Millwall boss talks in more detail after man-marking tactic employed on Zian Flemming

Gary Rowett has talked in more detail about the man-marking job that Huddersfield Town did on Zian Flemming in Millwall’s last fixture before the international break.

The club record signing has scored 13 goals in his maiden campaign in English football.

And Terriers boss Neil Warnock chose to man-mark the Lions’ number 10, Danny Ward’s late goal inflicting a 1-0 defeat on the South Londoners at The Den.

“I think it was their situation and their manager,” Rowett told the South London Press, when asked about the tactics employed. “They are a very unique team, in as much as they had to do that – they saw it as their best way of winning the match.

“When you have played the game, had so much of the ball and missed good chances – not taken advantage of those moments in the final third – you always leave yourself open.

“It’s hard, because we have done that to other teams. We did that to Stoke – we had one moment. If you look statistically afterwards we didn’t have much else. But we had a lead and something to hang on, we defended well.

“They did exactly the same.

“I still think Zian was influential. Because we lost and that was a tactic, I don’t think it stopped Zian getting on the ball. He still had a lot of shots and moments in the final third. He was still probably one of our influential players.

“A player like that, if there is a lack of space on the pitch, then it is hard for any attacking player. Bradders (Tom Bradshaw) didn’t have as much influence, but they didn’t really mark him out of the game. There was very little space. If teams do that to us at home, you have to find a way to break that down and break through.

“A lot of teams will be aware of Zian. You’d be stupid not to realise he is probably our most technical player. We’ve got to find a way of getting him into better positions and be a little freer with his positioning as well, maybe.”