Millwall boss left frustrated by one moment of officiating in loss to Coventry – but admits they didn’t deserve a draw

Gary Rowett admitted his Millwall side probably deserved to leave the CBS Arena without anything to show for their efforts, even though they had late chances to cancel out Viktor Gyokeres’ winner for Coventry City.

The Lions took 77 minutes to muster an effort on target. Charlie Cresswell, who has got on the scoresheet from corners this season, could only guide his header straight at keeper Ben Wilson.

Millwall boss Rowett was readying Romain Esse and Andreas Voglsammer to replace George Honeyman and George Saville before Gyokeres put the hosts ahead in the 67th minute with a top-quality strike.

Esse had two bites at shooting in the box after Zian Flemming’s threaded pass came off Jamie Shackleton’s heel and popped up invitingly for the teenager. Luke McNally also cleared Shackleton’s shot which looked to be heading narrowly past the left post.

Rowett was asked about whether Millwall had a penalty shout in the first half when Tom Bradshaw went down under Kyle McFadzean’s challenge. But he was more vexed by the lack of punishment when the same Coventry defender barged Honeyman over shortly before the hour mark as he looked to race on to Duncan Watmore’s pass.

“I think I’d be a bit too hopeful wanting that (the Bradshaw moment) as a penalty,” said the Lions chief. “I don’t think there was quite enough in it.

“If it is anywhere else on the pitch I think it is a foul.

“George Honeyman’s was just outside but it’s a typical answer I got back – that George ran into the back of McFadzean. You watch it back and McFadzean comes across and wipes him out – it’s an absolutely blatant foul. It’s about a foot outside the box.

“I get bored, you get a reason back that almost makes it acceptable not to give the free-kick. But it’s a simple one. George Honeyman is running through towards goal and someone defends and last-ditch defending – it’s a clear foul.

“I don’t think it would’ve changed the outcome of the game.

“We chased it well. The changes we made, we had the two subs ready just before the goal. The disappointment is we couldn’t get them on before. Rather than bringing the two wide players on at 0-0, we’re bringing them on at 1-0 down and it’s a different game.

“Shacks and Rom come on and we got into some brilliant areas but we just either lacked that final ball or that final bit of fortune. Cressy has a header which gets saved and we have another that drops, Rom hits it and it goes just narrowly wide. Burkey mishits one and it drops to Shacks, I just think he has to put his foot through it and he screws it a little wide so it hits a defender.

“We just couldn’t find that little moment today but we’ve had some opportunities late on but did I think we deserved a draw? Probably not. Did we do enough with the ball to get a draw? Probably not. But nevertheless some of the times you can nick one at the end and take a point.”