley Stadium on Saturday afternoon by wearing the club's home shirt.

"The support has been magnificent all season, and it would be fantastic if we could make our last home game of the regular campaign one to remember by everyone in the crowd wearing their red shirt with pride, making plenty of noise, and filling the main stand," said chairman Tony Stewart.

Tickets are available online at www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk but supporters will also be able to pay on the turnstile for the same price.

Under-8s are allowed in free if accompanied by an adult.

The Millers have now received 375 extra tickets for the final league game at Hereford, after selling out the initial allocation, and these will go on sale this morning. Anyone travelling to Hereford without a ticket will not gain access to the ground.