Rotherham United v Tranmere Rovers: Steve Evans on changing home narrative after a 'mashed up' past two years

In a season when positivity has been pretty thin on the ground so far, it’s something to grasp at least on a cold December night.

Should they progress this evening, the Millers, who won the competition in 2022 and also tasted glory in 1996, will move into the last eight of the northern section and while Steve Evans will make changes, he has also made a pledge.

The Millers chief, whose side have won both of their home matches in the competition in 2024-25, said: "I’ve always believed that you give the competition the respect it deserves.

"They (sponsors) are putting money into the EFL and football and I think that is massively important.

"We will make changes for this competition, but we won’t be making changes just to bring in kids, that’s for sure.

"We will be respectful and trying to beat Nigel Adkins and Tranmere Rovers, which in its own right will be tough - even if it was a league game on a Saturday."

After tonight’s fixture, the Millers are back in home action this weekend against Northampton Town in a month when the narrative regarding their home form has the potential to start changing.

Rotherham - whose win over Lincoln City last week saw them record back-to-back home league victories for the first time this year - also host Wigan Athletic and Stockport County in the league, with last weekend’s postponement at Blackpool meaning they are on a run of five out of six matches at the AESSEAL New York Stadium to see out 2024.

On a window of opportunity regarding transformation of their home form, Evans added: "I’m getting the backlash from the previous two years.

"We’re trying our level best to fix that. It does not happen overnight and I’ve said it takes time.

"I’ve always said that, as a Celtic fan, when Brendan Rodgers walked back, he had a big job after Ange (Postecoglou) had left after being successful.

"I’ve come in to fix up things that have been badly mashed up for two seasons and a lot of the process, even behind picking the players, has to change."