Paul Warne felt his side had to hold out against one of the division’s best attacks to earn a point against Rovers.

Warne believed Rovers possessed a threat throughout the game but was pleased with the way his side fought back to earn a point.

After nine games in April, Warne felt his side were jaded, possibly both mentally and physically, but Lewis Wing’s late free kick earned them a point to keep their hopes of staying in the division alive.

They had to come from behind to do so after Adam Armstrong scored his 26th goal of the season, robbing Angus MacDonald of possession before racing through to slot beyond Jamal Blackman.

“I don’t how much of that is tiredness, how much is mental tiredness and how much of that is pressure. Pressure is a power keg at times, but let’s not underestimate the quality of the opposition. Some of their players were a different level. Their attack is one of the best, if not the best, in the division,” Warne explained.

"I thought we started the game well and to gift them a goal. Angus has been great for us and it is disappointing for him and he is disappointed, obviously.

“The players are so good at this level, they don’t really miss. In League One or Two, no disrespect, you’re hoping that they’ll probably miss. But at this level, he’s (Adam Armstrong) probably worth £25m. 

"I think the lads took a bit of a solar plexus blow with it and we came in at half-time and it felt like that they lacked a bit of belief to get back into it. They have licked their wounds that many times this season now that they are a bit damaged, psychologically.”

Goalkeeper Jamal Blackman made key saves to deny Armstrong in either half, including one after Wing’s 85th minute equaliser, as well as keeping out a Bradley Johnson header.

But he too felt his side caused problems for Rovers at the other and was pleased with the impact of his substiutes.

He added: "In fairness, we came back and the game changers had an impact. Wingy's performances have definitely merited a goal and we leave a lot happier than it could have been.

"In fairness, Jam (Jamal Blackman) made a couple of saves to keep us in it and I just thought it might be in the headlines for Hirsty (George Hirst) and he looked bright.

"But we looked jaded and that is the best way to put it.

"A lot of players in the team have played a lot of minutes and it looked a game too far for few."

At one point early in the second half, with the Millers losing and Derby going 1-0 ahead, Rotherham were on their way back to League One.

However, a comeback victory for Swansea City against the Rams, and a late equaliser for the Millers keeps their hopes of avoiding the drop alive heading into their game in hand on Tuesday against Luton Town.

"About 25 minutes from the end, I got told Derby were losing. I did not know they were winning, if I knew they were winning, I'd have had even more demons in my head,” Warne said.

"We live to fight another day. It was a good game for the neutral and probably a heart-wrenching one for Rotherham fans.

“In the end it was a good point.”