Rotherham boss Paul Warne thankful after Millers keep Championship survival hopes alive

Rotherham boss Paul Warne was thankful his side lived to fight another day in their Championship survival quest.
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On a dramatic day, the Millers took their fate back into their own hands with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn as results elsewhere went their way.

At one point they were heading back to League One as Derby were winning at Swansea and they trailed to Adam Armstrong's early opener.

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But Lewis Wing's late free-kick – his first goal of an impressive loan spell from Middlesbrough – brought Rotherham level while the Swans turned things around against Derby.

Rotherham's Championship survival bid will go down to the final day of the season.Rotherham's Championship survival bid will go down to the final day of the season.
Rotherham's Championship survival bid will go down to the final day of the season.

There are still plenty of permutations going into the final week of the season, but there is simple equation. If Warne's side win their final two games then they are safe no matter what happens in Derby and Sheffield Wednesday's potential blockbusting curtain-closer next week.

The Millers are running on empty at the minute after a run of 10 games in 30 days and in truth they could easily have lost against Rovers.

Angus MacDonald's mistake was capitalised on by Adam Armstrong in the opening 20 minutes and a number of saves from goalkeeper Jamal Blackman kept the Millers in it.

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They proved crucial as with six minutes of normal time remaining, Wing curled in a free-kick that kept the Millers alive.

Warne said: “I thought we started the game really well and then we gifted them a goal and with respect it is not League One or League Two, those players don't really miss those chances very often.

“I think the lads took a blow with it. At half-time it felt like they lacked a little bit of belief that they were going to get back into it.

“They have licked their wounds so many times this season that psychologically they have been a bit damaged so for them to come back and Wingy to get his goal his performances have definitely merited, we leave a lot happier than it could have been.

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“I thought we looked jaded. A lot of those players in the team today have played a lot of minutes, I just think it looked a game too far for some of them.

“There is a lot of games, for anyone who hasn't played professional football, being the underdog for 10 games in 30 days is some feat and in fairness to Blackburn, they have got talent all over the pitch, it is not a level playing field without the fatigue, but they kept going they are determined to keep their Championship status and fair play to them.

“On another day we could have won and we could have lost, that's how most of the games in the Championship are. We live to fight another day, which is good.”