Romain Esse handed more first-team action – as Millwall boss reacts to teenager’s latest appearance

Millwall manager Gary Rowett was pleased to get more first-team minutes into Romain Esse in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Sheffield United.

The 17-year-old winger replaced Mason Bennett in the 61st minute at The Den.

“Sometimes these games, you have to find a balance,” said Rowett, when asked about the youngster’s outing. “You would argue we didn’t find a balance today, because we lost 2-0. Part of Romain’s development is getting a little bit longer on the pitch.

“It’s exactly why he needed half an hour because in the first 10 minutes he was a little bit tentative, then he started to grow into those moments and got a little bit more confidence.

“He took the ball inside a couple of times really, really nicely – maybe just a better final pass.

“That was kind of symptomatic of the game. A couple of times second half – Zian’s just got to put Vogey in and he’s one v one with the keeper and we make a poor pass. Romain had the same with Zian, where he could’ve put him in.

“Just those moments sometimes don’t go your way.

“If we want to be a good side we just have to improve those little bits, because we didn’t do enough today.”