Rotherham 0-1 Blackburn: Neil Warnock and Paul Lambert reaction
Saturday 30 April 2016 18:50, UK
Rotherham manager Neil Warnock felt his side produced "Sunday league defending" as their unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-0 loss against Blackburn .
The Millers' 11-game streak was ended by Shane Duffy's sixth-minute header from Matt Grimes' corner at the AES Seal New York Stadium.
Blackburn, who had not won in their six previous games coming into the fixture, held out for the victory.
After leading The Millers to safety, Warnock felt the players lost their competitive edge after securing another season in the Sky Bet Championship.
He said: "You need that edge and the competitiveness it gives you. You lose your edge when there is nothing to play for. It's life I'm afraid.
"I don't think we were prepared. The goal comes and he didn't have to jump for the header. It was a Sunday League goal and I was disappointed in that.
"We lost the game but I can't fault the lads. They have been remarkable but everybody has played their part from the chairman down to the tea lady.
"People have seen magical moments that they will remember for the rest of their lives in this run. We're limited but they have listened to what we've wanted and done their best."
Next weekend's fixture will see Rotherham face Hull and it's a game Warnock says he will look forward to.
"I think it will be a good game because Hull are in the play-offs," he added.
"It is hard when there is nothing at stake. They are like pre-season games. I hate them and the early rounds of the cups."
Blackburn manager Paul Lambert felt his team could have won more comfortably.
He said: "I thought we deserved to win the game. I thought Lee Camp kept them well in the game but I thought we were brilliant from start to finish.
"We came to play a team who have been playing really well and thought we were outstanding.
"I don't think there is much in the Championship. It doesn't matter if you're on a 20-game winning streak and somebody can come and beat you.
"We have had some big moments in the game to maybe win by three or four and I don't think anyone would have begrudged us that. We defended really strongly without really looking like we were going to concede."
Lambert, who has announced he will be leaving the club in the summer, continued to distance himself from the vacant manager's post at Celtic but said he wanted to get a new club as soon as possible.
He added: "The link with Celtic is only because I played there. It is a huge football club worldwide and I had a great eight years there as a player.
"The most important thing for me is Blackburn Rovers and we have got one game to go and that's the only game I'm concentrating on.
"Everybody knows that I'm moving on. I want to go back in (to management). I never wanted to leave Blackburn. That's probably the sad thing."
