Warne out of time as Millers bite the dust
PAUL WARNE’S Rotherham were finally put out of their misery as they became the first side in the country to be relegated this season.
With just four wins all season, the writing has been on the wall for a long time but Sone Aluko’s 66th-minute goal was enough to confirm their return to League One.
It was the 30th defeat of a miserable campaign and, with seven games left, Rotherham look certain to break the Football League record of 32 for most losses in a season.
The three points did wonders for Fulham’s hopes of leaving the division at the other end as they moved into the play-off positions and their top-six hopes are now in their own hands.
They had 71 per cent of first-half possession and their best chance fell to Aluko who dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.
But the Cottagers’ threat on the break eventually told as Darnell Fisher and keeper Lewis Price produced brave blocks before Aluko stabbed home from a yard out.
Interim Millers boss Warne said: “There’s a little bit of embarrassment.
“I took the reins a few months ago and I haven’t been good enough to get the results to keep us up and that is on my head.
“The performances have been okay at times but we haven’t got that strength in depth. But that’s my fault, it’s not anyone else’s.
“Other people have inherited similar situations and done better, I am the one who takes it home and doesn’t sleep. I take that blame.
“In my eyes I have done the best that I could but other people might disagree.”
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said: “It is a great step for us towards where we want to be.
“It was a very tough game. I am pleased because I have missed some 1-0 wins, so to get the goal and then finish with a clean sheet is pleasing and important news for us.
“We weren’t thinking about Sheffield Wednesday or about other teams.
“Our focus is on us in this crucial part of the competition and getting as many points as is possible for us.”
They became just the fourth top-flight side to win at Sean Dyche’s Burnley this season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were 13 points adrift before kick-off against Southampton two weeks ago but Chelsea’s defeat yesterday gave them hope that the title race is far from a foregone conclusion.
After Harry Winks had been stretchered off at half-time, Dier and sub Heung-Min Son scored in the space of 11 second-half minutes to stop Burnley getting the point they needed to equal their highest-ever Premier League haul.
Ex-Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier made just his second league start of the campaign as one of three changes along with Winks and Vincent Janssen.
It was the first time Janssen had been handed a league start in 2017 but, without Harry Kane, Tottenham failed to threaten until the 32nd minute when Dele Alli wasted a glorious opening.
After Christian Eriksen waltzed past Ben Mee and shot from a narrow angle, Tom Heaton’s save fell to Alli who blazed over from eight yards.
Tottenham’s rhythm was then disrupted by the loss of two central midfielders in the space of four minutes.
Victor Wanyama was the first to be forced off after landing awkwardly and then Winks suffered his troubling injury.
He caught Stephen Ward as he cut inside and then jarred his left leg on the turf near the Burnley dugout, rolling beside Dyche’s bench where he stayed until the break when he was carried off.
Pochettino rejigged his system for the second half by pushing Dier further forward and there was an immediate improvement