He said he couldn’t really fault his side’s application, but they were missing the breaks on the day.
Rotherham took the lead through Joe Newell during the first-half and extended their lead in the second period through Semi Ajayi.
Lee Novak then netted quickly after for Scunthorpe, but they couldn't find the equalising goal.
ON THE GAME…
GA: It was an undeserved result, because I felt we played well today. We took a suckerpunch in the first-half, conceding a goal from a long throw. We have to do better at that. I felt an opportunity to get back into the game was taken away from us (when the Iron had a penalty shout denied as Ivan Toney looked to have been brought down by Millers goalkeeper Marek Rodak). That opened us up in the second-half to try and get back into the game and the second goal was on the counter-attack. We went a bit gung-ho because we wanted to get back into the game, we should have done and we deserved to. That gave us a bit of an uphill battle. We scored quite quickly after and continued to play on the front foot. It was a game where the breaks helped the away team rather than us, but it’s what we had to deal with today. We created the opportunities to get in that final third with good, composed possession and good breaking the lines, getting overloads here and there. To be fair to Rotherham, I thought the two centre-halves defended their box exceptionally well. They were very strong and powerful. But I can’t remember Gillo (Matt Gilks) having a save to make in the first-half at all. That’s what happens when it comes between two very good teams – they’re fine lines. I can’t have a go at the boys at all for today. We will look at the goals, because we need to address that – especially the first one. The second one I can understand, because we were attacking and wanting to get back into the game. The first one, even though the lad’s fortunate to get it in the top corner, it was the second phase from a long throw. In general terms, our play was good and we just need to get the breaks in both boxes.
ON THE TONEY-RODAK PENALTY SHOUT LATE IN THE FIRST HALF…
GA: It was a stone wall penalty, 100 per cent. The goalkeeper hasn’t touched the ball and the player is inbetween the ball and the defender. He flattened him. I heard two different explanations in the space of 10 seconds, speaking to the officials at half-time. If we’d scored it, it would have been 1-1 at half-time and we could have settled everything down at half-time and play with composure. We were chasing the game, they got the second and I don’t think they understand the knock-on effect of these decisions and how important they are. We’re powerless to do anything about it. You’ve seen the trouble other managers have got into and I’ve got into in the past. We have to swallow it and go again on Tuesday.
ON ANY KNOCKS FROM THE GAME…
GA: Rory McArdle has taken another knock to his mouth, and has dislodged a tooth or two. Duane Holmes got a little bit of cramp towards the end but everyone else has got through it okay.
ON LUKE WILLIAMS MAKING A RETURN TO ACTION AS A SUBSTITUTE…
GA: It’s been a long time. He’s worked extremely hard to get back to fitness and it’s good to have any good quality player back in the squad. Hopefully he’ll stay fit until the end of the season and play a positive part.
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