Cheltenham Town 3 Rotherham United 0: ‘Abject’ Millers fall further off the pace

Rotherham were soundly beaten by promotion rivals Cheltenham, whose chances of gate-crashing the top three were significantly enhanced by this victory.

Rotherham’s, on the other hand, are hanging by a thread after a third game without a win.

“This is the first match in months where I would consider our performance to be abject,” said Evans.

“It lacked a desire to succeed and when that happens in a football match you know what the score is going to be.

“We didn’t turn up? First half we had a lot of good possession but did nothing with it.

“We didn’t have any penetration in the final third. I think everyone of their goals were because of individual errors.

“And when you make big individual errors your going to concede goals.”

Jermaine McGlashan’s first-time volley put the Robins ahead, before Marlon Pack’s effort from the edge of the box doubled the hosts’ lead. Steve Elliott stroked in a third after a blunder from Andy Warrington, who dropped an 84th-minute corner to allow Elliott a simple finish.

Despite the defeat, Evans remains bullish that Rotherham can make up the five-point deficit and overhaul four teams in the final eight games to reach the top three.

He said: “All the teams fighting with us for promotion have some very tough matches coming up so there will be many twists and turns over the next six weeks, but we are right in the mix for promotion. Others who say we are not this morning are wrong.”

Cheltenham Town: Brown, Jombati, Hector, Elliott, Jones, McGlashan (Duffy 90), Pack, Penn, Mohamed (Carter 88), Deering, Benson (Harrison 78). Unused substitutes: Roberts, Lowe, Harrad, Hanks.

Rotherham United: Warrington, Mullins, Davis, C Morgan, Ridehalgh, Pringle (Agard 79), Noble (Kearns 46), O’Connor, Frecklington, Nardiello, Revell (Odejayi 56). Unused substitutes: Shearer, Tonge, Rowe.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Man of the match: Jermaine McGlashan.