Rotherham United manager Paul Warne showed his disappointment when being told Derby County had drawn with Sheffield Wednesday to preserve their Championship status.
It was a chaotic season finale with Rotherham, Wednesday and Derby vying for survival.
The Rams hosted the Owls, and twice found themselves behind before a late Martyn Waghorn penalty ultimately relegated the visitors who needed to secure all three points.
Rotherham, meanwhile, would have stayed up with victory at Cardiff City and Derby failing to win. However, Paul Warne’s side drew 1-1 despite missing a host of chances.
Speaking immediately after the game, Warne knew the Owls were leading 3-2 but he was unaware of Derby’s late equaliser which sent Wednesday down until told by the reporter.
“Well that’s disappointing. I’ve got a lot of things which I don’t want to say about that,” Warne explained.
Rotherham did the double over Derby this season, with the second game in Yorkshire twice postponed due to a COVID outbreak and then later a spot of bad weather.
It meant there was tension between the sides, and it increased after Derby boss Wayne Rooney criticised behaviour coming from Rotherham club staff in the 3-0 away defeat.
Warne may also have a stronger allegiance to his fellow Yorkshire neighbours.
Both Wednesday and Rotherham will look back with great regret. The Millers had enough chances to overtake Derby, but their backlog of games ultimately caught up with them.
The Owls, meanwhile, got themselves into the unlikely position of being able to overtake the Rams and after leading twice at Pride Park, they let survival slip out of their grasp.
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