Rotherham United: Paul Warne admits to worries over form at New York Stadium

Rotherham United v Rochdale
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Rotherham"s manager Paul Warne on the sideline — Rotherham United v Rochdale Skybet League One Rotherham"s manager Paul Warne on the sideline | Other 3rd Party

Rotherham boss Paul Warne admits he is concerned by his side’s home form.

The Millers' promotion chances are being undermined by a terrible record in front of their home fans this season.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Rochdale, who had lost their last five league games and were injury-stricken, only compounded their misery and left Warne having to address the “elephant in the room”.

It was their fourth defeat at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, with another two draws and it is restricting their move on the automatic promotion places.

Asked if he thought their home form was an issue, Warne replied: “My managerial answer if I had media training would be, 'No, it's not issue. Points are points'.

"But it is an issue. We have eight-and-a-half-thousand Rotherham fans here.

“My wife and children come to the home games. If I could flip it and win every home match and never win away I would.

"It is a problem. It's like the elephant in the room. The more I mention it, the greater the problem becomes. As a group, we need to stand up.”

The Millers are a different side away from home, one who can cut teams open and deliver thrilling football.

But only the handful of travelling fans get to see that version of their team and that leaves Warne feeling regretful.

"I feel for the fans who watch us only at home because at times away from home we've been mesmerising,” he said.

“For whatever reason, if we don't score first at home it just increases the pressure.

“My job is to make people smile here and today there wasn't a lot of smiling going on.

“I don't want to have regrets at the end of the season. Every win is worth three points. It doesn't matter if it's against Ipswich Town, Rochdale or MK Dons."

The Millers were expected to beat Rochdale, who arrived in disarray, but won it through Aaron Morley's first-half strike.

As the hosts searched for a leveller they thought they should have had a penalty when Chiedozie Ogbene looked to have been fouled.

“I thought Chieo might have had a penalty, which might have been a turning point," Warne said. "In fairness, I'm 80 yards away and I'm biased. It might not have been a penalty but at the time I thought it looked nailed on.”