Rotherham United manager Steve Evans has rejected suggestions that his team could face relegation from League One this season, despite a poor run of form that has left the Millers 18th in the table.
Following a 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town, their fourth loss in five matches, Evans acknowledged concerns over his job security but insisted his side would not drop down to League Two.
Evans: “We Won’t Get Relegated”
Speaking after the match at Crawley, Evans bristled at the notion of a relegation battle, maintaining his belief in the team’s ability to turn their season around.
“We won’t get relegated, behave yourself,” he said. “We’re not going to be relegated. We’ve been ‘in’ a lot of games and just come out on the wrong side of them. We were in this game today.”
The manager’s comments come amid growing unrest among Rotherham fans, who had higher expectations for the season after the team’s relegation from the Championship last term. Chairman Tony Stewart rehired Evans in April to lead a resurgence, but the team’s current form has left supporters questioning their direction.
Squad Issues and Fan Frustrations
The absence of key players against Crawley compounded Rotherham’s injury problems. Illness ruled out Liam Kelly, Joe Rafferty, and Sam Nombe, while injuries sidelined Mallik Wilks and Jamie McCart. Despite the depleted squad, Evans refused to use this as an excuse, pointing to the importance of squad depth.
“I was talking to a manager in the top four and he was saying: ‘You’re missing arguably some of the best players in the league.’ But we can’t keep using that as an excuse. It’s why we have a squad of players,” he said.
Evans also expressed frustration at the effort levels of some players, suggesting that around half of the team failed to give their all in the Crawley match. He assured fans that he and his staff are working tirelessly to reverse the team’s fortunes.
Writer’s View
Steve Evans’ confidence in avoiding relegation may reassure some fans, but results on the pitch tell a different story. The next ten days will be pivotal, providing an opportunity to regroup and refocus. With fan unrest growing and key players out, Evans must rally his squad to deliver a response in December or risk further scrutiny over his position.
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