Rotherham boss hopes to have dragged rivals into trouble with win

Rovers will at least be looking over their shoulders as the Millers’ 3-1 win on Tuesday moved them to 39 points, three short of Coventry City who they host tomorrow night.

The Millers have three games in hand on every other side in the division, apart from Coventry, and will also be eyeing further points when their four game week is rounded off with the visit of Birmingham City on Sunday.

Rovers are on 47 points, eight clear of the Millers, and with some comfort of having four sides between them and the relegation places. But with five of those sides below them still to come, their destiny remains in their own hands, but they could easily be dragged further into trouble should results not go their way.

They host Derby County on Friday night, the Rams currently on 43 points, before games against Sheffield Wednesday (35), Huddersfield Town (44), Rotherham United (39) and Birmingham City (45) to close the season out.

Speaking after the victory over QPR, Millers boss Warne said: “It might have made a few others react and think 'we aren’t as safe as we once thought'.

“When we were losing, if I was the manager of a team above us I’d have thought ‘oh that’s good’, but everyone else has lost now and it gives us a chance.

“We need to perform to the same level on Thursday, if we win again then great, if not then Coventry go six away from us. I still think Thursday night is a must win, but they all are.”

A win for Rovers on Friday would move them to 50 points, before the rest of the sides play their weekend fixture. While Rovers did get relegated with 51 points in 2016/17, reaching a half century of points is normally seen as the safety mark.