“A huge four weeks of football” – Millwall boss Rowett on facing Leeds, West Brom, Fulham, Sheff Wednesday and Preston

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall’s sole focus is the Championship after today’s 2-0 loss to Sheffield United – with manager Gary Rowett describing the next five fixtures as “huge”.

The Lions head to second-placed Leeds United on Tuesday night and then are at home to league leaders West Brom.

The South London club saw their FA Cup hopes ended by Sheffield United.

“I don’t think you can ever lose a game and view it as a blessing,” said Rowett, who made five changes for the visit of the Blades.

“We lost at home to Barnsley a few weeks ago with our full-strength side. No matter what side you put out there is a chance the opposition are going to beat you.

“We now know, reluctantly, what we’ve got to focus on. We’ve got a huge, huge four weeks of football. We’ve got Leeds away, we’ve got Sheffield Wednesday away, West Brom and Fulham at home, Preston away – the next five games are going to be a real, real test.

“But in the last 15 games the players have stood up to those tests.

“I’m really excited to see what we can do. I’m disappointed with today and that we couldn’t make the game a lot tighter at the end and have a real go for the last 10-15.

“We learned some lessons from it. We had a couple of players come in the team today to try and stake a claim to play more regularly – and there was a lesson how you have to run with that intensity for the whole game. Sheffield United did that and maybe that was the difference.”