Steve Evans, Rotherham United manager, once expressed his frustration over the refereeing in their 1-0 loss to Wrexham on Saturday.
The Millers, expected to challenge for promotion this season, were beaten by an early Paul Mullin goal, despite dominating possession throughout the match. Evans felt that referee Ben Atkinson’s decisions heavily favoured Wrexham, describing his performance as “simply awful”.
Rotherham hosted Wrexham at the New York Stadium after a tough start to the season, having won just three of their opening 12 League One fixtures. With the pressure mounting, the Millers were keen to secure a win against a Wrexham side that had struggled on the road this season. Despite their efforts, Rotherham fell to a narrow defeat, with Mullin’s first-minute goal proving to be decisive.
Wrexham’s defensive resilience was key to their victory, as they soaked up Rotherham’s attacks and protected their early lead. However, the post-match focus was not on Wrexham’s performance, but rather the controversial refereeing display by Atkinson. Evans didn’t hold back in his post-match interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, claiming that the referee’s decisions were consistently one-sided.
POST-MATCH | We need to be ruthless when we perform like that – Evans 🗣
Listen to the Gaffer following full-time at AESSEAL New York Stadium. 👇#rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud
— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) October 19, 2024
Steve Evans’ Refereeing Complaints
Evans was particularly upset with several key decisions. He felt that Joe Powell should have been awarded a penalty, or at the very least, a free kick on the edge of the box. Additionally, the Rotherham boss cited multiple instances of fouls during set plays that went unpunished. “There’s numerous holdings and pullings from set plays that, when we’ve briefly looked at them back, you think, ‘you can’t be giving them all one way,’” Evans commented.
Despite his frustration, Evans was careful to avoid accusing the referee of bias, stating, “I’m not questioning the referee’s honesty or integrity, I’m just saying he had a bad game.” Nonetheless, he made it clear that he hoped not to encounter Atkinson again anytime soon, adding, “let’s hope I don’t see him again. I think his performance was simply awful.”
Wrexham’s Performance and Future Challenges
While much of the post-match attention was focused on Evans’ criticism of the referee, it should not overshadow Wrexham’s disciplined display. Phil Parkinson’s side, who had won only one of their first five away games, produced a battling performance to take all three points. Mullin’s goal came from a well-placed cross by Ryan Barnett, and the Welsh side showed their resilience by defending strongly against Rotherham’s numerous attempts on goal.
As the season progresses, Rotherham must address their inconsistency if they are to mount a serious promotion challenge. Evans, though frustrated by the officiating, will undoubtedly look to galvanise his squad for the fixtures ahead.
While Evans has every right to express frustration with the referee, it’s important not to let that overshadow the performance of the team. Rotherham had plenty of chances to get back into the game, but they lacked the cutting edge to break down Wrexham’s defence. Refereeing decisions, good or bad, are part of the game, and teams must learn to overcome them.
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