Steve Evans post Birmingham City...
Rotherham United manager Steve Evans was left delighted by his team’s performance as they recorded back-to-back wins in the league for the first time since their return to the Sky Bet Championship after they beat Birmingham City 2-0 at St. Andrew’s.
Goals from Matt Derbyshire and Tony Andreu either side of the interval ensured a dominant performance from the Millers was rewarded with a win that saw them lift themselves out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.
The Millers boss was thrilled with his side’s performance against a Blues side that started the match eighth in the table.
“We came to St. Andrew’s and we said last week that we’d need to have confidence and get on the ball and pass it and move it. We were coming to a team that’s flying high in the table and is high on confidence and I thought our performance was excellent,” Evans explained.
“We won’t get carried away, we’ve come away and we’ve been resolute and backed by a tremendous support and we’ve given them a nice journey home.
Evans took time to praise the togetherness of his squad following the win and reserved special congratulations for the contributions of his two goalscorers.
“We’ve got a fantastic chemistry and everyone here wants to win. You only have to look at when Tony Andreu scores a great goal here today, every player but Lee Camp is with him and that demonstrates what the players feel.
“Matt Derbyshire works so hard for the team and he has done all season. He’s not just lost the centre half with his movement, he’s lost him by seven or eight yards and that tells you how good his movement is then he finishes it well and gives the goalkeeper no chance.
“Tony Andreu is a young man that has got into great positions since he joined us and today he’s not only won the ball but he’s shifted it and hit it really early and I said to him that I wanted to see what he did at Hamilton.”
Norwich City loanee Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe was one of a number of players that turned in impressive performances in the Midlands but boss Evans insisted that his contribution was only as valuable as the rest of his teammates.
“He’s a top player and every day we have him is a bonus but he was just one of 11 players that were excellent today.
“I have to ask though, was he any better than Joe Newell, I don’t think he gave the ball away today and you just have to look at his pass to Matt Derbyshire. We’re pleased with all of our players including those that have come off the bench."