Friday 10 November 2017 13:29, UK
Rotherham boss Paul Warne wants to win on Saturday for the club, the town and himself. Most importantly, though, he wants to beat Doncaster for his son.
Warne takes the Millers to the Keepmoat Stadium, the first time the Yorkshire rivals have met in 10 years, with the match live on Sky Sports Football.
"I live closer to Doncaster than Rotherham so I live near a few Donny fans," Warne told Sky Sports. "My son and daughter go to a school in Doncaster and my son has already begged me not to lose because it will be disastrous for him! So if only for my son I've got to set out to win.
"We haven't played Donny for a while and I think we've sold a lot of tickets. Obviously, with it being on TV it will have a bit of extra spice to it, both teams will want to win and we'll settle for trying to do that."
The clubs were two leagues apart this time last year, but an atrocious campaign in the Sky Bet Championship saw Rotherham relegated to League One, while Doncaster were promoted from League Two.
Warne took over at the end of last November, and he was already their third permanent appointment of the season at that stage after Alan Stubbs and Kenny Jackett. It was already a sinking ship and relegation was inevitable, but he's done well since then to steady things in League One.
"I think we've done really well to change the ethos of the club and get a bit of positivity back," he said. "We've recruited some really good lads here who have bought into what we're trying to do. It's a bit of a process but we're really pleased with the games we've won and even in the games we've lost I don't think we've been embarrassed or annihilated.
"It's just about getting two or three wins on the run and you go up the league, we got up to fourth but then we had a little hiccup. There are a lot of teams trying to win consecutive games but at the moment it's really only Wigan and Shrewsbury doing it, and the rest of us are trying to chase.
"But we try to not get too knee jerky with results. We just try to perform for the town and the club on a weekly basis. We're getting the crowds back, there'll definitely be goals and hopefully we'll be putting them in the Doncaster end!"
While Rotherham find themselves just outside the play-offs on goal difference heading into the weekend, Doncaster have endured a slightly more shaky start. Darren Ferguson's team are 17th in the table. Warne, however, was full of praise for the job Ferguson had done at the Keepmoat.
"They're a really good footballing side," said Warne. "I've got respect for what Darren [Ferguson] is doing at Donny. They played football to get out of League Two which is quite unique, I think a lot of teams usually play a different way, and when you go up it does take you a few weeks to get going and settle in.
"But they're doing really well and he can be proud of what they've done at the club."
Rotherham's major success story this season so far has been Kieffer Moore. The Ipswich loanee has netted 12 times so far this season in the league, more than any other player in the top four divisions in England.
The 25-year-old striker endured a tough start at Ipswich after making the jump from non-league last season, and has credited Warne with his form this season.
"It's been brilliant [so far] and everyone here has been brilliant with me," Moore told Sky Sports. "The gaffer has been top notch for me and he's done everything he can to accommodate me and my style of play. I can't thank him enough.
"Overall he's just a very good man, his style of management is something I've taken a liking to and he's very hands-on and passionate. You can't fault the way he conducts himself."
Don't miss the Sky Bet League One clash between Doncaster and Rotherham on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football from 12.15pm
