RUFC - Holmes 'still learning'

Rotherham United front man, Derek Holmes says he is still learning and manager Mark Robins' introduction of three up front has been an education to him.

'It's certainly new for myself, Chris O'Grady and Ryan Taylor,' Holmes told The Advertiser, 'but the boss takes us on to one side a couple of days a week and we work on our shooting and movement after training.'

The tall Scot joined the Millers in the summer from Carlisle and has, after coming back from a broken toe, scored in the last three games.

'I've managed to hold down a position in the team,' Holmes said, 'but the lads have been doing fantastically well. I know I've got to keep playing well to keep my place because there are some good young kids here.

'We've been playing some good football and part of our play has been knocking the ball long for me or Chris O'Grady to get onto but when we are playing well, confidence is high and we have shown that we can pass it and mix it up a bit.

'We are all still getting used to one another but it's fantastic learning and working with someone like Mark Robins who was a great striker himself.'

Holmes also says that there is pressure on the team to keep the good results going, 'Fans have expectations. At the start of the season they were saying they would be happy just to stay in this league but now we are doing well they expect us to push for promotion.

'We had a bit of a blip against Rochdale but we have to take the confidence from the winning run we had and get going again. I know it's a cliche but we have to take each game as it comes.'