Steve Evans’ return to Rotherham United following their relegation from the Championship has not been the success many fans had been hoping for.
Their League One campaign has failed to get started and after suffering another defeat this time at the hands of Darrell Clarke’s Barnsley. The Millers fell to a 2-0 loss on Friday night with goals from Jon Russell and Stephen Humphrys sending the visitors home with nothing.
The defeat leaves Rotherham 14th in the League One table, with the latest round of fixtures yet to kick off. All the sides below them have played at least one game less than them meaning they are likely to fall further by Saturday afternoon.
The Millers fanbase have been patient throughout the campaign so far but Barnsley felt like a turning point. They were heard singing “sacked in the morning” and “not fit to wear the shirt”. Something that Evans believes is ultimately fair criticism given their form.
How has the Rotherham Manager Steve Evans Responded?
In quotes provided by the Yorkshire Post, Evans responded to the chants.
“I think they have a point when we are losing games,”
“I’ve never been one to criticise supporters.
“Ultimately they come to watch our club and pay their wages.
“So I have to be respectful and say that’s a bit of a relapse after last week, to be fair.
“Even at half-time, they were giving us a bit and I’m thinking that for the first 20 minutes, we’ve been really good.
“But listen, I am one of those who is never going to disrespect a Rotherham United fan because I love this club until the day I leave this earth and I have said it when I wasn’t here.
“They can know for a fact that when we get home tonight, I won’t sleep and I hurt equally as much as anyone on the planet.
“I’m the manager, I’ve been sat at Celtic Park and been critical of managers.
“You take the acclaim when it’s good and at every South Yorkshire club, you are going to get a bit when they are not happy with what they are watching.”
Will Steve Evans Last Much Longer at Rotherham United?
Rotherham were amongst the sides tipped for a promotion challenge at the start of the season. Such is Evans’ track record and The Millers previous ability to yo-yo between the Championship and League One, it felt inevitable that they would once again go ahead.
Good signings such as Joe Rafferty, Sean Raggett and Jonson Clarke-Harris appeared to be a sign of intent but the truth has been far from the return they would have hoped for. Their only victory in the past five games came against Evans’ previous side Stevenage against former assistant Alex Revell who is now in charge of the team.
This coupled with their embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Michael Flynn appears to have been the turning point. Their run does not get any easier, Crawley Town, Lincoln City, Blackpool, Northampton Town and Mansfield Town are their next five fixtures with the Imps and Stags currently occupying play-off positions.
