Rotherham United: Boss Warne's verdict on Millers' play-off first-leg draw

Manager Paul Warne brushed aside Rotherham United's late disappointment after their 2-2 away draw in the League One play-off-semi-final first leg against Scunthorpe United.
Paul WarnePaul Warne
Paul Warne

The Millers looked set to take a 2-1 lead back to AESSEAL New York Stadium for next Wednesday's return clash until the Iron scrambled in an 88th-minute equaliser..

But Warne declared he was still satisfied with a result which gives his side the upper hand in the battle to reach the final at Wembley later this month.

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"If you'd have given me a draw before the game, I would have been happy with that," he said. "I'll put some smiles back on the players' faces. A few of them are down, so we will pick them up and go again in training on Monday."

Rotherham took a 17th-minute lead through Jon Taylor but Michael Ihiekwe put through his own net two minutes later. Joe Newell, with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, put the Millers in the driving seat after 67 minutes, only for Cameron McGeehan to bundle the ball home from close range with two minutes of regulation time remaining.

Warne absolved Ihiekwe of any blame for the own goal when the centre-half failed to clear a shot by Duane Holmes.

"It is a random act," the boss said. "If you'd have done that 10 more times, that probably wouldn't happen again.

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"To come away from here 2-1 up would have been a great result, but I can't be greedy. Scunthorpe played well. They are a great side, so to come here and match them on their own turf is good and we can take credit for that. Hopefully we can win on Wednesday."