His team lost for the sixth time in their last seven games after Adam Phillips, a Tykes midfielder, converted a penalty kick in the second half.
Subsequently, Evans acknowledged that the Millers should have received their own reward and that at least one of the two additional appeals should have been granted to the visitors.
After making similar accusations over penalty claims in recent games against Reading, Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town, and Birmingham City, he thought that League One Rotherham had once again been the victim of unfairness.
In his after-match press conference in New York’s media suite, the boss spoke to the Advertiser about the quartet of flashpoints against the Tykes.
Early in the game, Millers left-back Reece James fouled Phillips:
Yes, I believe we got away with it. ‘Is that a penalty?’ was my initial thought. If you believe that, it probably was. My eyes told me that if it had been supplied, I wouldn’t have had much to complain about.
Rotherham United is who we are. EFL officials do not impose sanctions on us. That is my synopsis of that.
The Millers received one at Reading last week, just for the sake of accuracy.
The penalty kick awarded after Davis Keillor-Dunn was overthrown by home goalkeeper Dillon Phillips after James’ feeble back header:
Reece simply made a poor header. Just before I entered, I watched it again. We go back up the field, but I believe he hasn’t noticed the attacking player behind him and believes it’s simply an easy cushion back to the keeper. At that point in the game, we had a significant advantage. He commits a mistake. The header makes horrible contact. It’s too lenient and allows the referee to award a penalty. If I had been the referee, I would have given it.
When Rotherham was behind 1-0, Millers center-half Zak Jules made a blatant handball:
“I’ve also looked at that one, and I believe it’s a little more challenging. It’s more challenging, in my opinion, when their boy is pressing Zak from behind. The referee might have awarded Zak a free kick for the shove. The two arms raise, as you can see. In an attempt to guide the ball back to the goalie, Zak’s body shape changes and he moves it with his arm.
After an encouraging January had raised hopes of a play-off push, the 14th-placed Millers have lost four and drawn one of their five February fixtures.
Evans admits he was lucky to survive a poor run in November and January and now the pressure on him is mounting again.
The final whistle against Barnsley was greeted by loud booing and there has since been a torrent of criticism from supporters on social media.
