ROTHERHAM United boss Paul Warne suggested Reading FC boss Jose Gomes made ‘offensive’ comments about his team before their relegation battle.
Semi Ajayi grabbed an 80th minute equaliser for the Millers after Ovie Ajaria had given Royals a first-half lead at Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
The results means Reading stay above Rotherham and the relegation places – but only by virtue of a superior goal difference.
And it appears Gomes’ comments suggesting Rotherham are a ‘long ball team’ who play ‘direct football’ touched a nerve with Warne.
"I don’t get it," he fumed. “That’s a bit harsh, it does my nut in. I’m getting tired reading about ‘long ball’ and all that.
"If we get a chance to throw the ball into the box, we’ll do it. I don’t see what is wrong with that.
"I think it's a bit offensive to keep saying we're all long ball. If you watch us play week to week, I think that you’d give us more respect than that."
Semi Ajayi, right, equalised for Rotherham United.
Rotherham boast several players over six feet tall and they use Will Vaulks’ trademark long throw as a dangerous weapon in the final third.
Warne, whose side are unbeaten in five matches, added: "We don’t play out from the back, we take a goal-kick the old-fashioned way, kicking it to the centre-forward.
"There's nothing wrong with doing that. If we have a chance to throw it into the box, I don't see what's wrong with that either. I don't think every other team has someone who can take a long throw.
"I am a bit offended on behalf of the lads. If that’s what people want to think of us, there’s nothing I can do.
Our dream scenario is to get the ball wide and get crosses into the box. That's how we play. How we choose to get there is our choice. If we get into their box with four passes or 24 passes, what’s the difference? We all want the same outcome.
Millers keeper Marek Rodak prevents Nelson Oliveira from scoring.
"Everybody wrote the lads off at the start of the season and every bookmaker had us finishing bottom. I'm not saying that won't happen but I like to think we deserve a bit more credit this season than what we possibly get.
"Maybe I'm being a bit sensitive, I don't know."
Warne also revealed his Rotherham players were fired up by quotes attributed to Reading midfielder and former Millers loanee John Swift in Saturday’s matchday programme.
Swift suggested Rotherham would tire during the game if Reading got the ball down.
"That’s insulting," declared Warne. “I said to the lads before the game: 'They won’t tire you out because Reading are not as fit as you.'"
Reading travel to the Championship’s bottom club Ipswich Town this Saturday (3pm ko).
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