BARKER: WE WILL FIGHT TO THE END
Stand-in is ‘proud’ of Millers
RICHIE Barker was a proud man after seeing Rotherham ease their Championship relegation fears with a massive three points at Bristol City.
Again in charge because of Paul Warne’s self-isolation, the assistant-manager oversaw a committed display that suggested all is not lost in the battle to beat the drop.
They are now only three points behind fourthfrom-bottom Birmingham, with four games in hand.
But Barker’s delight was matched by Nigel Pearson’s frustration as headers from Michael Smith in the 44th minute and Richard Wood in the 74th minute condemned City to a club record sixth successive home defeat.
Barker said: “I’ve told the players that a lot of the other clubs battling to stay up will look at our result and wonder how it happened. They will be surprised. Only time will tell whether having so many games in hand will prove positive for us, but there is so much still to play for.
“Our training ground is going to be a happy place next week because it was a fully deserved win. I am proud of all the players.
“It seems unbelievable that we don’t play until Easter, with so many fixtures still to fit in, but that’s the situation and we need to use the break well and build on this result.
“We are looking at playing virtually every three days when we start again, but we will look forward to that challenge when it comes.”
Pearson’s dismay was compounded by injuries to Tomas Kalas and Callum O’Dowda. He said: “We don’t know yet how serious either injury is. But it’s disappointing that I again had to make enforced changes, rather than ones for the good of the team.
“Rotherham are good at what they do and we are not responding well to setbacks in home games. Until they scored, we were comfortable. But there is no accounting for individual mistakes like the one that cost us the first goal.
“Only when we went behind did anxiety creep in. We knew it was going to be an ugly game and fair play to Rotherham, who are an honest, hard-working side. They are a big team as well and they played to their strengths. But we have to find the solution to not being able to cope with opponents scoring at Ashton Gate.”
Pearson is being linked with a move to sign experienced former Leicester fullback Danny Simpson.
Neither goalkeeper had been called upon to make a serious save, before Smith broke the deadlock after 44 minutes. Keeper Dan Bentley unwisely left his line to meet a Wes Harding cross from the right and was beaten to the ball by Smith, who headed home.
Rotherham had a chance to increase their lead early in the second half, but Freddie Ladapo’s cushioned volley was too close to Bentley.
Nahki Wells had a volley from a narrow angle tipped wide by Viktor Johansson.
Bentley looked to have kept City in the game with a flying save from Michael Ihiekwe’s 73rd minute header.
But the resulting corner led to skipper Wood making it 2-0 as he headed in Dan Barlaser’s flag kick from close range.