Millwall boss Gary Rowett: Injury list is impacting our effectiveness on the pitch

BY DANIEL MARSH

Gary Rowett admitted that Millwall’s injury issues are having a “detrimental impact” following their 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

The Lions were behind to an 18th minute deflected strike from Bradley Dack and chasing the game when Blackburn’s scrappy second goal arrived courtesy of Sam Gallagher in the 75th minute.

Rowett introduced Matt Smith from the bench early in the second half, before introducing Danny McNamara, Shane Ferguson, Tyler Burey and Shaun Williams later on.

The Lions have a number of first-team players in the treatment room – limiting selection options at a time when league games are coming thick and fast.

Rowett said: “It’s difficult to make the relevant changes. When you look clearly at the opportunity [we’ve lost] to be bringing on the likes of Maikel Kieftenbeld, Ryan Leonard, Kenneth Zohore, Murray Wallace, players who would more than likely be playing in our team, just to have those extra options, extra players coming in fresh – it makes it difficult.

“We’ve got a lot of young players on the bench. You’re asking players like Tyler Burey to come on and be the difference in a game where we’re 1-0 down.

“I don’t like using [injuries] as excuses, but clearly it’s going to have a detrimental impact if you’ve got less players to choose from when you’ve got so many games in quick succession.”