Rotherham United derby hero Jamie Lindsay says Millers looking up not down now

Rotherham United have become one of English football’s yo-yo clubs but Jamie Lindsay says they aspire to more than just staying in the Championship this season.
On target: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay scores his side's first goal against Owls.
Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeOn target: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay scores his side's first goal against Owls.
Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
On target: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay scores his side's first goal against Owls. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The Millers have swapped divisions in each of the last four seasons and have not had a second-tier campaign without a relegation battle since it was called Division One in the early noughties.

But after scoring twice against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, midfielder Lindsay says the players are looking up the table, not down it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It would be silly for us to go into a season expecting to be in a relegation battle,” said the 25-year-old Scot after helping the Millers up to 17th with an overdue first home win of the season. “We want to finish as high as we possibly can.

On the ball: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay is tackled by Wednesday's Tom Lees - who was later sent off.

Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeOn the ball: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay is tackled by Wednesday's Tom Lees - who was later sent off.

Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
On the ball: Rotherham's Jamie Lindsay is tackled by Wednesday's Tom Lees - who was later sent off. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

“If it comes to it at the end of the season staying up would be a great achievement but we don’t want to be thinking that all we want to do is stay up. I believe with the squad we’ve got we can have a successful season.”

Although results have not been quite as good, performances at home to Millwall and Norwich City, and even in the 3-0 defeat at runaway leaders Reading have shown Championship novices like Lindsay they belong.

“Millwall was the first home game of the season and my first home game in the Championship because for a lot of the boys it’s our first season in the Champ,” he pointed out. “But we’ve also got good experience helping us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The games have given the full team confidence. We’ve competed really well – I know Saturday was 3-0 but anybody watching could see we were in the game even if we weren’t creating as many chances as we would have liked to.
“That gives us confidence. Even when we weren’t winning we weren’t far away.”

Manager Paul Warne will break with habit and name his team to play at Stoke City tomorrow on matchday as he assesses his squad after Wednesday’s win over the Owls.

“We’ve got some bumps and bruises, Freddie (Ladapo), Mickel (Miller) and Woody (Richard Wood) are all a bit sore,” he revealed. “I want another good look at them today before we name the team, which is a bit unique for us. Because of the quick turnaround if I ask the players if they’re fully fit you’ll be very surprised to hear they tell me they are, then they limp out, dragging one leg behind them.

“I’ll watch the training, get the information into them and name the team on Saturday.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.