Rotherham boss Matt Hamshaw responds to fans’ calls for him to be sacked following a 2-0 defeat to Peterborough on New Year’s Day.
The Millers suffered their sixth consecutive defeat and remained in the relegation zone, where they sat in 22nd place with 24 points from 24 games played and 3 points for safety.
Meanwhile, Peterborough extended their unbeaten run to six games and climbed into the top half thanks to an own goal from Joe Rafferty (61′) from a cross from Declan Frith and a neat finish from substitute Brandon Khela (73′).
Rotherham also saw an effort from Jordan Hugill come back off the crossbar and Alex Bass parried the effort while Peterborough’s Donay O’Brien-Brady hit the post.
In his post-match interview, under-pressure manager Matt Hamshaw gave quite an interview…
Interviewer: Well, another disappointing day. The fans booed at the end. How do you rate the performance?
Matt: Nonsense. I’m tired of always saying the same thing. I understand it. The fans are on my back. I understand it. Something has to change.
Interviewer: What could that be in the short term?
Matt: Lots of things.
Interviewer: Look, some fans obviously also think that it should be so, that you could be the one to change. What would you say to them?
Matt: I can’t disagree at this point. We lost six games in a row. We have a lot of players out there. I brought out probably my best team. It has no meaning at this moment. We need characters, we need desire, we need spirit and that wasn’t there today and it wasn’t there the other night. That’s the message I want to convey to the players and I understand it. People say: Oh, it’s the manager’s fault. There are deeper issues here, but I get it.
Interviewer: Without wanting to go back too far, you alluded to pressure in a few press comments ago. Ultimately, only one man can decide the future of this football club. Are you really feeling under pressure or is it just a terrible time?
Matt: I think it’s terrible. I can’t stand here and say that. Your work control is always there and that was a point I made a few weeks ago. Every time I played a game, every time I refereed a game, every time I coached a game, there is always pressure on you. Look, I feel pressure. I understand the fans’ frustration, but it doesn’t matter what I say now because the fans don’t want to hear it and I understand that too. Look, this is unacceptable at this point. It’s nowhere near the level I was talking about. There was a massive decline. There are reasons for this. The club needs to be strengthened. The club needs players. The club needs players.
Interviewer: In terms of this process, have you been given the green light to do as much as you can, to put it better?
Matt: It’s hard for me to say at the moment, but we’re trying to get players. I need players.
Interviewer: Fans may want to know if anything is imminent?
Matt: Not imminent as we stand here now, no.
Interviewer: Before the game, the fans saw the team and noticed that Gore wasn’t there. Maybe worried that he might fall back or actually get hurt. So what’s going on?
Watch the interview to find out the rest of what Matt had to say…
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Posh boss Luke Williams said: “They are the ones doing the hard work and I am very lucky to stand alongside them and watch them.”
“We have a group of players who are ready to throw themselves into the game and that’s what we saw once again: players who come in with a great attitude and help ensure victory.”
“A clean slate and two away goals are as good as it gets.
“I thought the first half was a bit bumpy and the opposition stopped us from getting going and there was one mistake too many from us.
“The team was together and stayed in the game, and things opened up a bit in the second half.
“In the first half there wasn’t as much space. In the second half we seemed to be better and were able to move forward and exploit the gaps.
“It’s a balanced game, there’s not much in it.
“We knew it would be a resolute Rotherham team and that they would fight with all their might to be in the game with us, but in the end we managed to find enough chances to win the game.”
