'Heartbreaking' - Paul Warne on Rotherham United's draw with Huddersfield Town

For the second game in a row Rotherham got the result their performance deserved.
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But for the second game in a row the manner in which they got it was gut-wrenching.

After they conceded a 90th-minute penalty to draw 1-1 at Birmingham last week, things were even tougher to take on Saturday against Huddersfield.

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Against the most polished side they had come up against yet they were on course for an impressive three points before scoring an own-goal in the sixth minute of injury time to again draw 1-1.

Rotherham United players stunned by the last minute Huddersfield Town equaliserRotherham United players stunned by the last minute Huddersfield Town equaliser
Rotherham United players stunned by the last minute Huddersfield Town equaliser

Over the course of the two games their performances have warranted two draws, but having been so close to victories makes it pretty tough to take.

It is another reminder of just how hard it is to win in the Championship for any team, but especially Rotherham, who have an unnerving consistency at being unable to see games out at this level.

Ben Wiles put them on course for the points with a low shot in the first half, before Gonzalo Pipa's last-gasp free-kick for the Terriers struck Angus MacDonald and deflected past Jamal Blackman.

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It was especially cruel for MacDonald, who had been a gargantuan at the back for the Millers.

Huddersfield will say they deserved that piece of luck as they dominated the game and ran Rotherham ragged in the second half, something boss Paul Warne admitted.

The last 10 minutes were pretty dicey and the Millers had needed their goalkeeper Jamal Blackman to produce a good stop to keep out Pipa.

That did not stop the manner – and timing - of the Huddersfield goal stinging Warne.

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“Did Huddersfield do enough in the game to get a point? I think they did,” Warne said.

“The fact they got it so late and it was an own goal was hard to take. But they were in the ascendancy for a lot of the game so there is no complaint from that respect, it is just heartbreaking really.”

The Millers were without Chiedozie Ogbene for the match as the flying winger picked up a knee injury in training.

Warne's weekend was made even worse by news that he needs surgery and could miss two months.

“It's bad news on Chieo,” he said. “He damaged his knee in training on Friday. He's had a scan and he's seeing a surgeon on Monday. He'll be out for a minimum of six to eight weeks.”