Rotherham United manager Paul Warne determined to cure Championship away day blues

In their past two seasons in the second tier, the Millers have won just one away match in 46 attempts and taken just 13 points from a possible 138 available.

In the final analysis, those statistics are a big reason as to why the club were relegated and the importance of starting to redress the balance is something the Millers chief is acutely aware of.

Warne admits that he and his players need to put pressure on themselves in that regard to improve those glaring numbers.

He said: “Maybe the pressure is not on us when we play a big team away from home, but we are going to have to put pressure on ourselves if we want to succeed.

“Although we did do well (in 2018-19), our away form killed us. We are going to have to put more pressure to get every last bit of energy and knowledge out of every player we have got.

“No football fans, especially ours, want a season where you feel like you are constantly fighting it. We want to try and play a way that will cause problems and pick up points.”

The absence of home supporters in grounds, certainly at the start of next season, is likely to be a double-edged sword for the Millers, whose parochial support at is something that they tap into.

The absence of home followers at a number of big-city clubs who they face will perhaps aid their cause in trying to pick up more points on the road.

Warne added: “There will not be such a home advantage (in 20-21) but ironically in the Championship, we like playing at home, so it will probably level itself out.

“What has been surprising is in the Bundesliga, the percentage of home wins has gone down considerably. What I do think is that fans definitely help the players, but big clubs with big fanbases definitely get the decisions. Fact.

“The referees are only human, it is easier to agree with 40,000 people than 2,000 at the other end.

“But I do not want to play in front of empty crowds, I want to play in big atmospheres.

“It does not feel like we have really celebrated promotion yet, but the first time we have a sell out at New York for everybody in the town that will feel like the promotion.”

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