‘We had clear control’ – Millwall boss Gary Rowett on 2-1 win over Cardiff City

Millwall manager Gary Rowett felt his side were rewarded for an improved second half display as they beat Cardiff City 2-1 at The Den – with Murray Wallace putting them on their way to the three points.

The Scot headed the home side in front on 73 minutes as he met Scott Malone’s corner with an emphatic header. Mason Bennett finished from close range after being picked out at the back post by fellow substitute George Saville.

Cardiff cut the arrears in stoppage time, Joel Bagan scoring from a matter of yards out but it was not enough to prevent the Welsh side’s unbeaten three-game run in the Championship – all victories – from ending.

It was only Millwall’s second victory in 2022.

Rowett said: “Cardiff has a clear game plan and it was to drop in, block the game up and make it really difficult for us to find space – maybe try and pinch a set-piece or a counter attack.

“First half they made it difficult. It’s up to us to find a solution. We played side to side a little bit too much. Sometimes you need someone to step in and create those movements – have that creativity and play forward a little bit more.

“Everyone got a little bit nervy and frustration. But I said to the players at half time: ‘We’ve got to be patient and work a little bit harder to create those movements’. Our two strikers played too wide first half. They needed to play closer together to link more.

“Second half we were really good. We started really brightly and looked like we had a bit more zip and creativity to our play. Cardiff probably had a five minute spell where they started to get a little bit of joy, that maybe made them come out and feel like they could attack a bit more – it helped us as it opened the spaces up.

“We scored two good goals and apart from the last minute and a half we were fairly comfortable in the game – it was whether we could break them down. We’ve had 65 per cent possession, I don’t know how many times we’ve had that – but certainly not many.

“We had clear control. It was whether we could find that goal to open Cardiff up a little bit.”

Cardiff boss Steve Morison claimed they were denied a “stonewall” penalty kick when the match was tied.

Rowett responded: “I haven’t seen it back but at the time I couldn’t tell. There was one early on, a Cardiff player, where it has hit his arm by his side. Coops’ was potentially a little bit further away from his body – but I don’t know. I’m sure they might feel a little bit aggrieved.”