‘It’s exactly the same challenge I expected when I came in,’ – Rotherham United’s new manager Leam Richardson.

Rotherham United’s new head coach Leam Richardson says he is under no illusions as to the enormity of the challenge facing him after a tough baptism in his first game in charge.

Having not picked the team after succeeding Matt Taylor late on Monday afternoon, Richardson had just one meeting with his new players last night and then briefly before taking the field for their home game with West Bromwich Albion.

It was little surprise, therefore, that West Brom ran out comfortable 2-0 winners thanks to second-half goals from Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace as the Millers’ winless run extended to nine games.

What will be most important to Richardson is the fact that West Brom barely had to get out of first gear to achieve the win.

Rotherham Umited manager Leam Richardson during the Sky Bet Championship match at the AESSEAL New York Stadium (Picture: Nigel French/PA)
Rotherham Umited manager Leam Richardson during the Sky Bet Championship match at the AESSEAL New York Stadium

 

 

“It is exactly the same challenge as I thought it was when I came in,” said Richardson.

“It’s one of the top leagues in Europe. West Brom will be right up there.

“They have had two shots on target and they have both gone in. We are in a really challenging league.

“The first goal was a mistake and a technical error, which happened. We won’t dwell on it. We have a group of staff and players who want to get better.

Unstoppable: West Bromwich Albion's Jed Wallace (left) blasts a free-kick past the Rotherham wall and in off the crossbar for the second goal (Picture: Nigel French/PA)
Unstoppable: West Bromwich Albion's Jed Wallace (left) blasts a free-kick past the Rotherham wall and in off the crossbar for the second goal (Picture: Nigel French/PA)
“The work was already done before this match. You can only commend the effort and endeavour out there.

“There are always areas where we want to improve. Collectively, we can get better.

“I have only been here for a few minutes so it’s important that you listen and don’t only talk.

“We are where we are. We don’t look at the past.”

On moving forward, Richardson added, “I’ve got ideas about how I want to play. That won’t happen overnight. It will also take one or two transfer windows.”

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