Rotherham United's Dan Gore. Picture: Jim Brailsfordplaceholder image
Rotherham United's Dan Gore. Picture: Jim Brailsford
MANAGER Matt Hamshaw has no plans to tell Dan Gore to curb his competitive instincts as the midfielder bids to negotiate tonight's Blackpool clash without picking up a suspension.
The combative loanee goes into the match at AESSEAL New York Stadium on four League One yellow cards and knowing he needs to avoid another to avoid a one-match ban.
Hamshaw says that players like the Manchester United youngster have only one approach to games and that easing back on the throttle is alien to their thinking.
“It's hard for me to tell Dan Gore and Kian Spence and whoever plays for us in midfield to not tackle, to not track back, to not get stuck in,” the boss said. “That's never going to happen.
“We'll play the game and hopefully Gorey doesn't get booked. If he does, I've got a good group so somebody else will come in and take his place. There's no point in me telling him to ease off. That not how he plays or we play.”
The fixture against the drop-zone Seasiders marks the 19-match cut-off point for a five-caution punishment and Gore will be free to carry on playing until he reaches ten yellows if he escapes the attention of the referee.
The fourteenth-placed Millers are still hit by injuries up front but Jordan Hugill has now recovered from the swollen ankle that saw him battle through the pain barrier in the last two third-tier contests.
“Yeah, he's fine,” Hamshaw confirmed.
Rotherham are unbeaten in nine league matches and will climb into the top 10 if they see off Blackpool who have a new man at the helm in former Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt following the October sacking of Steve Bruce.
“That's been a tough thing,” Hamshaw said. “You do all your work and then a new manager (head coach) comes in and you have to try to see what he's trying to implement.
“Ian's a really good coach. He did a great job at Bolton and I'm sure he'll be successful at Blackpool. We just hope that he loses at New York on Wednesday!
“They've changed formation slightly and, with Tom Bloxham and Ashley Fletcher, they have got two willing workers up front. I know Ian likes his teams to play football. Bolton did that really well under him.”
The Millers have a good record against the Seasiders, winning nine and drawing five of the last 14 encounters between the clubs.
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