Rotherham boss Paul Warne says Sunderland are the team to avoid in the play-offs, after the sides fought out a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light. The Millers arrived on Wearside knowing that their superior goal difference meant a win against the Black Cats would effectively seal an automatic promotion spot.
And Michael Ihiekwe's first-half header put them on course for victory, until the defender scored a late own-goal to ensure the points were shared. That means Rotherham go into their final day game at Gillingham still needing a win to be certain of automatic promotion, but also conscious of the fact that if they drop points at the Priestfield Stadium and MK Dons beat Plymouth, Warne's men would end up finishing third and having to take their chances in the play-offs.
As for Alex Neil's Sunderland, they go into their final day game at Morecambe knowing they could finish anywhere between fourth and seventh, meaning they could face any of the other contenders in the play-offs - or even miss out altogether. Obviously, Warne wants to secure automatic promotion but his nighmare scenario would be to finish third and Sunderland sixth, meaning they would face each other in a two-legged semi-final.
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"We knew when we came here that Sunderland and Wycombe are probably the two in-form teams at the moment," said Warne. "I obviously don't want to drop into the play-offs, but if we did, I wouldn't want to play Sunderland home and away.
"I know they made changes for this game and, respectfully, I think they made changes because they knew the energy and pace we had. So, to limit them to very few chances was good.
“But when you've got 35,000 people cheering you on, it makes a difference. I appreciate you might get the odd decision here or there, as I would want if I had 35,000 at my place.
"I thought we deserved to win the game, but I accept that I'm biased. I have the utmost respect for Alex and his team, and I thought they played really well against a really good League One team."
Despite saying he thought Rotherham deserved to win, Warne accepted that his side could not get the second goal they needed to give themselves a cushion and said Sunderland probably deserved a point overall - although the timing and manner of the late equaliser left his players 'devastated'. He said: "When you're 1-0 up, you're always vulnerable.
"Obviously, Sunderland were throwing the kitchen sink and rightfully so. I thought we rode the pressure quite well, we just needed that second goal which we didn't get and then you're always susceptible to that one ball or slashed clearance and unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be.
"I've said to the lads then that I'm really proud of them. I love them and they're amazing kids. They're devastated but I'm a fatalist and if it isn't meant to be, it isn't meant to be.
"Take nothing away from Sunderland, I thought they probably deserved a draw."
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