Millwall boss delighted with response of his side as they dent Boro’s play-off prospects

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett was pleased with Millwall’s response after Wednesday’s defeat at QPR as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at The Den today.

Grant Hall’s first-half own goal settled the match in SE16

Rowett said: “After Wednesday night’s game we had 24 hours less recovery and we’ve got players playing with injuries who are just getting through, so the international break certainly comes at a good time for us to have a rest.”

The Lions went in at the break with the lead.

Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock made three substitutions at half time, introducing Duncan Watmore and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Rowett said: “We worked incredibly hard. They are a team that can always put you on the back foot with the options they’ve got in the forward areas.

“They’ve been able to bring on good players with a lot of pace and power at the top end of the pitch.

“I always knew that as the game went on on our challenge would be to match that. There were some good moments in the first half when we got the ball down and played.

“We got into some good positions, I can think of Danny McNamara’s chance one-v-one with the keeper, I can think of Jed’s chance when Mason plays him through, I can think about the goal and two or three other opportunities.”