Millwall midfielder took Boro game ‘by scruff of the neck’ – and pressure on Long to keep performing between the posts

Billy Mitchell earned praise from Millwall manager Gary Rowett after his performance in today’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

The Lions academy product had an impressive performance as the Teessiders left The Den pointless.

Saville’s midfield partner George Saville also helped them dominate the midfield battle. Facing his former club, only Murray Wallace (65) had more touches than Saville (60) in the Millwall team.

“Billy has taken games by the scruff of the neck,” said Rowett. “That’s what I like about him – he doesn’t hide and shirk the responsibility.

“Off the ball he has been excellent, breaking the game up, that competitive side of him – he’s really mobile. He’s getting on the ball more and starting to play forward more, it’s something we spoke to him about.

“The next level for Billy is to unleash that forward range of passing. He doesn’t need to go forward and score goals to stand out. He needs to give those forward players better service, at times, when he is playing in behind or into the front.

“It’s something he works very hard on and the staff work very hard with him. Him and Sav were really, really good as a pairing again today. They were good up at Rotherham and they were good again today.”

George Long kept his first clean sheet in the league for Millwall.

The keeper only had one late save to make from Boro substitute Matthew Hoppe.

Long commanded his box well in his fourth successive Championship start since displacing Bartosz Bialkowski.

“If you’re going to keep a player like Bart out of the team you have got to perform really well,” said Rowett. “That means clean sheets and good distribution. That’s one of the reasons he is in the team. He gives us something a little different.

“Bart is an incredible shotstopper who has shown that over the years. Longy gives you something a little different with his feet. We can transition a little quicker and set things up, at times, to go and win second balls to get us up the pitch.

“Every player has a differen skillset. What they’ve got to do is use those skills to the maximum to stay in the team.

“Bart’s been absolutely outstanding for us over a long period of time. That’s competition and what we need at the moment.”