Millwall 0 Rotherham United 1: Switch works a treat for jubilant Evans

The Lions had not tasted defeat in the Championship since March but Ben Pringle’s strike just after half-time sent them spinning to a 1-0 loss at the Den.

Promoted Rotherham had to withstand some Millwall pressure both before and after the break, but held on for their second league victory of the season.

“We took a while to settle into the game,” admitted Evans. “Millwall started much brighter than us and when you have got that type of vocal support... I have never been here with a team before but they were terrific and spurred on their team.

“In the first half (Ricardo) Fuller should have put Millwall in front but then we had two big chances, and in the second half we were a bit more offensive.

“We switched the two wide players at half-time and when the goal comes from that, from a tactical point of view, it is great.

“(Alex) Revell wins a header, (Paul) Taylor puts it into the box and Pringle comes off the line, like we ask them to do, and it’s a good finish.

“We worked on that on the training ground. In the second half, I don’t remember my goalkeeper making a save.”

Manager Ian Holloway admitted Millwall had been brought back down to earth with a bump.

“We didn’t function like we have been and I felt I should have made some more changes, in hindsight,” he said.

Millwall: Forde, Edwards, Dunne, Beevers, Malone, Woolford, Wright (Gueye 51), Williams, Martin (Easter 72), McDonald, Fuller (Gregory 85). Unused substitutes: Gerrar, Briggs, Webster, Abdou.

Rotherham United: Collin, Broadfoot, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz (Wood 81), Taylor, Smallwood, Frecklington, Pringle (Brindley 90), Wordsworth, Revell (Bowery 87). Unused substitutes: Loach, Tidser, Swift, Derbyshire.

Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire).

Man of the match: Paul Taylor.