Millers boss scathing in his remarks about Tom Pope

Rotherham manager Steve Evans was non-complimentary about Vale’s Tom Pope following the incident which saw Claude Davis red-carded in the Millers’ two-nil defeat at Vale Park.

He said: “There were some game changing things – we missed a penalty and no one can explain to me why that’s not a red card and why it’s not a denial of a goal scoring opportunity – it’s the biggest mystery today.

“We are then regrouping at one-nil down and trying to work ourselves into the game and I have to be careful what I say about another club’s player.

“To see Tom Pope diving around – and I have just looked at it on the DVD – Claude Davis just touched the ball from under him, which the DVD will show, and for him to roll about as if he had just been smashed is disgraceful from one professional to another, but that’s what happens.

“The second goal, I have just looked at the DVD so I am talking with the benefit of that, he was two yards offside.”

Evans admitted he didn’t see the red card incident in real time. He said: “To be honest I didn’t really know what had gone on, I’d just seen Claude and Pope tangle and Pope lying on top of the ball.

“The fourth official told us the assistant referee gave it and when the assistant referee came close he said he didn’t see anything.

“The referee said he gave it and the fourth official said there was no contact. It’s a mystery, but Claude touched the ball when Pope was lying on it and the ball comes out.

“I have just watched it, again I have had the benefit of the DVD so we will appeal that and If we don’t win that we might as well all give the daft game up.”

When asked if Davis should have got involved like he did Evans said: “No, absolutely not, of course he shouldn’t, but you don’t roll about like he did there.

“I don’t want players like that and I am glad he isn’t at our club, I don’t want players like that.”