Evans salutes play-off display

Missing top scorer Kieran Agard due to a hamstring injury, the Millers led through Alex Revell’s first-half strike before a fantastic equaliser from Joe Garner sent the teams into Thursday’s second leg at the New York Stadium level at 1-1.

 Evans said: “We would have taken this result beforehand and if we had taken our chances we’d have won. I was proud of my players and it took the goal of the century to break us.

 “It’s not a good result, because we think of a good result as winning, but it’s an acceptable result and I don’t think any team has an advantage at the moment. Of the four sides in the play-offs, Preston were the team that perhaps people wanted to shy away from, so to go to Deepdale and perform like we did gives us a chance.”

 The Millers were the more assured side in the first half and went in front after 21 minutes when Revell latched onto Ben Pringle’s ball forward to beat goalkeeper Declan Rudd.

Garner’s unstoppable volley soon after half time gave the home side some impetus but although Rotherham were pressed back, they still had the clearer openings.

 Lee Frecklington was foiled in a one-on-one with Rudd and Rob Milsom flashed a shot a yard wide before substitute Haris Vuckic’s header tested the reflexes of the Preston stopper in injury time.

 The Millers were forced to reshuffle along the way, with young full-back Richard Brindley and Frecklington both going off injured.

Evans said the fitness picture would be clearer by Tuesday.

Preston: Rudd, Clarke, Laird, King, Wright, Holmes, Welsh (capt), Browne (Keane 63), Gallagher, Garner, C. Davies (K. Davies 63)

Millers: Collin, Brindley (O’Connor 22), Skarz, Morgan (capt), Arnason, Tavernier, Frecklington (Davis 63), Milsom, Pringle, Revell, Thomas (Vuckic 83)

Referee: Iain Williamson

Attendance: 17,221