Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Steve Evans arrived at the Millers training ground this morning still very much frustrated at only taking a point from yesterday's visit to Walsall. Here is what he had to say one day on…
What are your thoughts on the game this Sunday morning?
I have now had the chance to look at the match DVD and I am even more frustrated given the two biggest decisions of the day went against us, it could have been very different.
I am certainly not questioning the integrity of the match referee, he is a good referee, a very honest guy but I do believe he will be disappointed when he himself looks at the DVD of the match. As a manager you have to believe these type of decisions even themselves out over the season but it is very frustrating this morning.
We got ourselves a goal in front, looked by far the better team and more likely to score a second than concede. Credit to Walsall, they are a good team and they made it a more even contest late on. I still felt if any team was going to get a winner it would have been us and full credit to their goalkeeper who had a great save from young Tom Eaves late on.
The lads gave everything in the game for what has to be said was another brilliant travelling support. Our energy levels where excellent and once again our superb fitness levels showed as we went in search of a winner plus defended with some real vigour when we had to. As I said I am frustrated but at the same delighted with how we are going our business.
Can you update us on the current injury situation?
Claude Davis – He has a hamstring grade two strain, he will be out for another three weeks.
Michael O'Connor - Making good progress, we are looking at two weeks until a return.
David Worrall – It is frustrating but I would say to be fully fit, still two weeks.
What do you have in the diary for the week ahead?
The weeks seem to be flying past and getting busier as we go. Taking it as a given we have a full weeks’ training plus we have a closed door reserve fixture away at Wigan on Tuesday afternoon which will be great for those lads that need a game.
On Monday evening I will be at the Brentford v Leyton Orient fixture in preparation for Saturday week, whilst on Tuesday night I will be at the Stadium of Light to watch Saturday's opponents Peterborough United at Sunderland.
There is a couple of hospital visit's I need to make that I have had to re-schedule from last week so they are a must in what will be another week being manager of the Millers, a job I really love.
Our next fixture is at home to high flying Peterborough United next Saturday, will that be the toughest test so far this season?
In my opinion Peterborough United will be Champions so that tells you how tough I think this match will be. It will certainly be our hardest match to date this season but equally it is one we should all look forward to. Posh have a good manager, a team full of quality players and a Director of Football in Barry Fry, a man I regard as a very good friend. A big travelling support will come and get right behind their team, like Millers supporters they love their club and back it with real pride, they are good people.
We will need a huge Millers support behind us and that really does make the difference. Our support is just fantastic, at an appropriate time we at the football club should all applaud you, that is the least we could do for the backing you give us all.
On the pitch we will need a big performance, I would say now we will need our best of the season for us to get the win we all really want. Our energy levels will need to be at the highest level, our ‘regain’ of the ball will need to be high and we need to be making that ball move around with some real purpose. As I said this is a big game and we will need some big performances but these lads are more than capable, I really do believe in them totally.
Finally are we likely to see any transfer business this week?
That is always a difficult question to answer. I could see one player go out on loan to get some needed football and I can confirm we are having a chat with a lad I like but I don't know if we can get it over the line, but we are trying to make something happen. League One is very strong and we need to make sure we can compete against the best, we are about to be tested.