Millwall boss Rowett on ‘strange psychology’ and delight at away day shutout

Millwall manager Gary Rowett admitted his side could have been more composed on the ball in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Reading – but added it can be tricky when defending a slim lead.

Four of the Lions’ five most recent away victories has seen them record a clean sheet.

“We are what we are,” said Rowett. “We are very defensively strong and very resilient. We are very tough to play against when we are 1-0 up and you get into those latter stages and need to break us down.

“There are still lots of things we can improve on. We need to be a little more flexible with the ball and show a little more composure with the ball.

“But at this stage of the season it is hard to be critical of the players for sometimes playing a little bit safer, particularly when you are 1-0 up. When you go 1-0 up early it feels like you are hanging on to something as a player and that you’ve got something to lose now. There is a strange psychology and it is hard to change it.

“We haven’t had that many clean sheets away from home, so I view today as a good all-round performance where we take three points and move on.”

Millwall moved into the top six after taking maximum points in Berkshire. And they remained there after Norwich City lost at home to Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve got two home games, which is why this was really important,” said Rowett, speaking before the Norwich match. “I always feel this is the start to a week, rather than the end of a week. The start of three games before the international break. I always knew if we could get a result here that would take us nicely into the two home games.

“Now it’s up to us to perform on Tuesday night and then Saturday. They are two different types of games but we’re at home and if we want to be a team that finishes in the top six then you’re going to have to go and take some points.”