Hat-trick hero Tom Bradshaw would have come out of Millwall side if he hadn’t scored at Bristol City

Gary Rowett was delighted with Tom Bradshaw after the striker netted his first career league hat-trick as Millwall blew Watford away at The Den on Wednesday night.

Bradshaw made it four goals in two games as the Lions moved to within one point of the Championship play-off places.

Asked about the former Barnsley striker’s form, Rowett said, “It’s the life of a striker, isn’t it? Unfortunately, a striker has a couple of games where you get chances and you don’t have that same feeling about it because you haven’t scored, and you are a little edgy when you get those moments.

“What I would say to Bradders is he kept doing the right things, and he’s got in the team because he plays with such energy up there – he’s a really good foil for the three behind him, he wins so many things. He backs into people, the ball drops, and the other three can come into play sometimes without having to pass our way into those areas. Having scored last week of course, he has that confidence.

“I probably would have started Benik if it he hadn’t scored [at Bristol City on Saturday] because I felt we need that energy in the team up front.

“But if you are a striker and you keep scoring, it makes it an easy decision. You score a hat-trick and it makes it quite an easy selection.

“To keep a player out like Benik you have to keep doing that.

“I’m not saying they can’t play together because they have a very good relationship, but Benik has been really unfortunate. But I’m sure he will sit there and recognise when a striker is in good form.”