ONLINE POLL: Rising standards leave Millers with uphill task

The Millers are one of the form teams in the third tier with Tuesday’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Preston North End stretching their unbeaten run to eight games.

Despite United having taken 37 points from their last 17 outings, a push for automatic promotion seems a tall order due to the tremendous form of pace-setting trio Leyton Orient, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford.

Evans said: “Last year, League One was poor. Everyone who was in League Two or the Championship, I think the managers got together and said that.

“Interestingly, good managers in League One last year said it was poor, too. The quality of play was poor, and I think the supporters were bored.

“I think the game became a bit dull. If we had been in this division last year, we would have got out of it. Through the top way.

“And the people who did get up probably wouldn’t have gone up this season.

“Now, big clubs like Wolves and Bristol City are in the division. They came down to join Sheffield United, Preston North End and Coventry City.

“Leyton Orient are doing great. Brentford, Uwe (Rosler) left that on a plate.

“We would like to think we are trying to push up into that group. The chairman (Tony Stewart) has given us every chance with the stadium and his backing.”

Brentford sit third in League One with 66 points from 31 games, one behind leaders Orient and Wolves. At the corresponding stage of last season, then leaders Bournemouth had 58 points, one ahead of Doncaster Rovers and two in front of third-placed Tranmere Rovers.

Doncaster went on to win the title with 84 points and were joined in going up by Bournemouth and Yeovil Town.

As for Rotherham, Evans was proud of the never-say-die spirit that rescued a point on Tuesday against Simon Grayson’s promotion chasers.

“The game was played like a Cup tie,” said Evans of the 3-3 draw at Preston, a town that will today stage the funeral of Sir Tom Finney. “When you are 2-0 up, you are always disappointed to only take a point. But it was a fantastic game and a great advert for League One.

“We went to a club who have had a sad, sad time. When it got to 3-2, I did look up at the sky and think Sir Tom Finney had played a part. His way of saying, ‘I used to entertain you, I am going to do it again by putting Rotherham 2-0 up and then beating them’.”