‘Embarrassing’ – Millwall boss left bewildered by lack of penalties for fouls on Jake Cooper

Gary Rowett has called the lack of penalties for fouls on Jake Cooper “embarrassing” with Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer not punished for two penalty box incidents with the big Millwall defender.

The Lions drew 0-0 with their Championship play-off rivals at The Den this afternoon.

Sky Sports, who televised the match, showed replays after the match of former Charlton centre-back Lockyer holding Cooper.

“Coops gets held around the waist and dragged to the ground and they have let that play on,” said Rowett. “At some point, someone has got to be a bit braver because we have had that all season – it’s actually been quite embarrassing how many penalty shouts we have had – and we haven’t had one.

“I’m not asking for every single one of them. I’m talking about 30 very, very good incidents and we’ve had none. I’ve spoke to people about it and I keep getting the same answer, until something is done about it then I’ll probably keep answering the same way.

“I keep hearing the same things. Oh maybe Coops goes to the ground too easy – and I’m thinking ‘that’s not a reason not to give every single penalty’. I think there has been less penalties this year for holding incidents in the box this year. I imagine VAR makes a big difference in the Premier League – because if you watched either of those incidents back I think there is every chance that the decision is different.

“There have been a multitude of moments where people literally grab him and pull him to the ground and nothing is done. Frustrating for him and frustrating for us. We have to just assume that nobody is going to give us anything, regardless of how bad it is.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD