Steve Evans' weekly update...
We caught up with Steve Evans this morning as he reflected on yesterday's match away at Southend United and a number of other key topics as we continued our weekly Gaffer on a Sunday feature.
What are your final thoughts on the 1 - 1 draw at Southend?
A point was the least we deserved after an excellent performance against a team who I think have a lot of quality.
Our performance in the first-half was excellent, the only disappointment being that we did not turn our superiority into goals in that spell. We got ourselves back on top in the second-half then we conceded a goal via a wonderful strike from a young man I gave his football league debut many years ago.
The lads here have the greatest of desire, we dominated again in the latter stages and thankfully, through Johnny Mullins we got ourselves level.
It was a good performance, our fitness levels and freshness look great at a key stage in the season. We left Southend last night a little disappointed as our performance deserved more than the point we took home but at the same time it is another point nearer where we want to be at the end of the season.
Which Millers players stood out for you yesterday?
I really do think we are starting to see us as a team and not individuals but I have to say the spine of the team looked particularly strong. Davis, Arnason, Noble, O'Connor, Frecklington and Revell all had strong performances. On reflection I was pleased with all of the players on duty but it is that level of team performance we need if we are going to continue our promotion challenge.
What are your thoughts on the results in League Two yesterday?
I said to the players before last Tuesday and again prior to yesterday's match that two or three of the top seven would lose, it really is a pressured time of the season and handling the pressure of winning is vastly different to that pre-Christmas.
Winning matches at any level is tough, and at the top end of League Two it is even more so. The top seven is very congested and every one of those teams is full of quality but there are a vast number of teams lower in the league table who can beat anyone on their day.
What I do know is that we are in good shape, our squad has a good balance about it although I may give it the odd fine tune in the next week or so.
Can you update us with the current injury situation?
Yes certainly. Daniel Kearns has made great progress and has a chance of being fit for Tuesday, if not then it would be Saturday; he is a quality player.
Scott Shearer will return to full training tomorrow and that is also great news, the big fella is desperate to be back although in his absence Andy Warrington has been excellent, a lad I have the highest regard for on and off the pitch.
You have hinted this morning of a new signing or two, what can you tell us?
What I can tell you is that I am delighted with our squad, it is full of quality and packed with players who have the greatest of desire.
I can add that we are working on a couple of things but it really is a work in progress as we speak. If we do not get any new players in it will not give me one second of concern but if we can it may make us fractionally better and it will come down to fractions at the end, it will be a fine line between success and failure.
The travelling Millers support yesterday were in fine voice throughout the match, have you a message for them?
Yes, thank you is the word. In recent weeks they have travelled all over the country and their support has been brilliant. Yesterday they saw their team put in a really good performance, the quality of football during periods in the match gave the supporters lots to sing and shout about.
The Millers support does Rotherham United proud; I want to replicate that on the pitch, and show thanks to each and every one of them.