WE CAN STILL BEAT

Harding is confident of another great escape and the Millers’ tails are up going into a vital week

ROTHERHAM BLACKBURN ROVERS

Wing 86

Armstrong 17

ROSS HEPPENSTALL

WES HARDING says unfancied Rotherham will go into their final two games on a wing and a prayer – firmly believing they can stay up and send Derby and Sheffield Wednesday down.

The Millers salvaged a potentially priceless point when Lewis Wing – on loan from Middlesbrough – fired home a late free-kick to cancel out Adam Armstrong’s opener for Blackburn.

That ended a five-game losing streak for Paul Warne’s side and victories at Luton tomorrow and Cardiff on Saturday would secure an improbable Championship survival.

This was Rotherham’s 10th game in 30 days, a gruelling schedule caused by a fixture pile-up after two Covid-19 outbreaks at the club.

Defender Harding (above) said: “It’s been tough but I’m just happy we got a point because we go into the last two games with our tails up

WING FLYING Wing runs away to celebrate after his very late equaliser

now. The aim is to get wins in both games and we’re confident we can stay up, of course we are.

“Three years ago with Birmingham, I was in the thick of it when we played Fulham in the final game of the season.

“I was playing right-back against Ryan Sessegnon who was on fire that year. We needed something to stay up and I assisted with the first goal in a 3-1 win, so I’ve experienced this before.

“Where would it rank in my career if we stayed up? Top. I’ve played every game, so the involvement is massive for me.

“It’s so tense right now. After each game we’re checking all the results

but I think we just need to focus on ourselves. The manager’s positivity certainly helps.”

Blackburn took a 17th-minute lead when Armstrong dispossessed Angus Macdonald before racing clear and firing past Jamal Blackman for his 26th goal of the season.

Rovers should have made the game safe but Blackman made several fine saves before and after Wing’s 86th-minute leveller.

Manager Tony Mowbray said: “We are frustrated we didn’t win by a lot of goals – you could pick any number between one and 10 really.”

Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart had publicly stated Warne’s job is safe regardless of whether they beat the drop.

Warne said: “I think he appreciates how hard we work and we’ve a good relationship, so it’s nice of him to say that. But he might feel differently in a week, three weeks, 10 weeks or three months. I know what football is like.”

ROTHERHAM: Blackman 7, Ihiekwe 6, Wood 6, A Macdonald 5 (Harding 36, 7), Ogbene 6 (Jozefzoon 69, 6), Lindsay 6 (Barlaser 69, 6), S Macdonald 6 (Wiles 45, 6), Wing 7, Giles 6, Smith 5 (Hirst 69, 6), Ladapo 5

BLACKBURN: Kaminski 6, Nyambe 6, Lenihan 6, Harwood-bellis 6, Bell 6, Travis 6, Johnson 6, Brereton 7, Rothwell 7 (Elliott 83), Gallagher 6 (Dolan 73, 6), Armstrong 8

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