Millwall haven’t quite had Championship mojo since return to league action after World Cup break

Gary Rowett wants Millwall to get their Championship mojo back and admits they have struggled to get fully back into their stride since their campaign resumed.

The Lions went into the break for the World Cup in sixth spot – Zian Flemming scoring a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Preston North End.

But a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend dropped the South London club out of the play-off places on goal difference. And yesterday they drew 1-1 against a Wigan side, under new management with Kolo Toure appointed at the end of last month, that climbed out of the bottom three.

Millwall are 18th in the form guide table for the last six matches – averaging a point a game.

“We knew this break might have taken a little bit of this momentum away, it looks like it has at the moment,” said Rowett. “We’ve got to get it back. Our home record is good, it’s a point – but we’re disappointed we’re one point off sixth and it’s the type of game that if you win it is what gets you in and around the mix.”

Millwall lacked loads of attacking options on the bench. Rowett switched his wide players in the second half – taking off Andreas Voglsammer and Mason Bennett for George Honeyman and Tyler Burey. Benik Afobe is sidelined with a knee injury.

“I certainly felt there was a point we needed a little more energy,” said the Lions chief. “Energy is one thing, quality is another thing. It was a difficult one for Tyler because he has been ill – I’m waiting for him to give us that real bit of zip. A couple of times he has gone past the lad, like Benno in the first half.

“Hutchy [Shaun Hutchinson] has been out for a while and looked like he was flagging a bit towards the end.

“There were some good moments. We got into some good positions. First half we got into some excellent positions. Second half there were a couple of times Billy [Mitchell] has picked it up on the edge of the box and he’ll be disappointed that it’s a clean shot on the 18-yard box and that he doesn’t score that – he hits the keeper.

“It was one of those games, a bit like the second half against Sunderland, we couldn’t quite move quickly enough and aggressively enough for long enough to keep in their half and keep the pressure on.”