Manager Ian Holloway has conceded a poor start to the second half against Rotherham United cost us at the weekend.
Having entered the half time break with a one nil advantage courtesy of a Martyn Woolford opener after 20 minutes, Millwall conceded quickly after the restart and Rotherham went on to score a late goal to consign us to another defeat this season.
Speaking to the official site following the two one loss, Holloway explained.
‘We said at half time that we needed to keep it very tight for the first ten minutes or so of the second half. They were always going to try and come at us to get an equaliser and unfortunately the lad’s effort has taken a deflection past David Forde and into our net. That gave them the lift they needed and they looked a better side after that.’
Holloway goes on to say that even after they got their lift, he didn’t feel there was an awful lot between the sides in reality and he felt the game could still have gone either way, and of course Woolford could’ve got a brace on the day with his effort that was cleared off the line, but unfortunately they snuck the extra two points late on in the game.
‘There was no difference between us and them over the course of the whole game. Unfortunately though, they have taken all three points. I thought we started the match well and caused them a few problems with the way we approach the game tactically. Had we been able to grab a second goal before half time then it may well have been a different game, but that’s life unfortunately. It’s a disappointed dressing room but we have to stay positive. There are 12 games to go, which is more than enough time to pull ourselves out of danger.’
The late winner did spark trouble in the ground as people will know and that’s obviously well covered in the press, but the gaffer wouldn’t be drawn on that saying he was focusing on the game so didn’t see it.
He no doubt would’ve however heard the chanting in his direction from the fans, and he addressed that by saying he knows the manager takes the blame in times like that and it’s better than the players taking the flak, but he remained confident we would turn this round and that he’d win back those he’s now lost in the fanbase.
‘Results are what it’s all about and I’m not getting them. The fans then turn on me but I’m glad they’re turning on me and not my team. Everybody is under pressure and that’s where football is thesedays. I’m in the results business and if I’m not getting them, we will discuss that as a club. I’m still optimistic, I was last year when we stayed up, because there was no difference between us and them. That’s generally the case most weeks but unfortunately we’ve had some bizarre things happen in terms of injuries.’
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
Holloway – Poor Rotherham Second Half Cost Us
