Millwall boss: Swansea take so many risks, but are good at it

Gary Rowett was frustrated with his team’s 1-0 loss to Swansea City but felt they had enough opportunities to take a share of the spoils after a three month unbeaten record at home.

Joel Piroe’s early second half strike was enough to settle matters but Rowett feels aggrieved with some of the chances missed and says that the last thirty minutes saw enough pressure to have rewarded them with a goal.

The result stunts Millwall’s late season push for the play-offs after earlier putting together a five game winning run to put themselves in contention.

They still have a slim chance but would need to maintain excellent form and see sides above them drop points in the run in.

Rowett told London News Online: “Frustrating, in different ways (on his thoughts on the game).

“First of all Swansea are a good side – they’re probably the best possession team in the division. You go and press and they try and play around it, they take so many risks and are good at it.

“First half we pressed well on occasions and forced quite a few corners – got to make a little bit more of those set-pieces. Dan Ballard has a very good chance early on in the game.

“They had a couple of moments in front of goal. Obafemi got in behind and should’ve done better.

“We’ve been much better in the second half at The Den on a lot of occasions this season. What you can’t do, like at Luton on Saturday, is you can’t concede poor goals at this stage of the season.

“We concede a very, very poor goal. Muzza goes to clear it and doesn’t quite get enough on it, Piroe gets on it and it’s a snapshot. He gets a little bit of fortune – it goes through Muzza’s legs and unsights Bart.

“To be 1-0 down so quickly after half-time was disappointing.

“We made changes and the last half an hour was all us trying to get the equaliser. We’ve had some very good moments, enough in and around the box to create chances and certainly get a point at the very least.

“Sav has an excellent chance, Benik has a brilliant chance which comes quickly but he’s about four yards out. Danny creates a save with the keeper.

“If you don’t get the press right you leave space around you. I said at half-time that they are the sort of team who almost want you to get a little bit disheartened and then the spaces open up. We navigated that quite well.

“It’s difficult for the crowd because they want you to go and press all the time and it’s never quite that simple.

“The last 30 minutes we did enough to get something out of the game. We had 10 corners, we have to make one of those set-pieces count.

“Coops might be going home with a couple of players wrapped around his neck. At one stage there are two players on him – one isn’t even looking at the ball.

“Every time you don’t take three points it feels more magnified because of the stage of the season.

“We’re not a perfect team but we’ve got plenty of desire, plenty of effort and plenty of energy. I don’t think the players give up. It’s been a tough season – we’ve had to win five in a row to get ourselves back in the mix and at that point you’ve got to keep doing it. It’s not easy to do. We haven’t lost for three months at The Den.”