Underdogs tag suits Rotherham United

PAUL WARNE believes that his Rotherham United side will head into next weekend's League One play-off final with Shrewsbury Town as '˜underdogs'.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne: Preparing for Wembley.Rotherham United manager Paul Warne: Preparing for Wembley.
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne: Preparing for Wembley.

Following the emotional highs of Wednesday night’s 2-0 semi-final second leg victory over Scunthorpe United, which clinched a 4-2 aggregate success, the Millers are turning thoughts to their final mission against Paul Hurst’s Shrews in eight days’ time.

Millers chief Warne is full of praise for the achievements of his former Rotherham team-mate Hurst in Shropshire and believes that bestowing the favourites tag upon the Shrews is the natural conclusion, given a season which has seen the club produce one of the stand-out stories in the EFL.

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Warne said: “They are massive favourites, they have had more rest and got more points.

“What Hursty has done there is pretty phenomenal. We have had some good games and really big wins but he has consistently done well.

“They spent 200-odd days in the top two, if anyone deserved to be in the play-offs, they did. In the Championship play-offs, the third and fourth-placed teams have gone to Wembley and in the League One semi-finals, they also have which is quite a good thing.

“They (Shrewsbury) will fancy themselves, but it will be really close and edgy. They are not dissimilar to us, they are hard working and really organised.

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“We go as underdogs, but I have got no issue with that, I do not mind that tag.”

Warne gave his squad a couple of days off following Wednesday’s triumph, with the players returning to training today to start preparations for their Wembley date with destiny ahead of another short break before the serious work begins in earnest early next week.

The Millers chief added: “The lads have had a couple of days off. They will be in Saturday, then have some more time off and then we will go for it.

“It’s nice to have a little break, the lads can have some time off and it can refocus them. We have got a few tired bodies, so it gives us time to have a good look at how we are going to play at Wembley.”