Gary Rowett: Win over QPR up there as one of best displays since I took Millwall job
Millwall manager Gary Rowett felt tonight’s 2-0 win over QPR was arguably their best display since he took charge.
The Lions recorded back to back home wins in the league for only the second time this season.
Mason Bennett put the South Londoners ahead in the 48th minute, tucking the ball into the bottom right corner for his third goal in the last five matches.
And Tyler Burey, introduced in the first half due to Oliver Burke sustaining a hamstring injury, tucked away an excellent second. Shaun Hutchinson stepped out of defence and Jed Wallace’s flick sent the former AFC Wimbledon attacker through to whip a superb strike beyond David Marshall.
Rowett said: “That’s probably as good a performance overall as my team has put on since I’ve been here against a very, very good QPR side who we’ve found it very difficult to beat in recent years – because they are a talented team. We really stifled their attacking players tonight.
“In open play I can’t remember them creating too many chances. We had most of the big chances. I’m a little bit disappointed in some ways that we didn’t win by more than two goals. There were some big performances tonight. The only shame is we seem to count the cost after every victory with another injury – Oli Burke felt his hamstring, which is just incredibly disappointing.”
Jed Wallace provided the assist for Burey’s goal and it was also his cross which was turned into the path of Bennett by Scott Malone.
“Jed’s got star quality,” said Rowett. “Having him back in the team and back fit is a big thing for us.
“He hits an unbelievable ball to Scottie Malone, who makes a great run, and then Mason Bennett just reacts quicker than the defender.
“The second Hutchy wins it, drives out with the ball, shows a bit of composure to play it to Jed and it’s a lovely flick for Tyler to cap off what’s been a promising few months for him but you then need to show it in a bigger part of a game. He’s not had many opportunities. He’s felt he’s ready and come to see me about it.
“It’s a great finish but something he does all the time in training. I certainly don’t think that will be his last Millwall goal.
“We felt he needed games [at Hartlepool] to show what he can do. He scored three or four goals there of high quality. We brought him back, Hartlepool desperately wanted to keep him but I just felt he would have opportunities this season. Next season he will have a great chance to be a starter for us, but what he has got to do, like he did tonight, is impact the game.”
