Rooney is unhappy with lack of ‘respect’ in defeat
BUT MILLERS CHAIRMAN DENIES ‘BAD LANGUAGE’
DERBY County manager Wayne Rooney claimed Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart showed a lack of respect during the Championship clash at the New York Stadium.
Rotherham beat the Rams 3-0 with late goals from Michael Ihiekwe, Michael Smith and Ryan Giles in a crucial clash near the bottom of the table.
The result ended Derby’s run of three consecutive wins and clean sheets.
“We have been on a great run, with performances and desire, and I don’t think that was missing today. It was a lack of concentration for the first goal,” said Rooney, who was unhappy with what appeared to be some overly-vocal home support from the stands.
Rooney added: “The one thing that Rotherham didn’t show was a bit of class, a bit of respect from above.
“I think the chairman, Tony Stewart, was a bit disrespectful.
“We are quick enough to have a go at fans for using language and being offensive on the side but you don’t expect it from the chairman.
“I wouldn’t expect it from our owners or board, so it is a bit disappointing.”
Stewart told the Rotherham Advertiser: “I refute totally there was any bad language.
“I will not allow any bad language to come from any person who is sat in the boardroom seating area. I will not have it. I will not tolerate that.”
A chant, or song, could be heard coming from the same area toward the end of the match directed toward Derby and the postponement of the game 24 hours earlier.
“There was a song at the end that was just banter from one of the directors,” Stewart added.
“It wasn’t me singing. It was friendly banter mentioning April because had we not played on Wednesday night then the game would not have taken place until April.
“I know the Derby people didn’t want to wait until April. The friendly banter was along the lines of: ‘April, April, you should have gone to April ...’
“It was only a song. There was no swearing. We were laughing.”
On Rooney’s reaction, Stewart said: “There are some good losers and there are some bad losers and that goes in the latter category.”