Millwall midfielder admits boss made right call to take him out team – and why there shouldn’t be a stigma to being taken off under new sub rule

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Billy Mitchell has become a midfield mainstay for Millwall. But the all-action academy product admits Gary Rowett’s decision to drop him earlier this season was the right call.

The 21-year-old had made 37 successive Championship starts for the Lions before he was subbed off in the 70th minute of the 2-0 loss to Norwich in August.

Mitchell did not get on in the next match, a 1-0 Den reverse to Reading, before a brief cameo at Burnley. Since then he has been back in the starting 11 for the last five fixtures and was typically industrious in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

“I was really disappointed to come out of the side, but it was the right decision,” Mitchell told the South London Press.

“I would probably admit that, as much as I was doing okay, I was probably hovering at around 70-75 per cent of what I was capable of at the beginning of the season.

“I was getting through games but not affecting them in the way I wanted to, or in the way I was at the end of last season.

“We went on to lose both games against Reading and Burnley but, still, it kind of shook me up that you can never get too comfortable. You have your shirt – go and keep it.

“There is no worse feeling than going, having to put your kit on and then having to do the running post-match. I knew I really had to make use of the time in training before the next game and, if I do go back in, then really try to prove a point. That hopefully now is going to stick with me until the end of the season, because I’d much rather not come out again.

“It did make me realise you have a role to do in the team, even when you’re not in it. I learned that from Alex Pearce – it’s just as important to get behind the lads and make sure everyone is on it. It’s quite easy to sulk.”

The rule change allowing five substitutes this season also adds an extra tactical layer, especially with Millwall’s injuries having all but cleared up.

“Sometimes physically you don’t realise it – you get in the mode of game after game that you don’t realise when you’re burnt out a little bit,” said Mitchell, who has played 84 first-team matches for his boyhood club.

“You get a little bit stale. Sometimes coming out is needed and that’s what a squad is there for.

“There’s a bit of a stigma that if you come off it means you’ve had a bad game. But I’ve never heard the manager really phrase it like that. He’s always said that you go out, you work your absolute nuts off and if you are finished by 60 minutes then we’ve got people who can come on and change the game.

“That’s a completely different perspective. You go: ‘Okay, I will run myself into the ground and if I’ve got absolutely nothing left to give I can come off, knowing I’ve had a good day’s work.’ Rather than protecting yourself and trying to last 90 minutes because you’re afraid of getting taken off.”

Mitchell earned praise from Rowett for taking matches by the “scruff of the neck” but the experienced manager reckons the next challenge is producing more forward passing.

Mitchell has done some extra work at the club’s Calmont Road training ground with first-team coach Paul Robinson.

“I’ve certainly put in a couple of extra hours – working with poles, mannequins and short-sided goals – to try and improve playing forward,” said Mitchell, who joined the Lions at U15 level.

“The gaffer said to me that where I can influence games might not necessarily be goals and assists directly, but working from slightly deeper positions and setting up attacks. Using my engine to win the ball back and then break forward, giving the forwards a little better service.

“I’ve worked really hard with Robbo on getting on the half-turn and trying to play forward quickly.

“We kind of accepted that when we take more risks, or play more daring passes, it’s just natural that your possession stats will decrease but ultimately that’s fine.

“I know our beginning to the season hasn’t shown this but, in general, we’re pretty solid defensively.

“Where we struggle is creating as many chances and scoring as many goals as we need to. Realistically if we’re trying to force a little bit more further up the pitch it isn’t going to negatively affect us. On the off-chance that something does come off we’ve got everything to gain.”

Millwall have taken seven points from a possible 12 to boost spirits.

If they can record a first away win of the season at Bristol City tomorrow, the South Londoners could move within striking distance of the top six.

Mitchell has revealed there was a frank discussion between players and staff after the 2-1 defeat to Blackburn at the start of this month.

“We kind of said: ‘Enough is enough, now. We’re better than this. We need to demand more from each other as a group. Forget about the attacking part first, but defensively we need to stop conceding two goals. We always seem to find a consolation goal but once you’re 2-0 down that’s a tough position to come back and draw, let alone win. Let’s just start by getting everyone solid, refusing to concede goals and really going back to basics’. The last couple of games we’ve done that better.

“Adding Flemmo’s [Zian Flemming] bit of quality, three goals in the last two games, that’s what wins it for you.”

Rowett has switched away from a five-man defence to a back four since that reverse at Ewood Park. The Lions chief has claimed that his old formation could have been just as effective if it was executed correctly.

“I agree with him,” said Mitchell, who made his debut at Wigan in May 2019. “I had this conversation with George Honeyman the other day – with enough grit and hard work you can make any formation work.

“But sometimes it can just be as little as a psychological thing. You think changing formation will help and it does, a bit like a placebo effect.

“Sometimes we mixed it up and had three midfielders and two strikers in a five, sometimes we had two midfielders and three strikers. I do like 4-3-3. It gives you more forward options. You’ve got one number 10 always in that pocket and looking to make the box. You’ve got three attacking players and then you’ve got the full-back joining in whatever side the ball is down.

“The only thing I’ve had to adjust to is tracking runners a little bit more. In a five it is easier to sit in your shape and pass runners on to the back five. Whereas now most teams will have at least two strikers occupying the centre-backs, which means if there are any midfield runners you really have to do the job.

“It’s worked in the last two games – so far, so good.

“It’s important not to get too down or too excited. It’s a really long season. We were looking at West Brom on Monday and thinking that as poor a start as they’ve had, in terms of only winning one game, if they put together a run then I’m pretty sure Forest were in a similar position and ended up making the play-offs.

“You’ve got to keep level-headed. If we can put ourselves in a good position by Christmas then that will help, because Millwall have always put together good runs at the back end of the season.”