Millwall boss can see positives in performance against Watford – but also highlights one criticism
BY KAI BENNETT
Gary Rowett felt his Millwall side were the better team after the opening 20 minutes in their 1-0 defeat at Watford today.
The Hornets sealed their promotion back to the Premier League. Millwall have taken one point from a possible 12 and failed to score in three of those matches.
Rowett told Millwall’s official website: “In the first five minutes we were bright. We conceded a really silly goal. Billy [Mitchell] gets played around and makes a challenge and he probably has to make the challenge.
“There’s a debate whether the foul was inside or outside the box, but I can see why it was given. After their goal, we looked like we felt sorry for ourselves for the next 15 minutes.
“However after that we showed belief and we were excellent. I have no complaints about the team. Mahlon [Romeo] played right-sided centre back we’ve got Hayden [Muller] coming on, Tyler [Burey] coming on. Billy and Danny [Mcnamara] are out there, we have a lot of young players out there and they are all trying to learn in a big game.
“We were very good. We had some good opportunities. Billy hits a good shot and the keeper makes a good save, Tom Bradshaw hits the bar. We had three or four other good chances and felt we were the better side after the first 20 minutes and for that I have to give the players massive credit.
“We tried to win the game. We’re not taking our foot off the gas, when some of the players could easily do that.
“It’s not easy when you technically have nothing to play for. However we went out there and we were very good.
“Watford are an excellent side, hence the reason they went up automatically. You’re trying to compete against sides that have parachute money and Premier League players.
“We went toe to toe with them. We were really, really good. Again a couple of things, could we find that extra bit of quality? Bradders gets into a brilliant position inside the box and that’s where someone needs to give him some movement.
“My only criticism was the last five minutes, someone needs to go and get their head on something and there was a couple of times we crossed the ball and their centre-backs cleared it with no pressure on them.”