Rotherham United: Wood sets sights on December surge

The Millers are 11 points adrift of safety at the foot of the Championship and Wood acknowledges their survival prospects appear bleak.

But the skipper, wearing the armband in the injury absence of Lee Frecklington, believes the fixtures in the run-up to Christmas offer the club the chance to end their miserable run of 13 matches without a win.

“The next few games, on paper, look a bit easier and we have to be looking at picking up at least a few points,” Wood said.

“We are bottom of the league, we are conceding a lot of goals, something has to give. As a team, we have to get it right.”

Rotherham are at home to Leeds United on Saturday and then a busy December sees them play Burton twice, QPR, Fulham, Wigan and derby rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The Millers have only seven points from their 17 league matches and were beaten 3-0 at Derby County last Saturday.

“It’s not a good position to be in,” Wood said. “Things don’t look good, but time is on our side. There are plenty of games to go. If we put a run together, you never know, but it’s going to be tough.”

The centre-half admitted that some players’ spirits had visisbly sagged at the iPro Stadium after two goals in four first-half minutes put the Rams in control.

“I am giving it my all and the lads are as well,” he said.” I’m trying to get us going, but we have got to do it ourselves as individuals.

“At times, you could see heads drop, especially at 2-0. At half-time, we said ‘we can’t give in, we have got to keep going’. That’s the position we’re in.”

New manager Kenny Jackett has had only four matches in charge and needs time to address tthe defensive frailties which surfaced during Alan Stubbs’ brief reign.

Leaking three goals against Derby meant that Rotherham have shipped 41 in the second tier since opening day, by far the worst total in the division.

“They are a good side, Derby, but at the same time it is so frustrating,” Wood added. “We have given them goals. They are good players and when you give them time and space they are going to punish us.

“There is nothing much else to say. We can’t find a defensive set-up as a team to stop conceding goals.”

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