Rotherham United manager Lee Clark is refusing to throw in the towel, insisting his side's fight to avoid relegation from League One is still alive despite a daunting 11-point gap to safety with only six matches remaining.

The belief comes after a tough 1-0 defeat to bottom-side Port Vale on Tuesday, a result that extended a dismal run of just one win in their last twelve outings. While the math is stark, Clark pointed to the 18 points still available and Rotherham's two games in hand on 21st-placed Blackpool as reasons for hope.

"Absolutely not," Clark told BBC Radio Sheffield when asked if the loss sealed their fate. He emphasized the need for immediate improvement, stating, "We're not in a position to waste one minute, never mind a half, and we wasted a half."

Focus now shifts to a massive South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley this weekend. Clark framed it as a crucial opportunity, not just for points but for pride and momentum. "(It's) Pointless feeling sorry for ourselves," he said. "We've got to deliver, we've got to start getting some wins."

The task is immense for Clark, who took charge last month. He has collected just one point from his first three games, and the threat of relegation looms large. Dropping to League Two would mark a painful return to the fourth tier for the first time in over a decade and represent a second demotion in three seasons, underscoring the high stakes of the final six-game sprint.