[BFC SITE] "A Big Win in the Derby" - Marc Roberts on Rotherham win

Fixtures

• Rotherham United Vs. Barnsley - Sat, Feb 22 2025, 12:30

Reds defender Marc Roberts reflected on a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rotherham United, highlighting the importance of securing three points after a tough spell for the Reds.


Speaking after the final whistle, Roberts was pleased to deliver a derby-day victory for the fans but admitted the win was crucial regardless of the opponent.

“A local derby is always a good one to win, but we needed the win against anyone,” he said. “We've been on a tough run, so sending the fans home happy makes it even better.”

Having returned to the side after serving a suspension following his red card against Wycombe Wanderers, Roberts admitted it had been difficult watching from the sidelines. The defender revealed the team had held honest discussions in the build-up to the match and credited the side’s return to basics for the victory.

“It’s been tough watching on after the red card,” he admitted. “We had a couple of meetings and some home truths. Today felt like a game to get back to basics, and I think you could see that. It wasn’t a special performance—just a professional job from the whole team.

“We needed to show resilience and prove we’re not just a ‘nice’ team when things are going well. We had to dig in at times—this is a tough place to come. A Yorkshire derby brings a lot of pressure, but we weathered it well and showed some quality. The biggest job was getting over the line, digging in, and securing the win.”

Roberts was pleased with how the team managed the game, staying composed under pressure and limiting Rotherham’s chances.

“I think we were comfortable and controlled large parts of the game,” he said. “In matches like this, the opposition will put pressure on and put balls into the box. There’s always a chance someone slips, so concentration is key. We had to stick to our jobs and focus on the basics.

“Coming off tough results, we knew we needed to get back to a solid structure and work from there. We knew that if we won today, we could take that momentum into Tuesday.”

Roberts also addressed perceptions that Barnsley can be too easy to play against, insisting the team showed their grit in the derby victory.

“I know we've been labelled a ‘nice’ team at times, but we showed we can roll our sleeves up in this game,” he said. “Hopefully, we can build some consistency from this and take it into the next match, which will be similar in how they play. If we carry this attitude forward, we can approach that game positively and get another win.”

Beyond the three points, Roberts was delighted to give the supporters a performance to be proud of.

“It was a good game for us as a group,” he said. “Everyone in this squad is fighting for the same goal—to push higher up the league. It won’t always be perfect, but after a tough run, it’s great to send the fans home with bragging rights. Hopefully, we can put together a little run and climb back up the table to where we want to be.

“But yes, it’s a great way to send the fans home with bragging rights and hopefully a bit happier than they have been. Now we need to take this into Tuesday and push for another win.”

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