First impressions important

This weekend Rotherham United play their first home game under Steve Evans and the reception he gets from the Don Valley crowd could set the tone for his time at the club.

With some fans still doubting the appointment of the former Crawley man the first impression at home will be vital and he couldn’t do anything better than get a much needed win.

There’s still the outside possibility the Millers will make the play-offs.

Despite the 3-1 away defeat to Shrewsbury, who have not lost at home all season, they currently sit four points away from the coveted seventh place position.

Fortunately for the Millers their three remaining games including this weekend’s home tie with Morecambe are against teams sitting lower in the table, with an away match at Aldershot and the last game of the season at home to Northampton.

To stand a realistic chance of making it into the end of season show down we have to win all of the games. It won’t be an easy task, but it can be achieved with a little bit of luck.

If he were to sneak his team into the play-offs after coming into the club only a few days before the end of the year then he will be adored by fans and his past will be all but forgotten.

A new stadium, a new manager and a promotion under their belt will be the spring board the club needs to push onto Evans’ desired Championship.

In his first match in charge Evan’s side had a chance against Shrewsbury when they took a 1-0 lead but after this they wilted as the team now in second place took control.

An equalising goal from Terry Gornell cancelled out defender Ryan Cresswell’s headed goal.

Aaron Wildig’s tap in and a second from Gornell sealed the points for the home team.

After spending a couple of weeks with the team Evans will know them and their style a little better now and hopefully this will show at the weekend against Morecambe.

But as the old saying goes it’s the first impressions that count and Evans will be wanting to make a good one at Don Valley Stadium tomorrow.