Rotherham United manager Steve Evans applauds Birmingham City approach as he predicts milestone achievement
STEVE EVANS has tipped Birmingham City to reach 100 points in this season's League One and has applauded their big-spending approach.
The Blues, who visit Evans' Rotherham United this Saturday, broke the third-tier transfer record with the summer signings of Willum Willumsson and Christoph Klarer, then obliterated it with the arrival of Jay Stansfield for an up-front fee in the region of £12m-£15m, plus add-ons.
The previous record was Sunderland signing for future Miller Will Grigg for an initial £3m which could have hit £4m had he performed better.
With promotion worth around £6m, it feels like reckless spending by Tom Wagner's consortium, which includes minority owner and grid iron legend Tom Brady, but Evans has no issue with it, and expects it to pay off.
"I mean it when I say Birmingham City are the Galacticos of League One," commented Evans. "They spent £20m in the transfer window and they're paying huge wages. There's been huge investment. I applaud that.
"For their manager, Chris Davies, three Christmases have come at once. They're a huge club.
"Their side is the first one I've ever seen in League One where I've watched them and thought: 'This could be 100 points this season.' But we don't want any to come from the Millers."
Since three points for a win was introduced in 1981, Fulham, Wigan Athletic, Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United and Plymouth Argyle have reached 100, with Wolves' 103 the most.
Rotherham will be without midfielder Liam Kelly on Saturday, but he is their only fresh injury concern.
"It's a little, niggly groin strain," explained Evans. "The last time he had one (at Coventry City) he was asked to play on it early and he was away for 12 weeks. We are nowhere near that scenario.
"We're talking two or three weeks. In two or three weeks, he's back and he's playing. We're not going to be silly with him, In fact, I've given him a few days off.
"He's got a beautiful young family and he's going to spend some time with them. He'll be at the game on Saturday and then bounce back in with us in the middle of next week."