Evans post Queens Park Rangers...
Rotherham United manager Steve Evans remained upbeat following his side’s battling display in spite of them falling to a 4-2 defeat against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The Millers enjoyed good spells of possession during the game in the capital but couldn’t capitalise on their chances and were stung by braces from Tjaronn Chery and Charlie Austin, with replies coming from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Tom Thorpe.
The Millers boss was delighted with his side’s first half showing but conceded that the hosts’ clinical finishing was the difference on a scorching Saturday afternoon in London.
“I think for 42 minutes there was one good team out there, and it was us. We had a couple of half chances but we didn’t take them,” he admitted.
“We got Chris (Ramsey) to change systems three or four times, and it was a good performance but goals always change matches. They had a good finish to be fair after a good passage of play and we are disappointed. We can certainly defend the third and fourth goals better, we know that, but we showed some character.
“It was harsh, we were the better team. They have some great supporters here at Loftus Road but they were just of the verge of turning, and then they get the goal. We had to dig in a little bit, then they got the second goal which was little fortuitous, but the third goal is a poor one from a defensive point of view.
Evans’ men mustered a late fightback despite being three goals behind and the Milers’ boss was pleased with his side’s persistence and attacking threat but insists his side need to start taking their chances.
“We kept working hard, we got another goal from a set-play, that’s three times we have done set-play work and scored.
“We have got character, people don’t need to worry about the character in the dressing room. We need to worry about our defending at times, and our passing at times. We made two big chances in the first half that and we should score, we didn’t take them and they took the only chance they made. It is a great finish from the lad.
“They get outplayed for large parts of the game today but the scoreline doesn’t reflect that as it didn’t last week at Nottingham Forest.”
Jonson Clarke-Harris also got his first start of the 2015/16 campaign following an impressive cameo against Preston North End in midweek and once again pleased his manager with an industrious attacking display.
“We’ve always said Jonson Clarke-Harris has got talent. If Jonson Clarke-Harris wants to work like he did today and when he came on the pitch the other day and like he has in training then he’ll play,” Evans told www.themillers.co.uk.
“He’s been fantastic today and he’s given their back two a real battering. Matt should score twice from some of his forward play and he gets a goal. He’ll be tired today and we didn’t expect him to get through 90 minutes, never mind in this heat so we’re really pleased with him."