Captain Alex Pearce: Manager Gary Rowett was pulling the strings from isolation for Preston away win
BY ALEX GRACE
Gary Rowett was the man behind the magic for Millwall, according to Alex Pearce.
The Lions manager is currently self-isolating following a positive COVID-19 test result on Friday and is watching the games from home. Asked who was behind the success at Deepdale, captain Pearce was quick to point to his manager.
“The gaffer was behind it all,” said a delighted Pearce. “He was in contact with us on the bench – he would ask our opinions on things and make substitutions. It was a real team effort and we are really pleased to get the win for the club.”
It’s been a disrupted period for Millwall with Rowett delivering a positive test for the virus on Friday, before the rest of the management staff were told to self-isolate on Monday after three of the other four also tested positive.
Under 23’s boss Kevin Nugent has been assisting both club captain Pearce and Shaun Williams with overseeing the first team until Rowett’s return.
Pearce added: “I think the players deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve dealt with everything over the last 48 hours. It can be very unsettling for players. Things happen. Unfortunately we’ve had an outbreak of Covid so people have had to step in and the players have had to stay calm and I’m really pleased and proud of them.”
Pearce was also asked whether the Millwall players have been tested for COVID-19 following the positive cases in the coaching staff.
He said: “No – the EFL guidelines show that you just have a test if you have symptoms, so the staff members were sent home. That was because they had clear symptoms and all of the players carried on as normal because they don’t have any symptoms so we are just following the rules and abiding by the rules.”