Gary Rowett has best squad since taking Millwall job….now he expects results

Gary Rowett reckons he has probably got the strongest squad in his time as Millwall player – but added they now need to show that by producing results.

The Lions lost 3-0 at Fulham on Tuesday night and failed to take a number of excellent second-half chances that could have made things far nervier for the Championship table-toppers, who instead stretched their lead at the top to eight points.

Rowett handed a debut to Sheffield United loanee Luke Freeman, who replaced Oliver Burke in the final 13 minutes.

“We’ve got a good squad – it’s probably the strongest we’ve had – but we have to start winning games of football and winning them with a little more regularity,” said Rowett. “It’s no good having a good squad on paper, we’ve got to go and prove it week in and week out.

“I’m excited that with those options we’re maybe able to play in a slightly different way than what we have done before.

“We certainly haven’t had an awful lot of luck losing key players at key moments in the season. Tom Bradshaw gets on the best scoring run for a while and gets injured. Sheyi Ojo finds probably the best form he’s had…gets injured. You’re always just playing catch up with players who probably aren’t quite matchfit.

“Oli Burke showed tonight, just in some of those moments, how electric he can be. Jed can run and give you that little bit of spark. Mason had little moments. Luke Freeman coming on, to give him a taste. It shows we have good options.”

Freeman, 29, made his first league appearance since the Blades’ 2-2 draw with Preston on September 14.

Asked when he would be fully back up to speed, Rowett replied: “Difficult to know. If you’ve been out of matchdays and match minutes then it usually takes three, four or five games before you get up to a level. Burkey has been the same, it’s why I’ve probably got to 75 minutes and just taken him out of the firing line and get someone on a little fresher. I know he will be better in those last moments and keep him on.

“Mason has done better physically in terms of keeping going for longer in games. Options in this division are what win you games. But those options have to produce when they get those opportunities.”