ROTHERHAM United manager Steve Evans felt his team deserved a point in their Championship opener at Derby County.
The newly-promoted Millers were edged out 1-0 by the Rams at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.
It took an 82nd-minute strike from Jeff Hendrick to finally separate the sides.
Rotherham almost nicked a last-gasp equaliser but Derby keeper Lee Grant superbly denied former Rams midfielder Paul Green before defender Craig Forsyth cleared Kieran Agard's goalbound effort off the line.
"I think Derby supporters will go away and know their team was in a tough game," said Evans.
"They will have a lot of easier games at the iPro, that's for sure.
"I think we deserved a point and I think the whole ground knows we deserved a point but sometimes you don't get what you deserve.
"Many people around the country thought when they saw we were away at Derby, it would be lambs to the slaughter but we aren't going to be lambs to the slaughter for anyone.
"We were well organised and after they scored, we had two great chances to equalise we would normally take, so we are disappointed we didn't take them but we're learning."
