Rotherham United: Paul Warne guards against complacency ahead of Southend trip

The Millers make one of the longest trips of the season down to Essex to take on Sol Campbell's side, who have taken just six points from their opening 20 games.

They would be cut adrift at the bottom had it not been for Bolton's points deduction and already 11 points off safety, relegation to the bottom tier is looking likely this term.

But Warne was playing the cautious card in the build-up to the game, insisting that they are not as bad as the stats say. Even if they are spectacularly bad.

They have taken just one point from nine home games, conceding a staggering 30 goals, they have not won since September 21.

“All the teams near the bottom you can't underestimate them,” the boss warned.

“MK Dons are down there and they gave us a good licking. Tranmere are down there and we drew with them, Rochdale are down there and we lost.

“There is no way we are going into the Southend game thinking this is going to be a breeze because there is no such thing.

“They are going to go on a run sooner or later because they have got some really good players.

“They can really play, they are really athletic and they are a really big side. They are well organised, hard to break down at set-pieces.

“We are under no illusions going into the game that it is going to be tough. We have got to start well as you always have to when you are away.”

Former England defender Campbell was the man charged with leading their recovery having done a similar job at Macclesfield last term.

Campbell has been unable to halt the slide yet, but Warne is insistent the Roots Hall job is not the toughest in the Football League.

“Looking at his squad it isn't,” Warne added. “At the moment he might have because he is try to turn them around.

“I think his team is really good, if people look at the league table and make a judgement then they are wrong.

“Look at the actual players they have got. You're judged on results and they aren't getting them at the minute.”