Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
The Millers players and staff were back at the training ground this morning after yesterday's defeat to Swindon Town. We spoke to Steve Evans, starting as always with his reflective thoughts on the game.
What is your view a day after the defeat yesterday?
Let me start by saying if it was a book I was reading then the first three chapters out of nine would not have given you any clues as to what the end story would tell.
There is no doubt we started the game exceptionally well, perhaps as good as we have played this season. We created chance after chance, hit the underside of the crossbar and it could all have been a very different story but goals change and win football matches.
Swindon score with a great free-kick and then have a very lucky deflection right on half-time, it was a very unjust scoreline at the break. However, despite the two second-half goals being offside it was a performance that was not acceptable. We lacked the key ingredients to have a chance in any football match, desire, passion, tenacity and a vast number players who got worse as the match went on. That is a performance that these players will not be pleased about and believe me everyone is hurting this morning.
The only answer to yesterday is hard work and response. We will take this on the chin, feel smashed around the face, take the criticism that will come but these lads will react positively through hard graft, we apologise, but now we move on and focus on MK Dons next week.
How is the injury situation?
Claude Davis - The big fella should be back in the next week or 10 days, he is at 90% range in the hamstring so he is nearly there.
David Worrall - Wozza is making good recovery now and he is roughly three weeks away.
Tom Eaves – He has been ill with stomach ulcers, hopefully he will train this week and that is what I am told will happen.
Any plans for a behind closed doors match this week?
Yes, we have a closed door match away at Leeds United on Tuesday. There are a number of players who will need a match and of course places are up for grabs next Saturday.
Are we likely to see any new arrivals or departures this week?
We are in in talks with a club now and it progressing, that is all I can say. Our squad is strong and full of good players, one really poor 45 minutes does not make us a bad unit.
The supporters stayed very much behind the team yesterday, that must give you and the players confidence in the season you’ve had so far?
Our supporters are very special people and like us they would have been hurting but they kept getting behind the lads, I thank everyone of them.
We are all on this journey together; it will have great days and some like yesterday horrible days. At the Millers we win together, we lose together, we bleed together and like last season I have no doubt we will all party again together, but to do that we must keep focused, work hard and of course be smarter. I have told the players, don't get down, get up and fight, the prize is worth it!