Evans hails magnificent Millers

Steve Evans felt his Rotherham side were 'magnificent' as they beat Bristol City 2-1 at the New York Stadium.

Two-goals from full-back James Tavernier kept alive the Millers' hopes of automatic promotion. They could not have had a better start with a goal after just 70 seconds. Ben Pringle's free-kick was headed clear by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas but the ball was collected outside the area by Tavernier who side-stepped his marker and found the back of the net with a 25 yard drive. But three minutes into the second half City were level. Wade Elliott collected what seemed like a harmless ball wide on the right and with Rotherham backing off, he cut inside and hit a fierce shot from just outside the area which beat Collin all ends up. But Tavernier restored Rotherham's lead on the hour mark. Goalkeeper Frank Fielding was penalised for carrying the ball outside his area and Tavernier whipped home the free-kick. "We were magnificent. We showed we have the qualities in the team to be an excellent side," said Millers manager Evans. "(City boss) Steve Cotterill has signed some excellent players and it is very evident when you see them play, but the only concern we had in the first half is that we should have been four goals up the chances we had. We worked extremely hard. "But they penetrated us with what was a magnificent strike and if it had got them a point you would have said it was worthy of a point. But Tavernier's second goal was hit with such magnificent force. "It was the assistant referee who gave the free-kick for the second goal and he was directly in line. We said in the first half two or three times that the goalkeeper was out of his box. "We are now hanging on to the window ledge with our finger tips for those play offs, but the boys are giving us every chance and I now believe we are just a win away from the play offs.