'The lads feel a bit wronged' - Rotherham United boss Paul Warne left to curse Lady Luck after Cardiff City loss

After thanking Lady Luck for helping out during Rotherham's win over Preston at the weekend, boss Paul Warne was again cursing her after the 2-1 loss to Cardiff.
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The Millers missed the chance to put clear daylight between them and the relegation zone after going down to a late defeat on Tuesday night.

Despite dominating the first half they went in at half-time behind to Sheyi Ojo's strike, but Matt Crooks' good run of form continued as the Millers hit back early in the second half.

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Warne was thinking his side might go on and win it, but ended up on the losing side as Joe Bennett struck an 85th-minute winner for the Bluebirds.

Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

But the Millers were denied what looked a clear penalty in the first half as striker Michael Smith was barged over, but referee Geoff Eltringham gave nothing.

“We go through games with full luck and no luck, it's either one or the other,” Warne said.

“On Saturday we rode our luck but I don't think we had any. I stood on the side of the pitch and it felt personal to me, I just didn't understand why we didn't get them.

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“I appreciate I am the manager of Rotherham so I may be biased.

“One of their players is walking off saying, 'That wasn't a handball penalty at the end, but you could have had three first half'. That sums it up.

“The lads feel a little bit wronged, they feel on the wrong end, to come way nothing after that performance.

“We were more than deserving of a penalty. I need to watch it back but the one of Smudge, I just cannot see how that is not a foul.

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“I don't know what to say, I don't know why the ref hasn't given that. To say there were a lot of weak fouls, the ones in the box seemed to be a different standard.

“But they can come away with pride with how they are playing. They are playing with confidence and can feel they can beat any team and that is a good place to be.”

Defeat ended a good run for the Millers, who had picked up 13 points from their previous six games.

The performance was again there for Warne, who said his side were worthy of a point.

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“Over the course of the 95 minutes, we didn't deserve to lose,” the boss added.

“That is the nicest way to put it. I asked the lads to give everything they have got and in the first half we were really good, really in the ascendancy, we were well on top, had numerous chances, the keeper had a couple of good saves off Smudge.

“We come away disappointed but really proud of the way we played. I don't know how much more effort we could have put in.”

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