Millwall boss reveals conversation with his players after making the switch to 4-2-3-1 formation
Millwall manager Gary Rowett has revealed the message he gave his players after switching formation.
The Lions boss has shifted to a back four for their last two matches, a 1-1 draw at Rotherham on Wednesday and then today’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.
Charlie Cresswell and Scott Malone both did not make the matchday 18 with Rowett preferring to have Callum Styles and George Evans as cover for Murray Wallace and his centre-backs.
There were excellent performances from Danny McNamara, recently restored at right-back, as well as Billy Mitchell and George Saville.
Rowett said: “I spoke to the players and said: ‘Look, I’m going to pick the best team for a 4-2-3-1. It’s got nothing to do with other players, it’s got nothing to do with who I leave out. It’s about the players who are in the team’. They’ve got to work hard to keep the shirt. I felt they did that at Rotherham, which allowed them to go again today.
“We need that little bit of fire and competition that perhaps we’ve been lacking in other games. Shacks was really unlucky because he has been one of our brighter players previously. He was unfortunate to come out of the team but he’ll come back into it at some point. But Dan’s done well. He’s come back in with that little bit of edge about him – the way he has defended and the way he has got forward down his side.
“Him and Muzza….Muzza was outstanding today, a couple of big tackles down his side. We defended as a team really, really well.”
Rowett was booked for the second match in succession.
“Me and one of their members of staff had a little argument,” explained the Lions boss. “It was nothing too much. I think the ref said they should give it back to our keeper and they clearly played it to our defender who, as he passes it to the keeper, they go and press him.
“It wasn’t really sportsmanlike. I had a small disagreement. Surprisingly I was the only one who got booked despite both of us were doing it. Go figure.”