It's been a difficult first half of the campaign for Rotherham and the Millers find themselves embroiled in a relegation dogfight for the second successive season. An 18-match winless resulted in the departure of manager Mick Harford but recently there have been more encouraging signs under the guidance of caretaker boss Alan Knill. Rotherham are currently fourth from bottom in the League One standings but a win against Port Vale next week could lift the club out of the drop zone and signal a change of fortune for the New Year. Givemefootball's Mark Shail got the thoughts of experienced defender Phil Gilchrist.
Q:THINGS SEEMED TO HAVE IMPROVED IN RECENT WEEKS?
A:Yes, we've picked up a couple of encouraging results but I don't necessarily think we're playing any better – we've just had the breaks at the right time in games. For example, in the recent win against Bradford, we had the rub of the green and managed to go two goals in front for the first time this season and that allowed us to play with more confidence and freedom.
Q:AND LOOKING AT THE TABLE, YOU CERTAINLY NEEDED THAT WIN?
A:It was a good result but we really need to be looking to kick on now and get three of four wins on the bounce to get ourselves up the table. I think we're seven points off mid-table so a good run could see us climb into the top half quite quickly.
Q:WHAT WAS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE IN THE CAMP DURING THAT 18-MATCH WINLESS RUN?
A:It wasn't too bad because we didn't feel that we were actually playing that badly. We just couldn't seem to get that second goal to go in front in games, or our mistakes would be punished and we'd end up getting beaten by the odd goal – things quite often go against you when you're down there at the wrong end of the table.
Q:WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED TO SEE MICK HARFORD LEAVE THE CLUB?
A:It's never nice to see a manager leave a club and the players are more to blame for the results than him. But that's what happens in football – it's a results-orientated business and unfortunately the manager is the person who bears the brunt of everything. Mick was very popular with the players, and it was sad to see him go, but over the length of your career you have to accept that managers are going to come and go.
Q:THE PLAYERS SEEM TO HAVE RESPONDED WELL TO ALAN KNILL SINCE HE TOOK OVER THE MANAGERIAL REINS?
A:Yes, the lads know him well and sometimes when a new face takes over it just gives the players a boost of adrenalin and leads to an up-turn in results. I don't know what is going to happen regarding the job in the long–term, that's down to the chairman and the board of directors.
Q:IS SURVIVAL NOW THE AIM THIS SEASON?
A:It's a bit early to be talking about survival because we're only a couple of wins away from mid-table. If we can get into the top half, things will start to look much brighter and all of a sudden we could then find ourselves six or seven points outside the play-off positions – but it's a big if!
Q:SO IT'S A REST THIS WEEKEND AND THEN AN IMPORTANT LEAGUE GAME AGAINST PORT VALE IN MIDWEEK?
A:They beat us 2-0 at their place at the start of the season but their was nothing in the game – they took the lead with a great goal and then scored a second on the break near the end just when we were looking the most likely team to score. Vale are involved in the FA Cup this weekend so hopefully they will be feeling a bit jaded and it could end up working in our favour.
