We keep shooting ourselves in the foot '“ Warnock

The veteran boss is still waiting for his first win – and goal – since taking charge of the Millers three games ago, but insists the complexion could have been rosier if costly errors had not been made and his side had been more ruthless in the final third of the pitch.

The Millers paid the price for a momentary lapse in Tuesday’s 1-0 reverse at Reading, which leaves them six points adrift of safety.

Warnock, who has already brought in Jerome Thomas, Lloyd Doyley and Paddy Kenny, said: “The chairman will be brilliant, whatever I want. (But) it’s not a matter of getting people in, but getting people who are in to not give goals away.

“That is why we are down there. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

“The second goal on Saturday was a Frazer (Richardson) mistake and the penalty was a mistake. Then it was Greeny (Paul Green).

“But we are tighter and giving ourselves a chance of getting results in every game. We are just lacking a bit of quality that some other teams have. But it’s not for the want of trying.”

The Millers will have been at least thankful that Tyke rivals Huddersfield Town did them a favour by denying fellow strugglers MK Dons three points in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night.

Town, not for the first time during the reign of David Wagner, were indebted to Nahki Wells, whose late leveller was his ninth goal in 13 outings.

Town have lodged an appeal to try to get Philip Billing’s controversial red card rescinded and will find out later today whether they have been successful.

The Danish midfielder was sent off just four minutes into the second half following a challenge on home player Jake Forster-Caskey and Town played out the final three-quarters of an hour with 10 men.

Aggrieved head coach Wagner said: “From my position – the same one as the fourth official – I didn’t think it was a red card.

“Phil is a tall guy, so it seems his leg is higher than it is sometimes. He is anything but an unfair player.

“He had a bad first touch in the situation and then came too late to try and save the ball. It was a foul, of course, and a yellow card as well, but in my opinion it wasn’t a red card.”