Millwall manager Gary Rowett reveals insight into tactics which paid off at Nottingham Forest

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Matt Smith was the hat-trick hero for Millwall at Nottingham Forest – with manager Gary Rowett providing insight into the South London club’s tactics.

The Lions were 3-0 up at the interval at the City Ground.

And Rowett admitted that the South Londoners – firmly back in the mix for the Championship play-offs – picked up on areas they could have joy.

“It was something we identified,” he said. “If you play against a counter-attacking side they want you to pass a lot of short passes so that Nottingham Forest can nick them and counter.

“So we felt we wanted to go a little more direct on the angles. You can’t really press any diagonal ball up to a big striker, you’ve got to wait for the knockdowns and then we’ve got bodies behind the ball.

“All of their attacks came when we were behind the ball. They have not won many games at all where they have had more possession.

“We were trying to get Mason [Bennett] to drift to the left-hand side and not play as a number 10 and Fergie defended a little deeper to open that space.”