Top 5 Positives: 2018/19 Championship Relegation

Will Vaulks and Semi Ajayi signed for Rotherham United in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Ahead of the 18/19 season, both players had already impressed a lot as they were key players in the Play-Off Final winning side in 2017/18. But in Rotherham's return to the 2nd tier, both players massively stepped up their games. Along with a couple others, they spearheaded the Millers' fight to avoid the drop. They were unlucky not to be able to play Championship football with Rotherham the season after. Their brilliant performances throughout the campaign helped their team keep in touch with the rest of the pack, only to fall just short in the end. Understandably, given that they really shone in a relegated team, there was a lot of interest in them. Ajayi signed for West Brom and Vaulks returned to his home country to join Cardiff City. Both players are in the middle of a promotion battle currently and have been integral in their team's respective success this campaign. It is possible that Vaulks and Ajayi could both be playing in the Premier League next season. If they do Paul Warne, their former teammates and fans will look on with a lot of pride, because it was with Rotherham United where it all started.

Michael Smith has had a rollercoaster few years as a player. In 2011 he signed for then League One side Charlton Athletic from Conference North side Workington. They got promoted that year but in his three years at the Valley, he did not make a single Championship appearance. After a few loan spells away, he left permanently in 2014 to join Swindon. Before joining the Millers, he spent all of his time playing in League One and League Two with mixed results. His career was at a crossroads in 2018 when Paul Warne signed him, but he soon repaid the faith given to him by his manager. Smith played an important role as Rotherham made it back to the Championship which earned him his first real go at playing 2nd tier football. A lot of people would have had doubts whether he had enough quality for the Championship, but he proved people wrong once again. He arguably enjoyed the best season personally of his career so far. Along with Vaulks and Ajayi, he was one of Rotherham's best players that season. Smith's presence on the field and his hold up play caused Championship defences all sorts of problems and Rotherham really did well to keep hold of him. He has continued to perform well this season and he will definitely be a key player next season as the Millers hope to consolidate themselves in the Championship.

This game turned out to be one of the main highlights of the season. Rotherham were on a miserable run of no away wins in the 2nd tier in 44 attempts and they were eager to put this awful record to a close. Rotherham's struggles for three-points on the road continued into 18/19 as they were still without a win going into March with ten games to go. Then came this game at Loftus Road against QPR. It was a tense Tuesday night in London. Rotherham, in the final relegation spot, were keen to take some points away to close the gap on their rivals. QPR also were not safe just yet, so they needed points themselves. It was a quiet opening half with each team desperate to not make any mistakes. The 2nd-half got going and the Millers were brilliant. They really brought the game to the hosts and Semi Ajayi deservedly gave them the lead with 20 minutes to go. Joe Newell's blocked shot fell to the Nigerian on the edge of the area, and his superb low strike found the bottom corner. It looked like Rotherham had thrown away the win as QPR equalised with ten minutes to go, but there was more drama to come. In the 95th minute, the Millers had one last chance as Anthony Forde sent the ball into the area from a free-kick. Who else would be there to rise highest but Ajayi as he headed it past Joe Lumley for an invaluable victory. There were jubilant scenes and immense relief as Rotherham finally got that long-awaited win on the road. It was a fantastic evening that will live long in the memory for the Rotherham faithful who were lucky enough to be there on that night.

The 2016/17 Championship season was a miserable one for Rotherham United. At that point they were a club in turmoil, as from top to bottom it was a mess. They broke the record low points total by finishing on 23 points, and everyone associated with the club were keen to move on quickly from this disastrous campaign. Towards the end of the season, Paul Warne was thrown in at the deep end as he became their new permanent manager. A huge rebuild was needed, as he inherited a broken football club. Looking back now, Warne did an extraordinary job during the summer in 2017. He had his own vision of the club, which has been built up over the ten-plus years he has spent as a player and coach. All of the bad characters were got rid of, as he built a young and hungry team who were desperate to play for Rotherham United. The Millers were transformed in 2017/18 compared to the season prior, and most of that is thanks to Warne and his management team. They defied expectations to return to the Championship at the first time of asking, which was a phenomenal achievement. This time around in the 2nd tier, the Millers had a cohesive unit who gave it all for the cause game after game. What they lacked in quality they made up for in effort. They earned a lot of admirers from rivals and the press alike, which says a lot about how well they did compared to last time. It was heartbreaking at the end of it to see a team that had worked so hard go down, but everyone there that season can look back on it with immense pride.

Despite all of their hard work, Rotherham were relegated as they finished just four points behind Millwall in 21st. They showed a lot of heart during that season, but it was their lack of quality that punished them in the end. Paul Warne has now spent a fair bit of time as a Championship manager, and looking ahead to this season he will know what it will take to avoid the drop. Rotherham simply did not score enough goals in 2018/19, and this has been remedied this season. They have the likes of Freddie Ladapo, Kyle Vassell, Michael Smith and Matt Crooks who are capable of finding the net on a regular basis. The step up to the 2nd tier is still huge, but Rotherham now have a squad far more ready to go in and make a fight of it. There are obviously still areas that need improvement, but with the recruitment team in place headed by Rob Scott, they will know just what is needed to put themselves in a position to stay up this time. Then there are players like Crooks and Michael Ihiekwe, who played in the Championship a bit last time, but are far better footballers now. Regardless of what happens this summer, next season will still be tough for Rotherham United. The Championship is a very difficult league and teams like Rotherham are already put at a disadvantage with their limited resources. But Warne's side will outwork most teams next season and with the right recruitment in the next few months, they are well placed to compete against a lot of the teams. It will perhaps be Warne's best achievement so far if Rotherham stay up next season, but this feat has been made far more possible by the remarkable work done rebuilding the team from top to bottom during his tenure.