STEVE EVANS feels the hard work for Rotherham United begins now as he plots a return to Championship football for the Millers.
Bristol City extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-0 victory against the long-relegated Millers at Ashton Gate, thanks to goals in each half from Tommy Conway and Scott Twine.
Conway was hauled down while attempting to round goalie Dillon Phillips in the 32nd minute, giving the home team the lead. The striker stepped up to send Phillips the wrong way with a well-hit penalty, his 12th goal of the season.
Twine extended the lead in the 57th minute with a stunning free shot from 25 yards, bending around the wall with his right foot.
Rotherham scarcely threatened but remained focused on their task despite being plainly second best on the day.
Afterwards, recently-returned manager Evans stated that he was producing a document for chairman Tony Stewart on the best route ahead for the club following a dismal season.
“This is one of the biggest challenges I have taken on, but I am confident that we can bounce back next season,” Evans added.
“I am producing a document for the chairman that will include my thoughts and goals to get us back into the Championship.
“He expects me to be brutally honest, and that will be the case. I’ll deliver the document next week, and then the hard job begins.”
Evans questioned the penalty decision, but stated his squad had no concerns about the result.
“We were certainly the second best today. Bristol City were technically superior to us, but I was proud of my players’ dedication to their mission,” he continued.
“Tom Eaves had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring. They’ll say their goalkeeper went big for the save, but it was a critical moment because goals swing games.
“I would have liked to see how we did if we had taken the lead. But it wasn’t to be, and the referee made a mistake with the penalty.”
Bristol City: O’Leary, Tanner, Dickie, Roberts, McCrorie, M James (Knight 64), Williams, Pring (Morrison 85), Mehmeti (Sykes 63), Conway (Wells 63), and Twine (King 81).Unused substitutes include Cornick, Gardner-Hickman, and Bajic. Mebude.Rotherham United: Phillips, Revan (Seriki 68), Peltier, Humphreys, Bramall, Rathbone (Hatton 88), Rinomhota, Appiah (Hall 46), Odofin, Hugill (Nombe 68), Eaves.Unused substitutes: Johansson and Ford.Referee: Charles Breakspear of Surrey.
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