Millwall boss Rowett talks about his ‘bugbear’ after 1-1 draw at Birmingham City

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett labelled Millwall’s clash with Birmingham as a “game of two halves” as his side were forced to settle for a point at St Andrew’s in the Saturday lunchtime kick off.

Kevin Nisbet had put the Lions in front from a sweetly struck free-kick in the sixth minute. Fulham loanee Jay Stansfield levelled after the break. The hosts were the better team from that point onwards but were unable to find a winner.

“It was a game of two halves, that would sum up the match, ” said Rowett. “First half, we were very good for the away team. We had a lot of control. We pinned them in with our wingbacks. Going a goal up was a nice start for us – Nizzy getting another goal, from a free-kick this time. We had some good moments and balls into the box and some good territorial advantage without creating big open chances.”

The Lions preserved their lead just before break thanks to Matija Sarkic keeping out Scott Hogan’s penalty after he had fouled the striker.

“They get the penalty just before half time and we end up saving it,” said Rowett. “The bugbear from my own team is that at half-time, in a good position, we talk about getting on the front foot – not sitting in – and making sure we have the energy to still take the game to Birmingham. When you play with wing-backs you need to work hard to get them up the pitch, which we did in the first half. We just sat off a little bit, we conceded a really poor goal from a throw in, in the final third. It’s not an area you should end up conceding 10 seconds later. It’s a good strike but we shouldn’t allow them to get into that position.

“After that, we allowed them to pin us back a little bit and without creating a lot of chances, they were the better team for those final bits of action and that’s probably my only real disappointment.

“I’m not displeased with it [a point].

“After beating Stoke last week and drawing at Birmingham, you take those four points. I just feel we are at the point, at the moment, where if we can show a little bit more then I think there’s a great opportunity to go and take the three points, that’s not diminishing Birmingham in any way.”

It was a second goal in as many games for Nisbet after he opened his account for the club during last week’s win over Stoke City.

“It’s a good finish – he did that pre-season,” added Rowett. “We spoke about him as a goalscorer. Zian would normally take it from that position – not sure what Nizzy has done to get him off it. He must have pinned his arm behind his back for a second. It’s a lovely strike, great finish. I don’t know if Ruddy will feel he should have saved it, having got a hand to it. We deserved to go 1-0 up.

“We need to get more bodies up and around the front two. They competed really well in the first half, they gave us chances to come on to things by being strong and holding the ball up and linking play really well. He’s got a good relationship with Bradders at the moment and there’s real possibilities and potential with that, but what you have to do in that formation is get your wing-backs up high and joining in and as the game went on we began to lose that little bit of energy in those wide areas.”