Millwall boss on having to scrap tactical plan after Roberts red card – with Palace transition strength a concern
Alex Neil has talked about having to adapt his Millwall tactics after Liam Roberts’ dismissal in today’s FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace.
The goalkeeper was shown a straight red card after getting his attempt to play the ball outside of his penalty area horribly way and injuring Jean-Philippe Mateta on the eighth minute.
Roberts is the first Millwall goalkeeper to be sent off in the FA Cup since Joe Orme against Clapton Orient in January 1915.
Mateta needed lengthy treatment – 13 minutes of stoppage time was added – before being stretchered off and taken to hospital.
Initially Millwall shifted to a 4-4-1 formation after Roberts’ dismissal and then went to wing-backs in the second period.
It also meant that the visitors had to go more direct to Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn, who was replaced by Mihailo Ivanovic in the 66th minute.
“We weren’t intending to use Josh the way we did,” said Lions head coach Neil. “We weren’t intending to be as direct as we were. But it was just the nature of the game at that point.
“I’ve watched a lot of Crystal Palace, I think it was five games I watched before we played them, and their stats suggest they are in the top four in the Premier League for transitions. So if you try and play against them and open the pitch up, they are one of the best teams in the Premier League for nicking the ball and then damaging you.
“With 11 men we had moments when we were going to try and play and try to work ourselves up the pitch – that got taken away after five minutes.
“If I had tried to do that with 10 men, in my opinion, I would have basically just handed the game to Crystal Palace and said: ‘Here, go and score four or five goals because we’re too open’. That changed the way we had to go about it – we were much more direct and it wasn’t a feast for the eyes in any way, shape or form. I’m fully aware of that but my job is to give my team the best chance of staying in the game.”