Millwall player labelled unlucky to lose starting spot – as boss Rowett reveals full-time message to players

Millwall manager Gary Rowett felt Murray Wallace was unlucky to lose his starting spot in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Stoke City.

The Lions boss went to a back five for the Championship match at The Den.

Jake Cooper played as the left-sided centre-back with Joe Bryan at wing-back on that flank.

Ryan Leonard also came into the back three and produced a strong display. Leonard, Cooper and Hutchinson led by example as the South Londoners won for the first time since the opening day of the season.

“I said to the players after the game: ‘I would say congratulations for the character we showed – but I think, as a group, we expect that every week’, explained Rowett. “We expect those type of performances every week from our senior players.

“Coops was excellent. The back three and Sav (George Saville) were excellent in a game which really suited him – he’s brilliant at competing and those balls that drop, those scruffy ones he ends up coming out with.

“Lenny helped us a little bit. It was a difficult one on Muzza, because I don’t think he really deserved to be out of the team. He’s been such a fantastic player for so long but Lenny gave us that little bit of natural ability to step forward and make something happen one of the sides. He made a big difference.

“There were a lot of big performances but do I think we can do better? Yeah. Do I think we can improve? Yes. Just like I didn’t get carried away last week, I’m not going to get carried away this week. We’ve got another big game coming up before the international break.”