Millwall boss explains reason matchwinner Tyler Burey didn’t start in 2-1 victory over West Brom

Gary Rowett has revealed he toyed with the idea of starting Tyler Burey in Millwall’s win over West Brom – but eventually decided the attacker would best impact the match coming off the bench.

The 21-year-old scored his first goal of the season as his 90th-minute finish past Alex Palmer proved to be the clincher.

It was the Lions’ fourth straight Championship win and moved them up to fifth in the table.

“We had to make some changes today,” said Millwall boss Rowett. “I thought Benno [Mason Bennett] would struggle to go again. Sav [George Saville] was ill last night, he was sick. He typified the squad when he rang me this morning and said: ‘I’m desperate to play, just let me get out there’. I just felt it was too big a call after Wednesday and I decided to keep him away.

“The players that came in did really, really well. I very nearly started Tyler. I felt if it was a similar type of game to Watford early on and a little bit scrappy, I just didn’t feel that was really Tyler’s type of game.

“What he is very, very good at is when the game starts to get a little bit more open and defending players start to get a little bit tired.

“To have Benik Afobe, Tyler Burey, Mason Bennett and George Honeyman to bring on – those type of attacking players to start testing them in the 80th minute, 85th minute. Sometimes that is what wins you the game, as much as the first period.”

Charlie Cresswell replaced Shaun Hutchinson at the start of the second half with the centre-back forced off with a hamstring injury.

It was the Leeds loanee’s first minutes since the defeat at Blackburn at the start of the month.

“Cressy showed a lot of character coming on after a tough period [out of the side],” said Rowett. “He has worked really hard and he’s got his rewards because he played really, really well. He gave us a little bit of composure on the ball.”