Millwall chief Gary Rowett gives verdict on 1-1 draw with QPR – and has praise for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

Gary Rowett felt his Millwall side could have ended their wait for a Championship win with just a little bit more quality in the final third in tonight’s 1-1 draw with QPR.

It has been a familiar post-match assessment in the 2020-21 campaign with the Lions sharing the spoils in nine of their 17 fixtures.

Even their goal this evening came with a fortunate intervention from Osman Kakay to take Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s shot past Seny Dieng.

Rowett used five substitutes in the closing 26 minutes with Bodvarsson, Matt Smith, Tom Bradshaw and Tyler Burey all attacking changes.

Asked if his Millwall side deserved to end a winless run which has stretched to nine matches, the Millwall boss said: “Yes and no. In terms of our effort, the positions we got into – having slightly more control of possession and more shots – I felt we deserved a little bit more than a draw out of the game.

“But at the same time you’ve got to make those moments count. We got into some brilliant, brilliant positions again and were lacking that little bit of finesse and quality to turn those moments into goals.

“We kept QPR fairly quiet, certainly first half. To concede the goal the way we did was really disappointing. Chair picks the ball up and it’s very easy for him to get space around the box. One shot and one goal.

“We don’t seem to quite find those moments where we’re not playing so well into a winning position or into a goal at the end of that move.

“After the last three or four days it would’ve been very easy for us to get our heads down and almost give in. We showed an incredible amount of fight. I think we made as many attacking changes as we possibly had on the bench.

“We deserved a goal back and I’m really pleased for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, because I think he got a little bit of stick for the header he missed earlier. It was a difficult chance. It was nice he bounced back and didn’t let it affect him.

“Then it was a case of could we get the right ball in the box or something that dropped for us. As we’re finding at the moment it’s not seeming to do that. We tried everything we can do in terms of trying to win the game.

“You always ask players to come on the pitch and make a difference. They have to have that intensity and do something. To put Jon almost wide left and have Bradders, Smudge and young Tyler on for the last few minutes – we did everything within the power of the squad to win the game, to chase the game.

“We knew we’d have to take Mason off after 60 just to protect him. He was bright and I didn’t really want to take him off at that point.

“I’m disappointed the run has continued but proud the players have worked incredibly hard.”