“It wasn’t anywhere near good enough” – Millwall manager Gary Rowett gives verdict after 3-0 loss at Boro

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett called Millwall’s defending “crazy” as they conceded three goals in seven minutes at Middlesbrough.

The Lions have not won in 10 Championship matches – with three defeats in their last four outings.

“Incredibly disappointing,” Rowett told the club’s official website. “We talked about coming here, we had to match Middlesbrough’s fight, their desire and drive.

“The way they play, they do the basics really, really, well and we didn’t do that.

“First half was probably the most disappointed I’ve been since I’ve been here in terms of our effort, drive and desire. The team has lost a bit of confidence, a little bit of belief from the run we’ve been on, which I can understand, but when you’re in that sort of a scenario you’ve got try and do the right things.

“You’ve got to run around, work hard, you’ve got to show a little bit of fight for the shirt and I was really disappointed with that today especially in the first half.”

All three of Middlesbrough’s goals came inside the first 20 minutes, Marcus Tavernier scoring either side of Duncan Watmore’s brace.

“Seven minutes of absolute crazy defending and we end up from a game we haven’t started well in to a game where we are now 3-0 down – I don’t think any Championship team can afford to give goals away like that,” said Rowett.

“And it left us no alternative other than to change it to see if we could change the course of the game. I spoke to the players at half-time and said to them it’s not acceptable. We have to show more fight than that, we have to show more effort and energy.

“Second half, was it better? it was a little bit better. Did the players that came on change the game? Maybe a little bit, but it wasn’t anywhere near good enough today.”