Millwall boss on ‘edgy’ win over Preston North End – but has plenty of praise for his troops

Gary Rowett felt his Millwall side looked “edgy” in today’s 2-0 win over Preston North End.

Tom Bradshaw and Zian Flemming scored the goals – their 15th and 14th respectively of the campaign – as the Lions ended a four-match run without scoring in the Championship.

The victory leaves the Lions fifth in the standings.

Rowett said: “It felt a little bit after the last four games, not getting the results we deserved, it felt a little bit like a must-win, must-perform. The fact those two have been out of the goals for four or five games, it was really important they got back on the scoresheet today.

“There were a lot of positives. A goal each, a clean sheet and some big performances – Sav stepped up once again, excellent. Scottie Malone, coming on for Muzza, made a seamless transition despite not playing for a long time. He handled it really well. Coops and Hutchy I don’t need to mention because they keep doing it every week.

“It was probably the edgiest we looked on the ball and that was probably the magnitude of the game. Maybe it was the fact we haven’t had the results we deserved. We went to Hull and played really, really well on the ball and created lots of good chances and lost the game. Today we looked edgy on the ball, or gave it away too much, and up until the second goal we looked a bit nervy. I can understand that. It caused a lot of our problems.

“Preston are a good side who are in good form. At one stage it looked like they felt the pressure just as much as us. It was an edgy game.”

“In the first half our front four, particularly our wide players, ended up too high up the pitch. For me a game is about controlling space, with and without the ball. When you see lots of space when the opposition get it, I don’t feel comfortable – you feel there is something wrong with our defensive shape.

“Even though I don’t think they had loads of big chances they had enough opportunities in and around the box where we’ve had to get a toe on it or read that last one-v-one or block something. We’ve spoke about it after the last four games that we haven’t given away a lot of big chances. Today we gave away too much of the ball and too much territory.

“We found a way to win the game. Good goal – Zian with a lovely ball in for Bradders, great header, for the first one. The second one came at a really, really good time for us – again we are under the cosh a tiny bit. A free-kick and Coops heads it down, Zian reads it – sees a little bit of space – and his finish is actually better than it looks, it’s quite acrobatic. He has to get his leg up high and control the finish. It’s not an easy finish.

“Bradders scores, Zian scores, a clean sheet and we actually looked reasonable comfortable after that.”