Rotherham United left to rue the ‘one that got away’

Given that his side went into a high-octane League One summit meeting at Coventry City with a slender lead on goal difference, the fact that they remained ahead of the Sky Blues at the final whistle should have surely been the cause for more satisfaction.

Yet while the pragmatic side of Millers chief Warne admits he would have taken a draw at second-placed Coventry beforehand, it is testament to the high standards of everyone that there was a sense of disappointment after the visitors were second best in a second half which saw them pegged back in a 1-1 draw.

It did not take a few choice words at the end from Warne to convey that, more reinforce what his players had already said.

Namely that it was a decent, okay performance – but not a champion display or a statement.

Warne, likely to provide an update today regarding the fitness of midfielder Dan Barlaser – stretchered off on Tuesday with an ankle injury in the second-half – said: “I could hear Coventry’s dressing room because the music was going and everything. It was not like that in ours.

“The lads are disappointed. I think they feel they can play much better than that. I think if we had played excellently in the second half and Coventry had nicked a goal, the lads would have come in still disappointed with a point, but happy with the way they had played.

“As coaches, we are performance-drivers. Results look after themselves. Our performance in the second half was not enough to win a football game.

“That is what is disappointing. The lads know that. A few of them just were not at their best.

“I just want to win. I want to win every game. We did not change the system. We went for it. Robbo (Mark Robins) changed his system for us, which was a compliment to our team.

“I told the lads that beforehand. I told them to go out and play like champions. I do not want to go up in the play-offs, I do not want to go up in second, I want us to go up as champions if we can.

“Champions come here and do not lose. We did not lose, but it feels, for me, like one that has got away a little bit.

“I do not remember us having a chance in the second half and that is my disappointment.”