Gary Rowett on one advantage Millwall enjoy for next round of Championship fixtures

Gary Rowett reckons one bonus from this week’s fixture scheduling will be Cardiff City playing a day before Millwall next take to the pitch.

The Lions are five points behind the Welsh club, who occupy the final Championship play-off spot.

Rowett was able to sit down and watch the results come in over the weekend after Millwall played on Friday night, Jake Cooper’s 81st-minute goal clinching victory at Charlton.

The Lions manager said: “It was like most weekends where I watch as many games as I can that are on TV, particularly the Championship ones.

“Some you can watch and relax, others you’re perhaps a little more on the edge of your seat. The Cardiff-Bristol City game, at one point I thought surely Bristol are going to improve and maybe nick a goal – and Cardiff did.

“But you watch the games at least knowing we had done what we can do, particularly in the last one. And at this stage you have to hope someone else slips up a little bit. It’s not nice because I’ve been in those positions before where other teams are hoping you slip up.”

Cardiff are at home to 11th-placed Blackburn tomorrow night.

City, managed by former Millwall boss Neil Harris, have taken 10 points from a possible 12 since the campaign restarted.

Rowett said: “We did our bit and we’re in the same position going into the [Boro] game. The nice thing this week is the likes of Cardiff play Tuesday, so at least we’ll know where we are by the time we play – as to what we’ve got to do again.

“It’s going to be like that. You have to respect the teams that hold their nerve and win their game when they are under the pressure – the likes of Cardiff, Derby and Swansea, who got a last-minute goal for a point. That’s what is so exciting about the end of the season – there are so many twists and turns and you just hope one or two of them go your way. But it doesn’t always go like that.”