Millwall boss had contemplated defensive switch ‘two or three weeks ago’

Gary Rowett has revealed he had been mulling over a move to a back four for the past few weeks before finally making the switch in Millwall’s 1-1 draw at Rotherham.

The Lions chief has predominantly gone with wing-backs and three central defenders.

But against Rotherham on Wednesday night he brought in Scott Hutchinson to partner Jake Cooper with Murray Wallace and Danny McNamara as wing-backs.

Rowett has hinted that reverting back to his old system is not out of the question, particularly at The Den. Only Norwich (14) and Sheffield United (13) have taken more points at home than Millwall (12) out of the clubs to have played six times on their home turf.

Asked when a change of shape crystalised in his thoughts, Rowett told the South London Press: “Two or three weeks ago, really. If you look at our fixtures, we have lost six games to the top six before Wednesday night. So it was a big decision to make.  I wanted to give the very best chance to make it on the back of being sure.

“Having lost to Blackburn, I just thought: ‘What have we got to lose?’ Particularly away from home – we were continually losing games away from home and at some point we had to try something different.

“I don’t want to keep changing formation. Sometimes that lack of continuity can cause you not to get get results.

“At home, sometimes, having a bit more of the ball [with five at the back] gives the crowd momentum and it gets your wing-backs higher up the pitch.

“But away from home, if you don’t pass it well enough, you don’t get up the pitch then you see your forwards get isolated and you don’t create enough.”

Back-to-back victories for Swansea have seen them jump from the lower reaches of the Championship into the top six.

Millwall have not produced successive league wins since the end of February and start of March – part of a five-game winning streak.

Asked about Swansea’s rapid ascent, Rowett said: “That’s why I don’t get carried away at this stage of the season. We’re four points from the bottom three and we’re four points from the top six.

“Last season we won five games on the spin and it suddenly propelled us up near the top six. It’s trying to keep in the pack and not get too far away from the action when you’re not particularly playing as well as you’d like. If you put a couple of results together then we know what this division is about. You’re never going to be far away from the top six if you put a two, three or four-game streak in and pick points up.

“That’s what we need to do. Our problem has been when we win a game that we nearly always lose the next one. It’s really difficult to build those points up quickly. You’ve got to win back-to-back games, at times, in the Championship to get into those top areas.”

Millwall have gone behind in 10 of their 13 matches this season, only going on to draw two and win one. But they have won all three fixtures they took the lead in.

“We’ve shown a little bit of resilience but we can’t keep needing to do that,” said Rowett. “Since I’ve joined the club I’d imagine our record after scoring the first goal is pretty good, like most teams. It’s been a big problem for us and we need to eradicate it.

“If you get that first goal then it is game on. Statistically the first goal in the Championship is pretty big. For us it is absolutely huge.”