‘It’s been a good few days’ – Millwall boss Rowett on taking four points off Sheffield United and Burnley
Millwall manager Gary Rowett described it as “a good few days” as his side backed up their 3-2 win over Sheffield United at the weekend with a 1-1 draw against Championship leaders Burnley.
Ashley Barnes had put the Clarets, well clear at the summit, into a 51st-minute lead.
But Tom Bradshaw, who scored a hat-trick against the Blades on Saturday, came off the bench to strike a leveller for the Lions, who finish the evening in fifth place.
Picture : Keith Gillard
“It’s been a good few days,” Rowett told BBC London. “It’s taken its toll physically on the group, for us to go as hard physically as we have against Sheffield United and then we did it again with less bodies – Oli Burke was ill and Bradders wasn’t fit to start the game, he had about four things wrong with him. We tried to save him for the last 15. He said he was ready for that but didn’t feel he was fit enough to start the game – I didn’t.
“It made sense not to start him and put him through that.
“First half we needed to get a little bit closer. Their two forwards, (Scott) Twine and Barnes, occupied four of our players rather than two or three. It meant we couldn’t get out and press. When we start pressing teams we get on the front foot, making tackles and the fans lift – it changes the atmosphere. That makes it a lot more difficult for the opposition to find their rhythm.
“It took us a little while to do that. Our set-piece delivery wasn’t quite as good today either. Those weapons we use so effectively, we didn’t do quite so well today.
Picture : Keith Gillard
“We conceded a poor goal. We gave the ball away and they end up scoring about 15-20 seconds later. But we keep going and keep chasing. This group have shown they have great character.
“We’ve ended up with Aidomo (Emakhu) making his debut. Young Romain (Esse) coming on again. We’ve had a lot of attacking players on towards the end but we’ve kept going and tried to win the game.
Picture : Keith Gillard
“We have to take that gamble at home. We want to chase games and win games – not be happy to draw, even if it is against the league leaders.
“It’s important to be brave and we showed a little bit more of that second half. There are going to be games we might not win, games where we chase it and end up conceding a goal – that might have happened [tonight] against a good side but we might also have ended up scoring a goal.
“It’s that risk and reward at this stage of the season where every game that slips by, you have got to do everything you can to take the points. Four points from Sheffield United and Burnley is a really good few days.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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