Millwall boss Gary Rowett pleased with performance against Reading – and felt his side had good chances to win it
BY DANIEL MARSH
Gary Rowett felt his Millwall side had the chances to win tonight’s match against Reading.
Jed Wallace gave the Lions the lead with a sublime 25-yard free-kick on the stroke of half time, only for Lucas Joao to cancel it out shortly after the break.
Millwall had late chances to win the game through Ryan Leonard and Jed Wallace but instead claimed a fourth Championship draw in a row.
Rowett said: “We’ve had a couple of excellent chances, we probably should go and win the game. Tonight’s performance in my opinion – overall – was better than Saturday. We played a lot better. Although Reading have lost the last four games, they showed early season they’re a really difficult side to play against. They drop deep into shape and are very, very organised – then they’ve got some incredibly gifted players at the top end of the pitch which can turn a draw into a win.
“In the first half we played really well. Troy gives us that little bit of extra movement and links off the front. We looked really bright and controlled the first half but maybe without creating enough chances. We got into some good areas, but maybe didn’t quite create the best chances. It was a great finish by Jed.
“In the second half we probably had a five-minute spell where we looked a little bit nervy being 1-0 up. Maybe that’s because we haven’t won as many games as we’d like, certainly at home. We dropped in and that one moment where we don’t defend well – which is probably the only moment of the game where we don’t defend well – we let Joao get in behind and he scores from an angle where maybe we should do better.
“But after that we create another three good chances. Bodvarsson has a good chance which the keeper saves, Jed has a chance the keeper saves. Leonard ends up with a header which you just want to nestle into the back of the next. I think we’ve had eight shots on target. I was pleased with the performance, but disappointed we’ve not won it.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD