Rotherham United should have new play-off belief thanks to Matt Hamshaw - Here's why | OneFootball

Rotherham fans should be optimistic for the season ahead with Matt Hamshaw in charge

Matt Hamshaw’s early tenure at Rotherham United saw him win his first three games in charge against strong opposition in promotion chasing Bolton Wanderers and in form Blackpool Town in an impressive manner.

The performances were strong, together and the football was some of the best Millers fans have seen all season.

However, his next three were something that was left to be desired. The Millers were comfortably beaten by a good Stockport County side before losing a two-goal lead against Mansfield Town followed by a disappointing defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Three wins, one draw and two defeats – very early days within his blooming managerial career but the statistics suggest that Matt Hamshaw would be on play-off form had he continued with these results for an entire season.

An optimistic view, but one that should not be entirely overlooked when looking forward to Rotherham United next season.

A positive start to the Hamshaw reign

After an unsettled, disappointing season under previous manager Steve Evans, Rotherham United hired former coach and Rotherham born Matt Hamshaw to take the helm for the second time in his career having previously taken the reins of Derby County after Paul Warne was dismissed back in February.

Hamshaw was to lead the club till the end of the season. An eight-game hiatus where the club could assess options and pick the best value they believed they had.

Hamshaw turned the fortunes of the club around swiftly and led the rejuvenated side to three back-to-back victories which saw them comfortably out of the relegation fight ensuing below.

The football was fluid, attacking and on the front foot. Whilst the defending was resolute, energetic and demanding, only conceding one penalty in the three games.

Spirits were high in the community and off the back of this jubilation, Hamshaw was offered the full-time role behind closed doors on a three-year contract.

With players energised under his reign, the youth being promoted and encouraged to be a part of the first team fold, Hamshaw set a precedent of bringing back the culture and DNA of Rotherham United football club.

Pulled back down to reality

What followed for Matt Hamshaw was a bitter taste into the world of management. A promising start against Stockport came crumbling down when three goals went unanswered in poor second half from the Millers.

The performance was littered with fatigue, carelessness and an inability to perform against a high-standard Stockport side.

Hamshaw instigated a response. Against Mansfield, Rotherham played some of their best football of the season. Mallik Wilks was on the form that saw him earn such a big money move to Sheffield Wednesday as he scored two of Rotherham’s three with both being cases for goals of the season.

Although they were 3-1 up, the Millers could and most definitely should have been further in front before Aiden Flint scored and the onslaught began for the Rotherham backline which saw another fly in their net ending the game at three a piece.

Again, looking to stem the tide, Hamshaw set up with a similar team against Wigan only three days later which saw his side come out comfortably beaten against an arguably poor Wigan side.

A game that lacked enthusiasm, energy and altogether any sort of football brought a first very apparent frustrated figure of Hamshaw in his post-match interview.

Albeit his comments were concise and chosen carefully, he spoke of the need of a rebuild and how he knew what he now needed to do to get Rotherham back on track as a football club both on and off the pitch.

How this is play-off belief

Early in his career, the optimism that came from Hamshaw’s first three games could be misplaced.

However, the football on show from players that less than a week before had been bitterly beaten by an impressive albeit relegation threatened Crawley Town was some of the best of the season. Blackpool were dismantled, Bolton were frustrated and Mansfield were second best are all evidence of how much Hamshaw has done in his little time with the players.

Considering that these are not Hamshaw’s players, not used to his style nor his demeaner means that Rotherham fans should have high hopes for the summer, pre-season and especially next season.

Hamshaw, a man highly regarded in the English football world and reportedly sought after by Premier League and Championship clubs as a coach is exactly the man Rotherham should have been looking to hire.

Energetic, promoting youth, fantastic coach and a Rotherham man are the aspects for which Rotherham United assess their DNA against.

With all this said, this is of course the optimistic belief and approach many fans are taking to Matt Hamshaw; but after the season currently undergone, this optimism is severely needed for many Rotherham United fans.