Millwall goalscorer was ‘touch and go’ before match – as Gary Rowett explains half-time change

Gary Rowett has revealed that he took Duncan Watmore off at half-time in Millwall’s 2-2 draw against Hull City due to a niggle.

The attacker opened the scoring at The Den, finishing from a tight angle after Joe Bryan’s free-kick was miscued into his path by a Tigers defender.

But Watmore then seemed to partially lose his footing on a plastic advertising sheet that was behind the byline.

Although he stayed on for the remainder of the first half he was replaced by Tom Bradshaw.

“He was touch and go before the game,” said Lions boss Rowett. “He felt something in the warm up and had to be strapped up.

“I nearly didn’t start him but at that point it would have classed as a substitution, so I didn’t want to change it that late.

“And also he re-felt it or re-injured it in the celebration. I probably should’ve taken him off at that point. It’s always difficult when you are asking a player: ‘Are you okay?’ and they sort of want to stay on. It’s admirable – but also there is an element that you need to be able to run for the team.

“He got through the first half but I decided to take him off anyway, just because I didn’t think he was quite alright.”