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One of the reasons the Millers had so many pre-season games at DVS was for the players to get used to the pitch etc.
Mark Robins explained all to todays 'Tiser; "Our pre-season was designed to get us used to it and get the teething problems out of the way ready for the first game. It was windy on Saturday but I've played there for the reserves in December and it isn't that bad."
"You've got to fight and scrap but you can also play some decent stuff. You just have to keep the ball on the floor otherwise it will go out of play. We've got to make the best of it."
Robins admitted that it could help the Millers; "Opposition teams are coming here cold and we've got to make the most of that, but it's no different to anyone else. We've got to use our home ground to our advantage."
Club captain Ian Sharps backed up the gaffer; "It was windy last Saturday and it will probably get worse in the winter, There is a slight slope on the pitch and with the wind it exaggerates it. It can make it easier to defend because the ball comes on to you quicker but it works the other way because attackers can get away from you."
"The pitch is bigger than at Millmoor and the fans are further away and the wind does make it harder because you have to drop deeper to defend the opposition goalkeeper's kicks than you want to and that makes it harder to
get out and in the first game of the season your legs are tiring."
"With us playing at Don Valley regularly, hopefully we can adapt to it a lot better than teams coming here for one-off games." he added.