Gary Rowett reveals his biggest disappointment from Millwall’s loss to West Bromwich Albion

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Gary Rowett was left disappointed by the defensive display of his Millwall side as they failed to push Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion.

The Lions lost 2-0 in dreadful conditions at The Den.

Filip Krovinovic and Dara O’Shea scored in each half as Millwall lacked a cutting edge.

Asked about the Lions’ struggle for goals – only Swansea have scored fewer in the top half of the table – Rowett responded: “As we know, those players cost money.

“We’re in a position where we’ve got options up there but we’ve got to work incredibly hard to score goals.

“We haven’t got lots and lots of individuals who can come up with moments of brilliance to win us games.

“We have to work incredibly hard and perform to a top level. And if one or two of our attacking players are not quite playing to their best it makes it very difficult.

“But what I would say is that I’d expect us to be far more defensively resilient than we were today. I felt the balance of our performance wasn’t quite right. I can live with us not creating enough chances if we’re quite solid at the back as a team and difficult to beat. I didn’t think we were either today.

“I’ll have to watch the game back to see whether that was our level or the opposition had another level of gears to go through and the face they are a very good side.

“They are top of the league and that’s because they have done it consistently well. Slaven has built a side with really good balance. But I’d expect a little bit more from our team today.

“I had a little bit of a go at the ref at half time because Matt Smith gets fouls against him when he holds someone’s shirt and it’s always both players have got the shirts and we don’t seem to get any in the box when people grab Matt. It’s happened time and time again.

“I might have been disappointed with one or two things first half but ultimately that would have masked over a poor performance from us and a very good one from West Brom.

“They deserved to win the game by probably more goals. The fact it was only 2-0 potentially flattered us a bit.”

PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD