Why Rotherham United boss Paul Warne is playing down the significance of Coventry City clash

The Millers are languishing at the wrong end of the Championship table having lost five of their last seven games.

They visit the Sky Blues, who are one point above them in the standings, and victory would see them head in the right direction.

After games with Bournemouth and Brentford, the Millers will be grateful for the chance to play a side around them in the table.

Warne understands why the trip to St Andrew's could be considered a must-win game, but he does not buy it.

“I do agree, but then I don't,” he said. “Let's say we don't get a positive result at Coventry but then there is another game three days later and another game after that.

“Especially this season you cannot build up any game too importantly, you can't get hung up with any result.

“You can with performances, if we were poor against Brentford I would be dreading this weekend, but I'm not.

“I just think the lads are in really good fettle, they believe in themselves and I always say confidence is based on evidence and the evidence was their performance on Saturday was excellent and they can see that and if they work hard and press they will get chances.

“I don't build Saturday up as any more important, however, if we won it makes a bigger difference.

“I don't feel like it's a massive pressure game, I would like to win it but we will see what happens.”

The Millers will have Michael Ihiekwe back following his one-match suspension which kept him out of the 2-0 defeat to Brentford in midweek.

Mickel Miller saw red in that match having come on as a substitute, so he will be suspended.

Richard Wood, Joe Mattock and Matt Olosunde all played against the Bees after Warne rated them doubtful.

“They all came through OK, I wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes,” the boss added.

“Matt Olosunde was a serious doubt, he had a scan on Monday afternoon that said he had a bit of fluid in his hamstring.

“He didn't feel comfortable but he was happy to play so fair play to him, I thought he was very good.

“Joe Mattock was very hamstring 'dommy', we didn't think he was going to be able to play but he was fine in the end.

“Woody had an epidural on Friday.”

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