‘It was a bit of a gamble’ – Millwall boss Gary Rowett makes admission on trio after Stoke City reverse

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett was pleased with the contribution of Tom Bradshaw. Maikel Kieftenbled and Sheyi Ojo in Millwall’s 2-0 defeat at Stoke City.

The trio made their first appearances since returning from injury.

Bradshaw and Kieftenbeld were introduced in the 62nd minute. Ojo replaced Mason Bennett in the 79th minute.

Rowett said: “Bradders got the penalty [which Jed Wallace failed to convert]. It was nice to get Bradders back out there. I probably put all three of them on a bit earlier than I would normally do.

“I felt at that point we needed to get a bit of a foothold in midfield. I felt we lost that midfield battle today, with three against our two. It was a bit of a gamble but it got them out there.

“It will be nice for them to feel a game before the international break and come back renewed and ready to go with eight games to go and see what we can do.”

Rowett is keen to get as many of his players back as possible during the international break to aide the Lions in the final push for a place in the play-offs.

“It’s what you work for all season,” he said. “You work to get yourselves in a position where you have something to play for. We’ve worked incredibly hard to be in that position. Today we are disappointed, but we won’t let it affect us. We also know there are some very good teams up in that top bit of the league.

“We will just try and win games of football, like we have done in this run, and try and enjoy the rest of the season.”