Match Reaction: Ian Evatt gives his reaction to Rotherham defeat

Ian Evatt hopes fans will be able to look past the scoreline when they assess his side’s defeat against Rotherham United.

Ben Wiles’ quickfire double gave the Millers three points but Wanderers boss Evatt insists there was plenty to admire from the performance, if not the outcome, for a crowd of more than 20,000 at the UniBol.

Asked what he had learned from the afternoon, he told the local media: “I learned we are still a very good team,” he said. “We have lost the game on two set plays.

“We have created many, many opportunities and that is the harsh reality of football. Last week we took most of those chances but this week we could have had as many goals but just didn’t finish the chances off.

“If we had scored before half time then I do believe we would have gone on to win the game. We controlled it, their manager said to me that they didn’t mean to sit-off second half but we just couldn’t get near you, and their assistant said we were the best side they have faced.

“We will take good heart from that. We’re disappointed in the manner of the result and the set plays but I think we played well.”

Wanderers created plenty of chances early on, hit the post through Eoin Doyle just before half time and had a George Johnston goal chalked off for offside.

Evatt was happy with the way his players adapted to the Rotherham press but admitted it had been a difficult day in the final third of the pitch.

“We could quite easily have scored four or five and that isn’t exaggerating, we just chose the wrong shot, pass or cross,” he said. “Eoin should have scored and the ball flashed across the goal so many times.

“It was one of those things. We could have played until Sunderland next week and still not scored.

“It isn’t so much frustration because if we are having that much possession and not creating, that’s the difference.

“The difference is that we are creating. And we have got to back our players to take those chances. They did last week, they didn’t today.”

Rotherham lived up to the billing Evatt had given them, providing a stern physical test for Wanderers’ young back line.

Evatt felt his players coped well on the day.

“I think we competed, stood up to most things they chucked at us and were then cool, calm in possession. As I said we have been undone by two set plays,” he said.

“When I said about their physical side and set plays, I didn’t mean that disrespectfully. That is what they are. Rotherham are a good side and difficult to play against.

“I said it was going to be the toughest game of the season so far and it was.

“I was just disappointed we didn’t take one of the chances we created because our work on the ball was excellent.

“I don’t know if you saw them against Lincoln in midweek but they could easily have scored five or six there, they steamrollered Lincoln, and that isn’t exaggerating.

“Our performance in general was good, we just didn’t deal with two things in quick succession.”

The biggest crowd of the season packed into the UniBol for Family Day and the majority went home disappointed but Evatt had a message to them after the final whistle.

“They are going to be disappointed with the result, we all are, but I hope they have seen lots of good things about what we are trying to do and were impressed with the style of play, the way we moved the ball and our general dominance.

“We didn’t get the result but in terms of performance level if we carry on playing like that we will win more than we lose.”

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