We still haven’t hit best form yet – Millwall boss Rowett: We might be joint fifth but we need to show we can be better – especially at Den

BY DANIEL MARSH

Millwall might be joint-fifth in the Championship, but Gary Rowett says that is not enough.

The Lions chief has thrown down the gauntlet by telling his squad they have not met expectations so far this term.

A positive result at Huddersfield on Saturday could put them inside the top six with a third of the season gone.

Only two of the current top three, West Bromwich Albion and Bournemouth, have won more points than Millwall so far in the Championship in this calendar year, 2021.

But Rowett is adamant there’s still more to come from his side – expecially at home.

And he “wouldn’t disagree” with the fans who have been critical.

“We haven’t performed,” said Rowett. “We haven’t performed as well as we’d have liked at home. We all recognise that this season.

“Against Stoke we didn’t play well and everyone was disappointed, but that was probably for 25 minutes. But we did better for the rest of the game.

“We finished eighth in 2020 and I read papers that said Millwall could push for the top six [the next pre-season]. We finished 11th, signed three of four players and, again, it’s Millwall should push for the top six.

“I don’t think we should push for anything. I think we’ve got to try and attain it.

“But I am aware – at home, we want to give our fans more goalmouth action and some better performances.

“Regardless of where we are in the league, a lot of our top, top performances have been away from home. We’ve had 1,500 or 1,000 fans who have been able to lap it up and have been amazing. But most are at home, and we want to replicate those performances.

“We want to continue the progress but I don’t think it’s unfair. Our fans have got every right to be a little disappointed.

“I’m quite happy that they’re disappointed and we’re joint-fifth. That’s not a bad place to be, but I wouldn’t disagree with some of them and I don’t think the players would either. We know we’ve got a little bit more to do at home in order to improve.

“It’s a nice problem to have, and I think the team over a long period has performed really, really consistently.”