Rotherham United manager bemoans lack of ruthlessness in Cup exit

ROTHERHAM UNITED manager Paul Warne was left to bemoan his side's lack of ruthlessness in front of goal as they exited the Carabao Cup on penalties after a 4-2 shoot-out loss at Salford City.
Paul Warne.Paul Warne.
Paul Warne.

A dramatic finale saw Matt Crooks level in the 96th minute after the hosts went ahead from the penalty spot on 84 minutes when ex Miller Ian Henderson fired past debutant keeper Jamal Blackman, who was punished for a clumsy foul on Tom Elliot.

Blackman was unable to redeem himself in the shoot-out with Salford scoring all four penalties and the Millers missing two with Kyle Vassell hitting the post and Joe Mattock seeing his effort saved by impressive home keeper.

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Offering his thoughts on the set-back, Warne - whose side dominated the game but were stymied by a combination of fine goalkeeping and unconvincing finishing - said: "I don't think my keeper had a save to make apart from the penalty and we still bow out.

"I am disappointed on that and that is where I am at.

"We had good pockets of play. We were not probably at our best and there is no excuse for that.

"But I felt we did enough to win a football game and in fairness, their goalkeeper made some unbelievable saves and came for crosses and punched things away and kept us at bay really.

"Credit to them. On the merit of play, we possibly deserved to win. But football is not always like that.

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"I will watch the game tomorrow when I am not as emotional about it and will try and pick the pieces out of it because we have a big game in seven days time.

"Overall, I am disappointed we did not take more chances. There were a lot of good balls going in and it is our job as coaches to pick the lads up and try and help them so it does not become a theme."

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