Millwall boss issued threat to his players – as they head into international break with important victory

Millwall manager Gary Rowett revealed he warned his players they would be getting less down time if they did not go into the international break with a victory over Blackpool.

The Lions did exactly that with Zian Flemming and Benik Afobe both on target at The Den, as the South Londoners bounced back from their midweek home reverse to QPR.

The result moved Millwall up to 13th in the Championship. They have banked 12 points from a possible 18 at home.

“I said to the players after QPR: ‘You need to step up chaps. Otherwise your international break isn’t going to look quite so nice’,” explained Rowett. “It was a bit of a threat because I know we’ve got more, I know we can do better and we need to show a little bit more responsibility and accountability. I always start with myself. I always think where can I do better? What can I improve?

“Even today, what I almost tried to do was take a bit of flak for the lads to go and play with a bit of composure and freedom. When they did that second half it ends up winning us the game.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ll still be in quite a lot of the international break. But they will get a few days off and they will get a chance to not hear my voice, which I’m sure they’ll be pleased about.

“Winning a game makes you feel better. It doesn’t gloss over the things we need to improve on. But certainly it is a nice way to go into the international break.”