‘We got away with one’ – Millwall boss Rowett on Mason Bennett foul in build up to equaliser at Boro

Gary Rowett has admitted that Millwall were lucky that Mason Bennett escaped punishment in the lead up to their leveller at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

New Boro manager Chris Wilder claimed that Paddy McNair was “forearm smashed right across the face” by the Lions attacker. But play continued and ended up with Sol Bamba scoring an own goal.

“There were a couple of moments in the game that could’ve been seen as controversial,” Lions boss Rowett told the South London Press. “Scottie’s challenge on Watmore just before the goal and Mason’s challenge.

“I saw them completely differently after watching them back. The Watmore one, there is not much there at all. He made a bit of a meal of it, I don’t blame him for that. The linesman flagged but the referee made his own decision. It was brave, but it was right decision.

“Mason got away with one there. I try to always be a little bit fair and reasonable. Mase has caught him. I don’t think there was any real malice but he caught him square on the cheek. At the time I thought it was just a little palm off that Mase made, but he caught him pretty solidly.

“Mase is a strong lad. Put it this way, I wouldn’t want Mase elbowing me in the face – that’s for sure.

“So we got a little bit of fortune with that decision.”