Gary Rowett on course to match Dennis Wise’s achievement as Millwall boss with academy products key to future success

BY ALEX GRACE

It’s not very often since Millwall’s return to the second tier that we’ve been able to say with confidence – with eight games to go – that another season in the Championship is virtually assured.

The Lions have 52 points from 38 games. Championship safety was secured a long while back and the play-offs is a very tough ask with the gap at 10 points. While some may be disappointed at that, the majority of the fanbase will recognise that in a season without supporters a top-10 finish would be a very good success. Consistency in terms of finishing positions has been something Millwall have struggled with in their last two stints in the second tier.

Kenny Jackett’s side finished ninth in the Championship in 2010-11 following promotion from League One the previous year, similarly, Neil Harris’ side finished eight in 2017-18 after winning the League One play-offs in 2016-17. Both of these sides then battled against relegation in the following season.

Should Millwall achieve a second successive top-10 finish, which certainly looks attainable, then Gary Rowett will become the first manager since Dennis Wise to achieve that feat. It’s a great achievement considering the size of the club and the wagebill in comparison to some of those in the Championship such as Nottingham Forest, Derby and even Sheffield Wednesday, who are currently battling to avoid relegation to the third tier of the English football pyramid.

Last Wednesday’s defeat at QPR may well have been a blip for an otherwise solid defence. There have been four occasions this season that the defence has let down the side by conceding three goals. What must be applauded is the way they bounce back in the very next game, producing a clean sheet in all of them and claiming three wins. Indeed the ‘bouncebackability’ of the whole team should be praised. The Lions have only lost back-to-back games once this season – and that’s the only time since Gary Rowett arrived in SE16.

The Lions returned to their battling best in defence on Saturday, Murray Wallace put his head where it hurt, blocking a George Saville shot with his face. No second ball’s fell to any Boro man in the Lions’ 18-yard box. Jed Wallace and Mason Bennett once again linked up really well up front. It almost produced another goal similar to the one we saw at Barnsley. Scott Malone’s fizzed ball into Bennett was then played first time by the former Derby man into Wallace who may have felt he could have done better when one on one with Marcus Bettinelli.

Wallace was in fine form, just as he was at QPR. He looks like he’s once again getting confident after a quiet spell in recent weeks. It was his cross that forced the own goal off the unfortunate Grant Hall, who couldn’t do much else other than turn the ball into his own net.

While Wallace and Bennett can take lots of credit, I want to praise Billy Mitchell. The youngster was outstanding. He made the most tackles in the match – four. He broke up the play very well and he got back and helped out the defence when needed. He had 66 touches in the match – only Shaun Hutchinson had more. He also made 11 recoveries. It’s a real shame that the midfielder has missed so much of the campaign that, judging by the evidence of this match, he would have been a major part of. It’s clear from the limited amount of football he has had this season that he will develop into a very good player and potentially be one of the first names on the team sheet in 2021-22.

Danny McNamara has also been a complete revelation since his return from St Johnstone. Mahlon Romeo will have a challenge to his position next season which can only benefit the side going forward. Gary Rowett praised Millwall’s academy coaches for the work they have done with the younger players who have featured in the first team this season. Tyler Burey is another one who has been in the matchday squad and got minutes but he still looks a little bit off a regular place in the team – perhaps needing a loan move next season.

The Millwall academy has produced some fantastic players throughout the years – Tim Cahill going on to play in the Premier League – along with Paul Robinson, Tony Craig and Alan Dunne all going on to captain the Lions and become club legends. Having young players coming through is vital for a club the size of Millwall, who can’t match the transfer fees and wages of their competitors. Even if Millwall can achieve back-to-back top-10 finishes they will still remain a small fish in a big Championship pond.

STAR MAN
Billy Mitchell. The 20-year-old was making just his fourth start of the season – superb in midfield.

BEST MOMENT
The move that saw Malone pass into Bennett, who flicked through first time for Jed Wallace. Unfortunately the Millwall attacker couldn’t beat the keeper.