Millwall boss Rowett on ‘horribly beautiful’ football wrecking Watford

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett was delighted with Millwall’s all-round performance as they ran out 3-0 winners against Watford on Wednesday evening.

Tom Bradshaw’s 25-minute hat-trick sealed a third straight win for Millwall, who moved to within a point of the Championship play-off places and just four points off top spot.

“It’s the best result of the season, ” said Rowett. “It’s the best scoreline of the season. It’s the best we’ve started at home against a very good side that was in the Premier League last season with good individuals.

“We needed to start aggressively, but I probably didn’t expect us to start so aggressively! I just said to the players in there it was almost like horribly beautiful, but after about five, 10 minutes – because they weren’t dealing with it and they couldn’t deal with it – it was almost like the players thought ‘do you know what? Let’s just keep doing it’.

“We went 3-0 up by putting the ball in good areas, backing it up by being aggressive and winning flicks. Coops [Jake Cooper] has won so many first contacts from set pieces, its a massive strength of ours but there were also some really good finishes amongst that as well – if you look at Bradders’ fist goal it is an absolutely sensational finish, it’s almost a volley with the outside of his foot finds the side netting.

“The second one is great work by Benno [Mason Bennett], a great bit of play from Coops’ flick and the third one is a great little touch from Bradders on to his left foot, and then he sends the keeper the wrong way with his finish, so three good goals. We had some other very good opportunities.

“We limited them to a lot of long-range efforts and not too many clearcut chances. We allowed a few late on, which I was a bit disappointed with because I wanted a clean sheet but overall – in terms of effort levels, grit, determination, togetherness and energy levels – it was outstanding.”