Evans hoping to call on big players...
Rotherham United manager Steve Evans believes Sunday’s match has all the ingredients to be a classic with two teams who will be looking to attack.
The Millers, who finished fourth in the table face an Orient side who finished third and both teams were only outscored by Champions Wolverhampton Wanderers with Evans’ men just edging Orient on goals scored by one.
However, the previous 48 games go out of the window on Sunday as the two meet at Wembley, and the Millers boss is expecting both sides to up their game for the big occasion.
“I think both teams can step up in big games, and I saw Orient earlier in the season go away and comfortably beat Brentford. I think our boys manage the big stage well though and in many people’s eyes it’s a perfect situation at Wembley. Both teams have similar systems, like to have periods where they like to attack and score goals and it’s got the hallmarks to be a terrific game of football.”
Big games often call for big performances, and Evans feels reassured by the experienced players he has in the side, not least his most-used central defensive pairing which has 55 senior international caps between them.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who’s played in any more big games than the big Ice Man Kari Arnason who’s played in World Cup qualifiers and nearly so proudly led his country to qualify for their first ever World Cup,” Evans added. But Morgan has been terrific, Frecklington has been terrific, the experience of Richie Smallwood with lots of games in the Championship and big Revs has been good. Wembley though is a different situation and a different stage against a top side, so it’s going to be tough but it’s about managing the game rather than the occasion managing us.”