Interviewer praised with Rotherham’s Steve Evans ‘losing it’ after defeat to Leyton Orient

Interviewer Adam Oxley has been praised by fans with Rotherham’s Steve Evans ‘losing it’ after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Leyton Orient.

The O’s picked up their first home league win of the season, with central defender Dan Happe scoring the only goal of the game.

Sam Nombe and Mallik Wilks came close to getting an equaliser for the Millers, but Orient did enough to hold on to all three points.

Speaking to Radio Sheffield, Steve Evans said: ‘I thought we were strong in certain periods of the game, we controlled possession but we are still trying to find our way up front but it’s all about that quality in the final third. And I sound like a broken record.

‘There were pivotal moments in the game like when Joe was hauled to the floor and we don’t get a penalty. It was a clear penalty.

‘We change shape in the second half to play more offensive in the wide areas and it worked for about fifteen minutes. We made an unbelievable chance then the player who misses that chance doesn’t pick his marker up from a set play and they score. It was disappointing.

‘There was nothing in the game but if you don’t defend properly, like we didn’t for their goal, then you pay the price. Cameron Dawson made a save just before half-time and apart from that he didn’t make another save. (Ed Note – really? I thought he pulled off a couple of good saves in the second half?)

‘We know we should be better and I understand the supporters getting frustrated.

‘We are here without some of our massive players – McCart got hurt in the warm-up, we are here without Raggett, we are here without Clarke-Harris, Kelly has had his first game back in six weeks, Zak Jules hasn’t played in three months except in the Bristol Street Motors, and I thought he was outstanding for fifty minutes, he’s had a family tragedy and has been through turmoil. People need to be less negative and look at it objectively.’

🗣️ “You need to stop being negative and look at it objectively”

📹 Steve Evans on Rotherham United’s 1-0 defeat away at Leyton Orient.

🎧👉 https://t.co/AmOYl82sdi#RUFC | @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/bDuL542Sqk

— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) October 22, 2024

He also singled out defender Cameron Humphreys for criticism at both ends of the pitch.

The result leaves the Millers sitting 17th place in the League One table after 13 games played, Evans said: “The player misses that chance and then doesn’t pick up his man at a set-play and they score.

“It’s a disappointing night. There was nothing in the game.

“I think we controlled possession. We’re still trying to find a way up front. We got down the sides of them but we lacked quality in the final third. I sound like a broken record.

“If you don’t defend properly, which we don’t for their goal, and you get in the final third and don’t have that quality you need at this level, you pay a price.” If our player does his job, we go in front and we don’t concede.”

Jamie McCart also pulled his calf in the warm-up, with Evans angered by suggestions that his side’s performance was negative when interviewed afterwards on BBC Radio Sheffield.

He added: “We were without four massive players, do you understand that.

“McCart comes down injured in the warm-up. We’re here without (Sean) Raggett, we’re here without (Jonson) Clarke-Harris. (Liam) Kelly has had his first game back in about six weeks. We are here without massive players, so you (reporter) need to stop being negative and look at it objectively.”

Here’s how fans reacted with the interviewer praised and Rotherham’s Steve Evans said to be ‘losing it’ after defeat to Leyton Orient…

@MightyMillers20: He’s losing it, great interview Adam,

@matt_lax: That is an awful interview. Awful. Seems like a man under pressure. Perfectly reasonable questions and some poor answers

@CraigyBoyBes: Absolute fair play to @adam3oxley for the questions he asked. He was correct in everything he said. Evans didn’t like the truth & it clearly showed. Fans aren’t daft & can see he’s getting it majorly wrong at the minute #rufc

@davidharrywebb: He’s going to keep it behind closed doors but talks about a poor lads personal troubles. He’s not going to talk about the ref but there’s a definite penalty 🤦🏻‍♂️😂 stop arguing with yourself.

@Stevie5667: What I’ve noticed about him is he’s very happy to regularly have a dig at the previous managers but clearly he doesn’t like being questioned about his own decisions. He’s often very snide about opposing managers too.

@PhilipRawlinso4: Don’t even like his interviews on the odd occasion we’ve won but that was truly awful. Not sure which game he was at 🫣🫣

@rodgers_6891: How on earth is this guystill employable. His is interviews are never ever his fault , excuses, injures , ref etc… after what happened at Boston should be nowhere near football. From an Ipswich fan.

@rufctom_: Shocking interview losing it over simple and fair questions. Says he isn’t gonna talk about jules and then tells everyone. Blames Humphrey’s entirely and don’t get me wrong he did mess up but fuck me stevie might wanna set up with wingers from the start sometime soon

@paul_stani: What a total bell end! Comes across really well in this 🙈 expects interviewer to be really positive after a performance like that! They were awful, there’s no width at all, no creativity and we can’t defend! I reckon some of that might be down to the manager!

@JamieClayton_10: Great interview @adam3oxley top work. The bloke is really disrespectful and seems to have lost the plot.

@Ryan_Cudworth: Definitely losing it, throws player under the bus to deflect. Can’t see how bad it is when everyone else can. He got one thing right, there was literally NOTHING in the game

@SABarlow1976: Super interview! Our eyes don’t lie n what we are seeing this season! @adam3oxley excellent! There seems no personal acceptance in team shape, tactics and opposition preparation! Boring weekly rant at ref, we change formation constantly n make little chances. Bully boy Evans

@NeilOakley16: Wow. I used to love this bloke. What a pathetic, childish interview. Embarrassing.

@K55ETS: We aren’t going to talk about it, we keep it in house. Then goes on to talk about Jules personal issues. Morals of a shit fly. Horrible bloke.

@AntSSimo19: These interviews expose the utter madness in #RUFC throwing money at this bloke. Yet again has digs at players/refs/clubs as cover and finds time to big up what ‘he’ did at Stevenage. Players he talks about missing are crocked that other L1 sides wouldn’t touch. Absolute carcrash

@TheMillers91: Is this interview for real hahahaha very disrespectful to that lad interviewing who is asking some decent questions. Hes lost his head here and is deluded if he thinks any part of that performance was any good

@GazRobinson1: You deserve a medal the size of a frying pan for keeping professional there Adam… Fair, balanced & relevant questions. He’s under pressure but not one of your questions was spikey or loaded. Well done the Ox

@jonnypwood: Can Radio Sheffield try and get Tony Stewart on to answer questions (live) from the fans. We need answers. He’s going to end up leaving the club back where he found it, in L2.