Gary Rowett asked about Bart Bialkowski’s performance in Millwall’s 4-0 EFL Cup defeat

BY ALEX GRACE

Gary Rowett did not want to criticise keeper Bartosz Bialkowski after Millwall were knocked out of the EFL Cup following a 4-0 defeat to League One side Reading. 

The 36-year-old was back between the posts for the Lions in a competitive fixture for the first time since the FA Cup clash with Sheffield United in January. 

It was a tough night for the two-time Player of the Year. Bialkowski was at fault for the third goal of the evening – a free-kick from Charlie Savage which slipped through his glove on its way into the net.

He will also have been disappointed with the Royals’ second goal. After saving the initial shot onto the post, he was unable to gather the rebound before it broke loose and rolled over the line for Reading to add their second of the night. 

Asked if it was a lack of match sharpness that led to the errors, Rowett said: “I don’t know. I’ll watch the game back and the goals and look at where every player could do better and what we could do better as a team. 

“I don’t think it’s fair to pinpoint people. I think anybody in the team had an opportunity to show what they could do, so I’ll sit back and assess that tomorrow.”