Millwall boss had half-times concerns – but had key message for players

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett admitted he was concerned that his Millwall side could have seen a repeat of their second-half collapse at QPR as they led just 1-0 at the half-time break against Middlesbrough today.

“I was pleased to score but at 1-0 you always know that there is a possibility that it can be a similar game to QPR where we run out of steam and run out of options” said Rowett.

“We dug in. We had to ride out a storm for the first 15-20 minutes, I felt we came out of that period and started to get a bit stronger, we had to break up the pitch just to give ourselves a bit of a breather and the substitutes helped us do that. Any Neil Warnock team make you work hard, there’s no easy three points against them. “

The Lions boss told his players that they would have to hold their shape and be disciplined in the second half to protect their lead.

Warnock’s side dominated the first half of the second period with George Saville twice going close and they searched for the equaliser.

Rowett said: “We spoke about it and told the lads that as long as we do the right things and don’t go open and gung ho and lose our shape then it’s a difficult game for them to get back into.

“I toyed after 10 minutes with a change in formation, because I felt we just needed to take them back and attack more but it’s difficult when you’ve got players that are just hanging on in there, just giving everything they’ve got but if you start letting the game get too open then that suits their attacking players that they can bring on the likes of Mendez-Laing and Watmore those types.

“So for us it was about denying them space and defending, we didn’t want that 15-20 minute defending our box but sometimes in this league you have to do that.

“In the end we had a couple of chances where we could have nicked a goal and taken the game away from Middlesbrough.”