Rotherham boss Paul Warne lauds matchwinner Richard Wood

Posted Sunday, February 18, 2018 by PA

Rotherham manager Paul Warne praised matchwinner Richard Wood after the captain’s goal proved enough to seal a 1-0 victory for his in-form team at League One leaders Shrewsbury.

Wood struck from close range just before half-time to make it six wins in a row for fourth-placed Rotherham, who are now unbeaten in their last 13 matches.

The result avenged the 2-1 defeat Rotherham were on the receiving end of when the teams met in South Yorkshire in November.

“He said after the game it’s about time he scored,” reflected Warne on Wood, a central defender, scoring the game’s only goal.

“We watched our game back when we played Shrewsbury at home and we weren’t that bad and I didn’t think we deserved to lose that game, but it was in part of a bad run.

“We watched all our set-pieces and everything we did and we just weren’t as crisp as we are now, so I think we’re a lot more of a threat on set-pieces and I think the lads have got a lot more belief they’re going to score and the fact that Woody scores just gives him a boost.

“He’s been brilliant for me all season, so I’m pleased for him.”

Warne, whose side are now five points behind Shrewsbury, added: “I was really pleased obviously to win. I thought the conditions weren’t conducive to good football for either team. I won’t say it was a game for the purist, it was anything but.

“When we got here we tweaked our tactics a little bit and we decided just to keep turning it.”

Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst, a former Rotherham player, said: “I don’t think it was a spectacle for anyone. The Rotherham fans will go home happy, understandably so. It keeps their run going and another good victory for them.

“You can see why they’re winning games. They’re very hard to play against, a big threat from set-plays, and a physical side that don’t give you time on the ball.

“I think we have done things similar, but today they were better at that side of the game.”

Nathan Thomas went closest to grabbing a second-half equaliser when his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

Despite the result, a third home game without a win, Shrewsbury remain a point clear at the top of League One.

“One thing is for definite, we’re still in a fantastic position,” added Hurst.

“There’s a bit of food for thought for myself today in terms of looking at the pitch and so on and maybe how we need to play moving forward because it’s certainly a more difficult surface than it was earlier in the season.”