Rotherham United v Charlton Athletic: Evans realigns priorities in light of challenge

The Millers have adopted a more cautious approach since moving into the Championship due to the huge step up in standard.

After two years of cavalier football as United cut a swathe through Leagues One and Two, the switch has been noticeable.

Not that Rotherham have ditched their attacking approach entirely, as the number of chances created in most games this season has proved. But there has been a tangible shift, something that Evans insists was necessary.

Asked if he had deliberately adopted a more cautious approach this season, the Millers chief replied: “Absolutely. Do they think Steve Evans is going to take a team up to the Championship and leave ourselves open to Premier League players. Do they think my name is Donald Duck? I have to keep us in games.

“If you leave yourself open, you get picked off. This squad is much better than the squad we had last year. This squad would win League One comfortably. But the Championship is a whole different ball game. The quality of players can hurt you.”

Rotherham host Charlton Athletic today sitting 19th in the table with seven points from as many games.

Last time out, the Millers, much to Evans’s frustration, lost 3-2 at Bolton Wanderers after a couple of individual mistakes proved costly.

It was one of several ‘what if?’ games for United this term with Evans adding: “We have been in every game in the Championship this season. They have been very close. We could sit here and think, we are six or seven points adrift of where our performances deserved us to be.

“We should have got something at Bolton, we should have certainly beaten Brentford and Watford at home. I am not so sure we should have beaten Wolves, we should have lost that. But we should have got a point at Derby.

“Over the season, they say you get what you deserve. If that is the case, we have a few wins to get.”