Paintballing provides useful distraction...
Rotherham United boss Steve Evans says preparations are going well as his side prepare to take on Preston North End in the League One Play-Off semi-final on Saturday.
The Millers squad enjoyed a paintballing trip on Tuesday afternoon, but the Manager insists it’s just a normal week at the club, who are chasing back-to-back promotions.
“We’ve mixed it up a little bit as we’ve done all season but the boys have responded and trained well. We haven’t changed our build-up or routine however, it’s just another normal week.
“We went paintballing and since that training has been good, the boys have responded and they’re looking bright and bubbly. We know we’re huge underdogs, but we want to upset the odds and win the right to play in the final.
The Millers took victory in their final league game of the regular season, a 2-1 win at Swindon Town last week and Evans explains how the ‘away day’ was a way to keep the players focused and refreshed after several weeks knowing that the play-offs were just around the corner.
“It’s all about timing,” Evans added. “Like Preston and Leyton Orient, we’ve been in the play-offs for a number of weeks so it’s good to mix it up a little bit now and in all seriousness it’s about getting the boys on the front foot, keeping them focused and ready and this away day did that, after Paul Warne came up with the idea of ‘let’s all shoot at the gaffer.’ It brought lots of laughter and lots of smiles but it had some real positive effects.
“It’s important that the boys are focused and ready but it’s also good for them to have a little bit of downtime and fun and are close as a group otherwise if it’s just pure work they’re like nodding dogs by the time they get to Preston on Saturday.”