'I wanted an experienced and strong referee': Rotherham United boss Steve Evans angered at Birmingham City officiating

Sam Nombe fired the visitors ahead just before the break but Jay Stansfield levelled in the 54th minute and then tucked away a disputed penalty nine minutes from time.

It left Evans to voice concerns over the experience of referee Farai Hallam amidst the fierce home crowd.

He said: “It’s not a penalty, is it? Hacks [Hakeem Odoffin] has pulled out of the challenge. The boy [Taylor Gardner-Hickman] runs into the back of Hacks.

“Before I knew about the officials, all I requested was an experienced and strong referee that can handle St Andrew’s when they’re on for promotion. It’s a fervent atmosphere.

“In essence, I was expecting any challenge in the box to go to the spot.”

Evans added: “That was a really good performance. It was disciplined.

“This is a top Birmingham side, they’re [the players are] worth multi-millions and they’d run out of ideas.”

Blues almost went ahead from a corner in the fourth minute but, after a scramble in the box, Joe Powell was able to head the ball clear just inches from the goal line.

The Millers owed a great deal of thanks to goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who produced an excellent save to deny a deflected Stansfield effort from close range midway through the half.

His save would prove crucial as, in the 44th minute, Nombe beat his marker to head home from a Dan Gore cross, giving the visitors a lead heading into the break.

Chris Davies’ side started the second half well and were level in the 54th minute when Stansfield poked an effort past Phillips after running onto a Lyndon Dykes header.

Stansfield then converted a penalty in the 81st minute, after Taylor Gardner-Hickman was brought down in the area, which proved enough for Blues to seal the win.

Birmingham boss Chris Davies was full of praise for two-goal Stansfield.

Davies said: “They say there are certain goals that are almost worth more in football and the goals he scored today were, like the Barnsley game, worth a lot.

“They’re big moments on a football pitch and he had them today so I’m really pleased for him.”

He added: “I thought it was a great comeback win. It was good to have this test and overcome it. In the first half I thought we were good, I thought we lacked a little bit of urgency, we could have played quicker.

“I wanted us to get the ball in quicker when it went out and play a little bit faster. But the process of what we were doing was clear. It was good.

“I said to players at half-time ‘it’s a case of now there’s an adverse moment and how we respond to it. It’s important to stay calm, don’t get tense’.”