Millwall boss gives his verdict on QPR’s start under Mick Beale

Millwall manager Gary Rowett reckons that QPR’s playing style has changed “slightly” under Mick Beale.

The Lions face their London rivals at The Den tomorrow night.

Beale quit as Aston Villa number two to take the top job at the west London club in the summer.

QPR lost 1-0 at Swansea in their last Championship fixture.

“It’s always interesting when you watch a team under new management,” Rowett told the South London Press.

“I’ve watched some of their games and they are playing a slightly different way. They’ve always, for a fairly long time, been a possession-based team that wants to move you around and pass the ball quite well. They’ve gone away from a back five to a back four and a 4-3-3 formation.

“They’ve been really competitive in the games I’ve seen. I would never make too much of an opinion on other teams but they are one point ahead of us and, like us, they’ll probably be a little disappointed but not too disappointed with the start.

“After eight games it is hard to gauge opponents too much because if you were to gauge our away games you would gauge us against three teams all in the top six.

“They are a well-coached team that is well-drilled and wants to pass the ball. They have got good forward options.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS