Steve Evans post-Norwich City...
Rotherham United manager Steve Evans believes it was the heroics of Norwich City’s goalkeeper that prevented his side from taking the Capital One Cup second round fixture against the Canaries to the death as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at AESSEAL New York Stadium.A noble performance from the Millers saw them run Alex Neil’s Premier League side close with Paul Green’s late effort setting up a nervous finish for the Canaries’ boss, after goals from Jonny Howson and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel had given the visitors the advantage.
Evans was pleased with his side’s performance on Tuesday night and hailed Declan Rudd’s contribution as the main reason his side were knocked out of the competition.
“I’ve just said to my players that it’s probably the best goalkeeping performance I’ve ever seen here at the New York,” he explained.
“Especially in the second half he’s made some heroic saves, but then our goalkeeper has had to stand up and make some saves as well. I think it was game of clear cut chances and it must have been a fantastic cup tie to watch.”
Green’s late volley triggered a late onslaught on the Canaries’ goal and Evans was delighted with his team’s overall showing despite the defeat.
“I genuinely thought when we got the goal after coming close on so many occasions we’d take it to extra time but it wasn’t to be,” he conceded.
“That’s how we want to play and that’s how we like to play. We can lose football matches every week here as long as we give our supporters a return for their money and we’ve done that.”
The Millers boss continued to add that things may have panned out differently on another night but took heart from a solid display from his team.
“We said about keeping our shape and our discipline and we did that and got the goal back and the only disappointing thing is that we don’t go and equalise. We’ve made enough chances to equalise and on another night we would have done but I’ve just wished Alex Neil and his staff all the best in the Premier League because they’re good people at a fantastic football club."