Steven Schumacher welcomed the end of Wanderers’ run of draws as the Whites made a winning start to their Vertu Trophy challenge.
After five successive draws and four 1-1 results in a row in League One, Wanderers snapped the sequence thanks to a Thierry Gale goal.
The winger’s fine strike was enough to give Schumacher’s men the points from a 1-0 victory in their Group E opener, but they had to do it the hard way after Gale was then sent off in first-half stoppage time for a late challenge on Rotherham captain Joe Rafferty.
“I’m glad it wasn't 1-1 and I'm glad that we managed to keep a clean sheet under difficult circumstances that were self-inflicted. We made the game harder for ourselves than what it needed to be,” said Schumacher.
“Right before half-time I'm standing there thinking, ‘OK, this is all going to plan’. The players who we've got on the pitch is working, the subs that we had planned before the game we were going to make and then a moment of madness, we find ourselves down to 10 men and the plans have to change.
“So it made the night difficult, but we got there in the end. Thierry’s goal was excellent. It was a brilliant pass from Rich (Taylor) and that's where we want him. We want all the wide players in 1v1 situations and not to turn back, be positive and get your shot away, which he did.
“It was a great finish and I'm pleased for him. It will give him a bit of confidence but then he's lost the ball, tried to react and tried to get it back but just jumped in, which wasn't the wisest thing to do. Thankfully that red card won't affect the league games. It’ll only affect this competition, which is the only bonus out of it.”
As well as enhancing their prospects of progressing in the competition, with two group games to come against Manchester City’s U21s and Oldham Athletic, there were plenty of other positives for Wanderers to take.
Schumacher gave game time to a number of players yet to feature heavily and also handed debuts to deadline-day signings Cyrus Christie and Marcus Forss. And the Whites’ boss was pleased with what he saw following the closing of the transfer window.
Schumacher added: “They've both got Championship quality and I think that's what we've seen. Marcus is probably a little bit further along in his physicality. He's played minutes for Middlesbrough (this season) but will get fitter and he's a really technically good player.
“He works incredibly hard and he’s a brilliant finisher. His finishing yesterday in training was outstanding. You just know with players of that quality when they hit the ball it sounds different and he's one of them, so I’m really pleased to bring him to the club.
“He'll give us another attacking option and Cyrus brings years of experience and quality. He's played in the Premier League, he's played international football and will be a calm head. He just oozes a bit of class, which is what we needed, so I’m pleased to have both of them in and I thought it was a good deadline day for us.
“Fourteen new players in total is a lot and that's going to take a bit of time to gel. But we felt we needed it. From the back end of last season I felt this is the way to go and we've sort of got the squad in a position that we're happy with.
“I'm pleased with the work we've done. As I say, it'll take time to fully click into gear. But I'm pleased with the signs, the early signs, don't forget. We've only lost one so far in normal time, so so far, so good.”
Watch the full post-match interview with the head coach on Wanderers TV