Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
We caught up with Steve this morning and as usual he answered the weekly questions we put to him.
Usual starting point, you have seen the DVD what are your reflective thoughts this morning?
There was a number of things we can rightly be disappointed about yesterday and there is also a number of positives.
In relation to the match itself, we started very brightly and for a period we played some good football and limited Albion to breakaway attacks. Goals always change matches and we have to be disappointed with our defending for both the goals we conceded.
For the first goal Johnny Mullins loses the first header from a long free-kick, but even allowing for that Kari Arnason needs to defend much stronger.
The second goal clearly had a hand ball by Billy Kee play a massive part in his control of the ball and a foul should have been awarded to us, but again Kari needs to do better as perhaps does Andy Warrington.
After going down to 10 men shortly before the interval with the dismissal of David Noble, we made a couple of substitutions and our second half performance with 10 men was excellent. We were by far the better team for that entire half but as we know goals win football matches.
There were many positives in the performance, the introductions of Lee Frecklington and Danny Kearns gave the lads a real spark, the effort, desire and commitment could not be faulted but the task to come back against a good team with 10 men proved too hard in the end.
What are your thoughts now on the sendings off of David Noble and Michael O' Connor?
It is always easier when you get the chance to watch the DVD, it only tells the truth. I have real sympathy for David, neither challenge is worthy of a yellow card and to be sent off for those two challenges is not good for the game we all love.
Michael, who I thought was harshly treated at the time did in my opinion deserve to be sent off. His challenge was late and I can understand when you watch the DVD at normal speed why the referee thought he had gone over the ball, when you slow it down he clearly went for the ball but we can have no complaints as the referee does not have the benefit of slowing it down at the time.
I was surprised to see there was only sixteen fouls in the entire match but not surprised to see we had thirteen of those given against us.
I do believe the referee will be disappointed with the David Noble sending off, if players go off the pitch for those two fouls we might as well be playing football with no tackles, other than that I have no comment to make.
Next up is a tough trip away to Torquay United on Tuesday night, at least two changes will need to be made as David Noble and Michael O'Connor will be suspended, what are your thoughts?
It would have been disappointing to lose one of those guys but to lose two is hard and for obvious reasons it will make our task even more difficult but we will get on with it. On top of that Daniel Nardiello is very doubtful but we will look at him on Tuesday afternoon before we make a final decision on him.
With those two guys missing it will give two others a big opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place in the team. At Rotherham United it is performances in matches and training plus attitude that get you in the team, nothing else!
Our match on Tuesday is one of those matches we have in hand over others, so it really does have added significance?
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Torquay are a decent team with excellent players and it will be tough but we all know the rewards of getting the three points from this one.
I must add that every match is now important, no it is very important and that goes for all the teams fighting for promotion or indeed relegation.
After Torquay we come back home for a local derby with Chesterfield and a full house at the New York Stadium. Now what a great incentive that is to every Millers player selected at Torquay, play at your best in that one and you put yourself in the team for the derby game. These are the matches everyone wants to play a part in but you need to earn it, some will have their chance.
Up The Millers
Steve Evans