Millwall boss Gary Rowett: Bart Bialkowski did not owe anyone an apology

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski made a dressing room apology after tonight’s 2-2 draw against Wigan Athletic.

But Lions manager Gary Rowett instantly told the on-loan Ipswich stopper that he had nothing to say sorry about.

Wigan left-back Antonee Robinson’s shot squeezed past Bialkowski at his near post to give the visitors the lead for the second time on the evening.

But Matt Smith secured a point with a quality header.

Rowett said: “Bart’s apologised in there for the mistake for the second goal and I told him: ‘You haven’t got to apologise for anything – you’ve won us games single-handedly this season, so it’s going to happen’. It was that type of evening.

“He made a brilliant reaction save in the first half. In some of the games he’s had to do too much work. Particularly today it was too easy to get into those goalscoring positions – or at least positions to get chances.

“We had to work a lot harder to get into those positions than Wigan tonight. We didn’t defend as a team with as much control, shape or discipline as we have done recently.”

“I don’t think anyone stood out and that was the problem.

“We’re a team that need to be at our maximum to win games. I think the players recognise there weren’t enough good performances today.

“Everybody looked at 80 per cent of what they were at the weekend. I understand that, but what I would say is that even then we still have the character to come back twice. We still have the character to win the game at the end. That’s the desire of the group, so I can’t be too disappointed.”