Proud Warne avoids tears as Rotherham fall straight back down to League One

ONE year after play-off success at Wembley Rotherham are heading back to League One.

Manager Paul Warne had a few words for the players after they were applauded off the pitch by West Brom fans.

‘I didn’t cry, which makes a change,’ he said. ‘I told them I was proud and there were a few tears in the dressing room. I’m not sure what more we could have done.

‘I now feel like a primary school teacher at the end of the year when all the kids go off. I feel a bit heartbroken at that.’ Two years ago Rotherham were relegated with 23 points and Warne said: ‘Last time we went down it was embarrassing to the club and the fans. But there is no shame in what has happened.’

At the three-quarter point of this match, they were ahead thanks to Clark Robertson’s header and knowing that a win would take the relegation fight to the wire.

But two second-half goals in as many minutes brought a reality check. The first was a penalty by Jay Rodriguez after Dwight Gayle was judged to have been fouled by Michael Smith.

It was the equivalent of a hat-pin meeting an inflated balloon on the Rotherham players, who were caught flat-footed by a low shot from Rakeem Harper, his first for the club, for the second.

Fans booed West Brom at half-time but interim manager Jimmy Shan’s record is not too shabby with six wins and a draw in nine matches, but there was plenty wrong with this performance.

‘It was a poor day at the office,’ said Shan. ‘We just didn’t get any control or rhythm with the ball. We just didn’t get going today. Technically we were loose at times.

‘People with experience tell me it’s good to win ugly and we have done that today. It’s a good record to take into the play-offs. Once we got the equalising goal the fans got behind us.’