‘Incredible’ – Millwall boss on two stoppage time own goals helping them comeback and bank a point at Swansea

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett described the end of Millwall’s game at Swansea as “incredible” as the Lions found the net twice in stoppage time to snatch a point in South Wales.

Ryan Manning gave Russell Martin’s side the lead after just 52 seconds. Sloppy defending saw the ball come to Manning, who was able to curl the ball into the bottom corner via a deflection off the post.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Irish international Michael Obafemi was able to twist and turn his way past three Millwall defenders to pick his spot.

But two stoppage-time own goals secured a point for Rowett’s men, who have taken seven points from a possible 12.

Rowett told Millwall TV: “Incredible, an incredible end to the game. If I look at the game in its entirety, I can’t forget the opening period. We did what we did against Coventry, where we didn’t defend well enough.

“We’ve got to deal with movement better than that. If we have a shape that condenses the game and makes it harder for them to play through, we have to make it difficult for them to play through – not very, very easy. I’ll be honest – we didn’t show the relevant belief early enough in the game. I felt we grew into the game. It’s always tricky when you are 2-0 down. Swansea are a good team, they move the ball ever so well, they make it so difficult for anyone, they are tough to press, but if you are to defend a little deeper, then you have to stay in the game, you see what happens at the end of the game, and you see how the likes of us can then take away the last part of games. Still, you can’t do that from 2-0 down. You have to do that from 0-0.

“I’m very disappointed with the start. I nearly made the change at half-time, but I felt it was important the players got going. We grew into the game – the last 15 minutes of the first half were much better.

“There was a clear penalty, Manning went through on Jake Cooper. I told Gavin Ward I was disappointed with the performance. There were too many times that the officials guessed. They have to be better than that. I make mistakes – my team is 2-0 down, and I’m going to get the stick for that – but the referees are making mistakes, it just can’t happen. It’s a professional game. I’m disappointed tonight. I like Gavin. He’s an experienced ref, but there are two clear penalties.”

For the second successive game, the Lions staged a comeback, making it four points now gained from losing positions, but the manager is keen for his side to stop giving opponents head starts.

“We got better as the game went on. We’ve made so many changes. There are not too many times that I take two defenders off, but I just felt their mobility was causing us problems, and I knew if we were chasing the game, we needed to have that mobility to use that space.

“The most significant moment of the match was none of the goals but Ryan Leonard’s tackle on Obafemi. It’s a match-levelling moment. We put the pressure on, lots and lots of good opportunities against an excellent Swansea team. I wish we showed that belief early in the game but we were 2-0 down at the weekend and won 3-2 then 2-0 down here and drew 2-2. I can’t say that the players haven’t got courage and desire.

“You’ve got to move the ball better. We are not going to move the ball like Swansea, that’s their methodology, and that’s how they want to play, but we had a successful season last season. We need to show a bit better belief and what I would say is at the moment, not enough players are showing the quality and level they have in possession. Those were the disappointing moments for me because if you turn the ball over against a team that keeps it well and get up the pitch and the times we did do it, we built up some good possession and chances. In the second half, I felt we were far better and more aggressive. Once again, I asked the subs to make a difference. I nearly started all the subs, and what they’ve done is come on and make an impact, which is so important.”