Rotherham United: Paul Warne left to rue missed chances in derby draw at Sheffield Wednesday

Paul Warne might never get a better chance to join the elite list of managers who have guided Rotherham to a win at Hillsborough.
Millers manager Paul Warne barking out instructions......Pic Steve EllisMillers manager Paul Warne barking out instructions......Pic Steve Ellis
Millers manager Paul Warne barking out instructions......Pic Steve Ellis

The Millers boss took his side to S6 and saw them dominate for much of the game, yet only come away with a 2-2 draw.

They somehow went in at half time trailing to Lucas Joao's goal, which was the Owls' only shot on target in the first half, before turning it around at the start of the second half with goals from Michael Smith and Richie Towell.

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But Joao's second made the Millers pay for a defensive mistake to deny them a win and stop Warne joining some of the pantheons of the club's history, such as Ronnie Moore and Neil Warnock.

After Joao had levelled the scores, Rotherham had two glorious chances to restore the lead but Will Vaulks and Towell were wasteful.

It left Warne proud of his side's attempts but rueful of two points that got away.

Warne said: 'We didn't come here with a sitting midfielder, we came here with a 4-4-1-1, we tried to get at them and I thought our first half performance to go in at 1-1 was a bit harsh, although it was a defensive error.

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'I thought our second half performance was good and created enough chances in the end to win the game, but regrettably we didn't. But to get a point away is not the worst day at the office.'

The draw was the Millers' ninth from the last 11 games and arguably at least five of those should have yielded wins.

They have also dropped 16 points from winning positions and Warne knows his side need to learn to kill games when they are dominating.

'We don't take enough chances to give ourselves a two-goal cushion,' Warne added.

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'Over the course of the play people might think a draw is a fair result, 2-1 at Hillsborough they are always going to come back at you, the equalising goal was hugely disappointing but they always are when you concede. Obviously we were fortuitous with our second goal.

'We are still pleased with the point, but we need to turn these draws into wins because these performances deserve more than a point.

'In this league we need to take our chances, our chances were gilt-edged. If they were at the other end I think they would have gone in.'