[BFC SITE] "It was a great battling win" - Darrell Clarke on Rotherham victory

Fixtures

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

Reds Head Coach Darrell Clarke hailed his side’s resilience after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rotherham United in the South Yorkshire derby.


The Reds produced a disciplined defensive performance at the New York Stadium to secure a valuable three points, keeping a clean sheet in the process—something Clarke was particularly pleased with.

"It was a decent, battling performance, and I’m really pleased," he said. "I thought we could have been better in the final third at times, just with a bit more composure and picking the right option. But we haven’t kept enough clean sheets this season, so I’m delighted to get one in the derby and win the game."

While Clarke acknowledged that one result does not mark a dramatic turnaround, he believes this victory can serve as a platform to build on after a tough spell.

"It’s not been a vibrant changing room, as we’ve been disappointed over the last six games, but this is a stepping stone," he continued. "It was a strong, battling performance. The lads who came into the team did well, and the experienced players helped us massively. Marc Roberts, Luca Connell and Phillo (Adam Phillips) were excellent, and when key players are missing, others have to step up. The back three defended everything that came into the box, and even when we lost a player to injury, we adapted. It was a great battling win, but just a small step forward."

Clarke also highlighted the mental strength of his players, noting the significant improvement in their ability to see out games under pressure.

"At times this season, we’ve been a bit soft, a bit flaky," he admitted. "But today, we ground out the key moments really well. We’ve worked hard on that in training, and while there’s still a lot to improve on, it’s a big step in the right direction. It’s a good three points, and I want to thank our supporters—they were outstanding today, travelling in numbers. It was a great lunchtime kick-off for them."

While the win was crucial, Clarke remained level-headed and focused on the challenges ahead, with another big game coming up on Tuesday night.

"You only silence the critics by winning consistently," he stated. "We haven’t had enough of those consistent spells, so we’re not getting carried away. This is just a small step, and we need to back it up on Tuesday. The lads will prepare well, and we’ll be ready for another big game. We spoke at the start of the week about needing a strong run, and this is just the beginning."

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