Paul Warne hails Rotherham as ‘unplayable at times’ in win over AFC Wimbledon

Rotherham boss Paul Warne described his side as “unplayable at times” during their opening-day 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon, though knows there is better to come.

The Millers grabbed the three points thanks to Clark Robertson’s 84th-minute winner after Joe Pigott’s second-half header for the Dons had cancelled out Freddie Ladapo’s opener.

Warne’s men are attempting to mount a promotion challenge this season following their relegation from the Championship and completely bossed the first half, but only had Ladapo’s goal to show for it.

They then weathered a storm to grind out a first opening-day win since 2012 after Robertson’s late act.

“I was pretty pleased. I thought in the first half we were pretty unplayable at times and I thought we should have gone in with a bigger lead,” Warne said.

“Wimbledon caused us no end of problems at the start of the second half, we didn’t start well.

“It was disappointing conceding off a set-piece and the wave of impetus went to them. They did cause us problems, but we still had enough chances in the game to win. We should have gone in at half-time comfortably in the lead.

“I am happy with the win but I think there is more to come. I thought for the first 20 minutes we were unbelievable.”

Ladapo, the club’s record signing from Plymouth this summer, could have had a debut hat-trick but twice missed inside the six-yard box while a number of other chances went begging.

That meant he had to make do with his 29th-minute strike, a toe-poke home from close range from a set-piece.

Pigott levelled things up with AFC Wimbledon’s first effort on target as he was afforded a free header at a corner, and then the Dons enjoyed a strong spell, but Robertson struck from a corner in the final 10 minutes.

Dons boss Wally Downes said: “I thought Rotherham were better than us in the first half, we were a match for them in the second half and I am disappointed to lose to a late set-piece.

“Once we got going we matched them, but if we are going to leak goals in from set-pieces late in games then it is going to be an uphill battle.

“Successful teams score late goals from set-plays because their concentration level is up, their focus is up and teams that give them away are going to struggle and we have to make sure we don’t do that.

“I don’t expect us to do that and I am disappointed from that.”