AUDIO: Neil Warnock again pays tribute to Rotherham United after another win in battle for survival

Neil Warnock paid tribute to his Rotherham players after they extended their unbeaten run to five matches and moved out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone with an impressive 1-0 win at Ipswich.
Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman RoadRichie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road
Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road

A Leon Best goal on the stroke of half-time was the difference as a poor match between sides at opposite ends of the table went the way of the resurgent Millers.

Ipswich, who went into the contest knowing a win could have possibly moved them back into the top six, rarely threatened, with manager Mick McCarthy sparing no punches in a frank assessment after the match.

Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman RoadRichie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road
Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That was in stark contrast to Warnock who has now overseen four wins in his first eight games.

He said: "I thought we deserved the win. We were so solid at the back and restricted them - our goalkeeper (Lee Camp) didn't have shots to save.

"Overall, our lads have done ever so well. We are limited but the Championship is my cup of tea.

Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman RoadRichie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road
Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Ipswich at Portman Road

"I have come here for 14 matches and I am loving it. I don't feel under any pressure and I have asked the lads just to give me their best. As you can see today, they are certainly doing that.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Leon Best has come in and I think he is the only player on that pitch who could have scored that goal - it was a better one than what people might think."

Best's 43rd-minute goal came from an Ipswich free-kick which saw Rotherham break and Matt Derbyshire tee up the unmarked striker to find the corner of the net.

What came before and after the only goal was largely forgettable.

Half chances were spurned, the best falling to visiting midfielder Grant Ward, whose low shot was turned around the post by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As in the first half, Ipswich began the restart brighter before ultimately fading - their best openings coming from headers by Daryl Murphy and Jonas Knudsen.

A flat, edgy second half ensued, although the home side almost grabbed an undeserved equaliser when substitute Ben Pringle fired a low shot which narrowly missed both the far post and the sliding Christophe Berra.

"We deserved to get booed off even though I don't have to listen to it," said McCarthy.

"It was a poor performance but I take a big part of the responsibility for that. I left the team as it was on Tuesday (a 2-0 win over Blackburn) when in hindsight I should have changed it.

"Maybe they didn't have the legs or energy. But all round the side, and I include myself, none of us came out of that with any glory."