Millwall boss felt ref should have booked Fulham striker Mitrovic for challenge on Arsenal loanee

17 August 2021 Richard Cawley

Gary Rowett felt that Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic should have been cautioned much earlier in tonight’s 2-1 win over Millwall at The Den.

The Serbian frontman put the west London side ahead early on.

“It doesn’t change the game but I thought Mitrovic was really fortunate not to get a yellow card early on,” said Lions boss Rowett. “He sticks his elbow out on Daniel Ballard on the touchline. I think he did a similar thing against Middlesbrough on the opening day and got a yellow.

“Look, he’s a big physical striker – I’m not complaining or whinging about that. But sometimes what you need is a ref to deal with that early. To book him in the 93rd minute for about his fifth challenge probably warranted doing earlier. He was very quick to book our players.

“It doesn’t change the outcome of the game, because we didn’t perform well enough to match a top quality side.”