Steve Evans thankful for support as Rotherham United end 'shambolic' away run

Sam Nombe's stoppage-time goal brought a 1-0 win over Cambridge United, the club's first away from home in any competition since November 8, 2022.

Evans would only say one word about that run, which took in previous managers Matt Taylor, Liam Richardson and his first six months back in charge – "shambolic".

Many who travelled to the Abbey Stadium will probably have been at most of the 44 dismal games which also encompassed relegation from the Championship, and Evans was pleased to see them finally rewarded.

"Even at 0-0 you think are they going to turn and is it going to be a little bit against us but they stuck with it and they were good for us,” he said.

"They've had journey week after week, month after month, season after season where it's just been pulling their hair out and scratching their head.

"They're not listening to their manager saying we've had a really good performance at Wycombe, a really good performance against Burton and Bristol (Rovers) and Charlton.

"On Tuesday we had a solid performance, an industrious performance. People can see the shape of the team was something to gives us industry and fight and spirit and effort and good pace in wide areas. I think in spells we had that but not enough in good areas."

And an emotional Evans was grateful for the support he personally has received from those inside the club and at home.

"I suffer more than anyone," he told the BBC. "I've never had a run like this in my career, I don't think.

"But you know what I do? I fight, I get in the trenches but I need my motivators at times – I need my Tony Stewart (Rotherham chairman) and my Richard (Stewart, vice-chairman), I need my wife and I certainly need my girls and my grandkids.

"I went into the dressing room and the Evans were having a party on the family chat. It just means so much, I love them all.

"You can't pick your family but if I could have done I'd have picked my girls, my mum and dad are not here now but I'd have picked them.

"Players will tell you there's been no harsh words, no harsh meetings. My task is to get this football club winning at League One level, which it's got a terrific history of doing but there's also been issues along the way as Warney (predecessor Paul Warne) and myself have found out."

It was only Rotherham's fourth win full stop of a season of high expectations, and now the key is to build on it, starting with Saturday's visit from Reading.

"I don't think it was our best performance since the start of the season by a long stretch," said Evans of Tuesday's victory.

"The game seemed to be drifting towards 0-0 and then Cameron Dawson produces an unbelievable save. I'd turned away, I think it's in the net.

"Again, we had lots of final entries into the box but a little bit of a lack of quality.

"We put a great ball into the box and I don't know if Sam gets a touch or not but all it didn't matter who got the touch.

"We got the win. It's nearly two years.

"There's a lot I could say about those two years but I wasn't here so I'm going to refrain from saying it. My chairman sometimes says, and he's a wise man, something not said says lots.

"There's a simple word – shambolic.

"But we have to go again (on) Saturday. We're three points away from the top half of the table, that's a great incentive."