Rotherham United went to Crewe on Saturday and were held 1-1. The Alex grabbed a controversial equaliser when Andy White bundled the ball home when it looked like Millers` keeper Mike Pollitt had it in his grasp. After the game Brian Beard spoke to Mike about that goal AND his subsequent goalkeeping that ensured United took their point.
Q:THE MANAGER WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE CREWE GOAL. I SUSPECT NEITHER WERE YOU?
A:I don't know, the cross came over and I went out to take it. The ball was in my hands and the lad has come across me and headed it out of my hands. He is a big lad and obviously his momentum took him through and he`s caught me and the ball has popped out of my hands. Sometimes those situations go for you and sometimes they don't. On that occasion it didn't.
Q:BUT YOU MADE AMENDS LATER ON WITH A SUPERB SAVE THAT ENSURED YOU GOT AT LEAST A POINT?
A:Yes, in the second half they had quite a lot of chances but I was quite confident and managed to deal with everything they had. I was very pleased with that late save, as I was with the double save after their goal.
Q:I SAW ROTHERHAM AGAINST WEST HAM, COVENTRY AND NOW AGAINST CREWE AND THAT WAS BY FAR THE BEST PERFORMANCE. YOU MUST BE GUTTED YOU NEVER TOOK ALL THREE POINTS?
A:In the first half, particularly, we played very well and created some really good chances. We could have been two or three goals up by half time. In the second half they came at us, we expected that, and played well and to be fair it was all Crewe. It was unfortunate that we never got all three points but we just have to keep battling on.
Q:RONNIE POINTED OUT THAT YOU HAD A MAKESHIFT SIDE OUT YET THE WAY YOU OUT-FOOTBALLED A FOOTBALL SIDE LIKE CREWE MUST GIVE YOU OPTIMISM FOR THE BATTLE AHEAD?
A:That's right, we have a few injuries that decimated the back four and the midfield so it was a mix and match team but the lads did really well. Okay, so we never got the three points but at the end of the day I think a point apiece was a fair result.
Q:WHEN CREWE BATTERED YOU AFTER THEIR EQUALISER IT MUST BE PLEASING THAT HEADS NEVER DROPPED?
A:Yes, there was only about ten minutes to go when they got their goal but we managed to take all they could throw at us. If you had offered us a point before the game we would have taken it.
Q:SO MANY TIMES THIS SEASON, THE EXTRA TWO POINTS FROM A GAME HAVE BEEN BEYOND ROTHERHAM. JUST A FEW OF THOSE GAMES GOING YOUR WAY AND THE POSITION WOULD BE A LOT HEALTHIER?
A:If you look at it, we have been 2-0 up in two or three games this season and we've thrown it away because teams have come back at us and they've either won or drawn the game. If you look at our results over the season I don't think anyone has really battered us but we are getting beaten that's why we are at the bottom of the league. There are still a lot of games to go and if we get a good result against Forest it will give us a big boost. There's still a massive mountain to climb but we have to believe we can do it.
