Barnsley 4-0 Rotherham: Alan Stubbs and Paul Heckingbottom reaction
Saturday 27 August 2016 22:00, UK
Rotherham boss Alan Stubbs is threatening to wield the axe after his side's South Yorkshire derby embarrassment at Barnsley.
The Millers were blown away by a second-half onslaught from the Reds, who won it with goals from Marc Roberts, Adam Hammill, Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Kent.
Stubbs' men had no answer and there are serious early-season concerns having lost their three away games to an aggregate of 10-0.
The former Hibs boss is desperate to do some business before the transfer deadline and admits there may now be more outgoings than he thought.
"We have to look at ourselves, it has to mean more than it is showing at the moment," he said. "When you go 1-0 down the most important thing is to make sure you don't concede a second.
"We have had a chat about it at the end, it's not about ranting and raving. It's about all of us taking collective responsibility.
"Today is obviously very disappointing. If the players aren't prepared to work hard then we will have players out and have players in. There may be more going out than I originally expected.
"We could have done better than what we did, it's as simple as that. There's no substitute for hard work."
Things could not be more different for Barnsley, who are enjoying a fine start to life back in the second tier, with their third home win from three leaving them in third place ahead of the international break.
And the manner of their win over their South Yorkshire neighbours has left Paul Heckingbottom feeling optimistic.
"I am delighted, the win is the most important, we have turned a good start into a very good one," Heckingbottom said. "Nine points from five games we would have definitely been delighted with at the start.
"We have shown we can win games in this league and if you want to achieve anything, that's what you have got to do.
"The style of the win and the scoreline puts the icing on the cake.
"It has been a really positive start for us and we are delighted."
The first half was an even contest but the second was a different story.
Roberts got the ball rolling when he poked home from a set-piece with Hammill sending in a deflected effort against his former club three minutes later.
Bradshaw, who was close to joining the Millers before Barnsley stole in, got his inevitable goal in the 86th minute and then Kent made it an afternoon to remember when he fired into the top corner from the edge of the box.
"There was nothing much in the first half, we started bright and it was even," Heckingbottom added. "At half-time we didn't change anything but just asked for more quality and tempo and we were adamant we would get the win.
"To get two goals in quick succession really killed the game and we looked a good side then."
