Thursday 2 October 2014 10:38, UK
Boss Steve Evans hailed Rotherham's 2-0 Sky Bet Championship victory over Blackburn as good as any result he has achieved in his spell in charge of the club.
Evans has presided over a golden spell at the New York Stadium, leading the Millers from League Two to the Championship, with plenty of fine scalps along the way, and they scaled new heights on Tuesday night, seeing off the former Premier League champions with a rousing display.
They were helped by an early goal as Kari Arnason tucked home a loose ball in just the fifth minute and fortune was on their side 25 minutes later when Jason Steele's clearance clattered into the legs of Luciano Becchio and into the net to double the lead.
That was enough to seal a first win in six games and Evans was left purring.
"It was a performance that had many aspects to it and it continued from the last few weeks, we played some excellent football," he said. "I was proud of them.
"We are still adjusting to a fantastic league, we have beaten the former Premier League champions, it matches any good result we have ever had here.
"The first half was special, it was a shame it couldn't have ended at half-time because it was that good.
"When you beat a team of the stature of Blackburn Rovers you have to be proud.
"We knew a win was around the corner and the corner has come and now we prepare for a trip to the league leaders."
Becchio's goal, which he knew nothing about with his back to goal, was the second strike for the club since joining the Millers from Norwich.
And Evans says they are beginning to see the best of him.
"I thought Luciano was fantastic," he added. "He's getting there, some of his link-up play with Alex Revell was superb.
"People had a go at me for not playing him at Ipswich on Saturday but if I had have done he'd have only been playing on one leg tonight."
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer, whose side were left to count the cost of a below-par first half, was in a prickly mood after the game.
Bowyer saw his side gift the Millers two goals and then miss a number of second-half chances.
"We gifted the opposition two goals and you can't do that," he said. "It's one of those things in football.
"We had opportunities to deal with the second goal but we are slightly disappointed because we gifted them the goal.
"It could have been a different story. We came out and had a go at them and if we could have got a goal.
"We can't keep giving teams head starts. Jordan Rhodes missed from two yards.
"We could still be out there now and it didn't drop for us and it dropped for them. That's the game summed up."
