EVANS FEELS LIKE THE SPECIAL ONE!
ROTHERHAM boss Steve Evans says he feels like Jose Mourinho after finally securing a maiden three points of the season against Cardiff.
The Millers sealed victory in stoppage time after Matthew Connolly put through his own net.
Earlier, both sides had netted from the penalty spot while Cardiff stopper David Marshall saw red in a bizarre altercation with Matt Derbyshire.
Evans beamed: “I can repeat the words of Jose Mourinho: It’s a winning feeling!
“I think anything other than a win would have been a travesty. We’ve been the best side by a million miles.
“We played on the front foot and played some superb stuff.
“The referee has got both big decisions right. I never saw the sending-off but I watched it at half-time.
“David has been a bit foolish and I think the referee has called that right.
“I think the referee also got their penalty decision right, so I’ve no complaints about that.
“But the least we deserved was three points and we got them.”
Russell Slade was far from happy at the decision by Keith Hill to send his goalkeeper off though.
“I’ve seen the video and it’s clearly a free-kick to ourselves because David has been pulled,” said Slade.
“David has then lashed out and it is a sending off but it’s not a penalty. It should be a free-kick to us. David is a good professional by and large but occasionally players see the red mist.
“I thought we reduced them really to very little. I thought they had run out of ideas but we need to bounce back now next week.”
Both Evans and Slade made two alterations following midweek losses, and it was a feisty start with both looking to get forward as they aimed to get that decisive first goal.
There were a few chances on goal with City’s Joe Ralls hitting a speculative effort wide before Rotherham skipper Danny Collins saw a header from a corner cleared away.
The clearest chance of the first half saw Derbyshire rob possession from Connolly and play in Jonson Clarke-Harris, who failed to get the vital touch just a few yards out.
All the drama then arrived in a frantic last five minutes of the first half.
First, Marshall petulantly kicked out at Derbyshire whilst holding the ball in his hands after an innocuous altercation. Referee Hill had no hesitation and ran straight over to brandish a red card to the goalkeeper and award a penalty to Rotherham.
Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe then stepped up and, after a long wait, tucked the ball beyond sub goalkeeper Simon Moore.
Amazingly, Cardiff were then handed their own chance to draw level from the spot when Fabio bombed forwards and was brought down off the ball.
Peter Whittingham coolly slotted home the spot-kick to bring to an end a pulsating first half.
Understandably, given the fact Cardiff were reduced to ten, the second half was dominated by the hosts.
Clarke-Harris provided the first attempt when his volley just inside the area drew a smart stop from Moore before then heading just over on two occasions.
Cardiff stood firm during the onslaught and thought they were set for a share of the spoils when Joe Newell’s volley came back off a post.
However, it was to be the Millers’ day as they stole victory at the very death.
Chris Maguire dug out a cross from the right which Connolly turned agonisingly into his own net to cue scenes of jubilation among the home faithful and secure three points for Evans’ men.