Rotherham United v Birmingham: Evans seeks lift from crunch encounters

The Millers face the first leg of home double-header against the current bottom two when Birmingham call in today, followed by cellar dwellers Blackpool next weekend.

A five-match winless streak may not be ideal preparation, but Evans is maintaining his sense of perspective amid the see-saw nature of Championship fortunes – and humour.

On the encounter with the Blues, the Millers chief said: “It is vital. We are down near that bottom end, but we sit three points behind Sheffield Wednesday who are having the most fantastic season, aren’t they?

“It is all very tight and when it’s as tight as that, quite genuinely, two or three wins and you are suddenly in the top 10 or 12.”

Evans will not be bumping into an old face today in ex-loan striker Wes Thomas, who is banned, and the Scot is grateful for that.

He said: “I am glad he is suspended as he is a good player.

“Wes has always lived on that edge. I can remember in certain games I’ve taken him off because he might have been sent off.

“But he gives you so much. He has got great desire and hunger. We would not have got promoted to the Championship without Wes coming in. We offered some figures to keep Wes last summer, but Birmingham blew us away. That can happen.”

Despite their lowly status, the Blues are unbeaten in three games and Evans is not fooled by their position.

He said: “They went to Molineux and got a 0-0 and played Watford at home and beat them.”

The Millers last night signed Argentina midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma on loan from Middlesbrough.