‘Brilliant’ – Millwall boss Gary Rowett on fourth Championship win on the spin

Millwall manager Gary Rowett described their four-match unbeaten run in the Championship as “a brilliant achievement”.

Jake Cooper’s 61st-minute goal – his fifth in the last seven matches against the Blades – earned all the points at The Den.

But Millwall had yet more injury setbacks as both Mason Bennett and Shaun Hutchinson had to be subbed off, the former in the early stages of the match.

Rowett said: “It’s a tough league and to win any games, at times, in the season feels like a tough challenge. But to win four on the spin is a brilliant achievement for the players – especially in the scenario we are in with players going down injured every game. It’s quite phenomenal.

“They had the luxury of making three strong changes to their team – bringing them on – and we’re in the position where we have to keep grinding it out and keep going.

“First half both teams lacked a bit of zip and spark to their play. We struggled to get into good enough areas. Mason going down meant we lacked that bit of physicality in top areas to keep the ball there. We’ve got two wingers almost playing up front, so you’re going to expect the ball to keep coming back.

“Sheffield United are a good side. They are probably as good as any other team, apart from Fulham. I expect them to be challenging at the end of the season, potentially for the top two positions.

“Second half we were a bit better, we had a bit more of a spark. Scored the goal – brilliant goal. A good run from Danny and a great ball from Jed. Coops certainly likes playing against Sheffield United, because he scored a 25-yarder earlier in the season to win us the game and today he scores a towering header. When he gets up around the back of defenders, there are not many players who head it like that with his size .

“After that we genuinely didn’t have the energy or quality to get out with the ball. We got backed up and they changed their formation, they brought Burge and Gibbs-White on and we had to show character, we lost Hutchy as well. Dan Ballard, coming on, hadn’t played much football.

“What you saw was a truly hard-earned three points and clean sheet.”