Sunday 21 December 2014 17:24, UK
Steve Evans thought Rotherham were extremely good value for their 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory at Wigan.
The Millers recorded a first win in 10 matches at the DW Stadium thanks to goals from Tom Lawrence and Alex Revell, with Ben Watson responding in between for Wigan.
The home side almost found a leveller right at the death when Oriol Riera's header hit the crossbar, but Evans felt that would have been harsh on his side.
"I thought Wigan started better than us, and for 10 minutes they caused us problems," manager Evans acknowledged. "Once we sorted ourselves out, we dominated for long spells.
"If it's based on good chances, Wigan could have scored a couple - but we could have had five or six today.
"Credit to my players, they're very young in the main but we are giving them the freedom to express themselves."
Evans singled out the contribution of Lawrence, who is shining during his spell on loan from Premier League strugglers Leicester.
"I said last week that Tom is like a lighthouse in a dark ocean, and when he scores a goal and works as hard as that, you know he's a lighthouse in a dark ocean with a nice bottle of red wine waiting for you when you get there," the Rotherham boss smiled.
"He's a special talent and you need to get him on the ball. For every week we've got him we're grateful."
The result heaps the pressure on under-fire Wigan boss Malky Mackay, who received a vote of confidence from his opposite number.
"I think Wigan have got the right manager and, despite what one or two want to say, I've known him all my life and he's the opposite of what people are trying to portray," Evans added.
"He's a true gentleman."
Mackay himself bemoaned mistakes at both ends for Wigan's fourth defeat on the spin.
"If we concede goals like that first one, and fail to take chances like the one Marc-Antoine Fortune had near the end, and Oriol Riera's that hit the bar, that's why you are where you are in the table," the Latics boss said.
"We're creating chances, we're just not being clinical enough in front of goal, and at the other end we're giving away not even soft goals.
"We knew they would be dogged and hard-working, that was never in question.
"Physically we did match them, we worked hard enough, but we have to be clinical at one end and resilient at the other - and we've not been good enough at either end so far."
Mackay also revealed he expects to be busy in next month's transfer window with both incomings and outgoings on the way.
"There is going to have to be a change in personnel if we can," he added. "Grant Holt comes back on January 1, an experienced centre-forward in this division, and that's a start.
"We've got 10 players coming off contract at the end of the season which is quite a lot at a football club.
"The squad is too big, and we've got to make sure in January we do business properly.
"But the players coming in have to be better than the ones we already have.
"If some players would like to leave in January, and there are clubs there for them, and I am okay with them leaving, then that will happen.
"But nothing that won't suit me or Wigan Athletic. It's about us trying to build a team here, and my first responsibility is trying to improve the team."
