Swindon Town v Rotherham United: Millers urged to learn from 'sloppy mistakes'
Coach Alex Bruce has called on his Rotherham United players to learn from the mistakes of the last two games, but is encouraged by the spirit he has to work with.
The Millers ended a four-match losing streak with consecutive draws last week, but were 2-0 up in both games.
Defensive errors against Newport County and a rash red card versus Shrewsbury Town sees them heading to Swindon Town searching for a first win in nine matches.
"It's been sloppy mistakes from certain individuals, especially my defenders," reflected Bruce. "There's been too many individual errors, too many penalties against us.
"It's all basic errors which in the opening 12, 13 games probably have cost us seven, eight points, which kills you.
"It's a case of learning from it and in the next block of 12 games can you minimise those mistakes?"
But at least he sees the fight the Millers will need in what is currently a battle to stay in the Football League.
"You forget about the Paul Mullin chances in the first minutes where he's one-on-one – we could have been 3-0 up in 20 minutes (against Shrewsbury)," Bruce pointed out.
"That just shows you what they're capable of, it's just getting out of them on a more consistent basis.
"We had a bad week the couple of games we got beaten, Fleetwood and Exeter, which were disappointing performances.
"I wanted a response in terms of performance.
"I definitely feel as if I got it in the two home games.
"We all know when you get a man sent off in the 20th minute and they score in the 21st minute, you think is it going to be one of those long afternoons but I think everyone in the ground could appreciate the fight, the spirit, and there was a lot of positives to take from that to build on.
"The supporters go home happy because they see them have a go.
"Nine times out of ten if you show that the result usually follows."
Centre-back Lenny Agbaire is in the squad after two months out with a hamstring injury, and George Sebine, a centre-forward on loan from Huddersfield Town is also fit again.
Klaidi Lolos is a doubt with illness, and Rotherham are trying to work out the extent of Jamie Jellis' knee problem.
"We have to see how his meniscus issue settles down before we take it to the next stage of what might be needed to repair it," said Bruce. "We'll see how he goes in the next week, ten days."