Agony for Rowett as he pins hopes on final-day miracle to clinch play-off slot
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GARY ROWETT joked that he is not sadistic enough to go to the Vitality Stadium tomorrow.
The Millwall boss still clings to the hope of a crazy final day turnaround that will put his eighthplaced side in the play-offs.
He will be at Bournemouth on Saturday, when his Lions need to overturn a three-point and five-goal deficit to sixth-placed Sheffield United, who host Fulham, while needing Middlesbrough to fail to win at Preston.
Rowett (above right) admitted it was tough watching the Blades and Boro take care of business last week. But he will still be watching on TV the Cherries showdown with Nottingham Forest tomorrow, hoping the home side clinch promotion and enjoy a long celebration.
He said: “I made a very, very poor decision to watch Middlesbrough v Cardiff and QPR v Sheffield United – and hated every bit of it.
“When you need someone to help you, which isn’t their problem, watching those games is frustrating because you’re hoping they’re a little bit more competitive. But I respect the fact they’ve taken care of their business.
“If Bournemouth beat Forest on Tuesday and get promoted, then maybe their mindset is slightly different in the last game. I won’t go and watch it live, I’m not that sadistic, fortunately.”
The Lions had to wait until 53rd minute to take the lead against relegated Peterborough, when Benik Afobe’s angled drive from Ryan Leonard’s long throw in beat David Cornell.
Jed Wallace, who came on as a sub in the second half, is out of contract this summer but marked what may have been his final home game with two quality crosses for the goals that put Millwall out of sight.
Josh Knight turned the first of those into his own net on 73 minutes, with George Saville heading in at the far post three minutes later.
Posh boss Grant Mccann started the season at Hull, and hosts the third promoted side, Blackpool, on the final day of the season. So why were Posh the only one to go back
down?
“It’s a good question but a tough one for me to answer because I can only judge what I’ve seen since I came to the club,” he said.
“Since I’ve been here, other than the final 35 minutes at Millwall, they have been really good.
“What’s the difference? I guess the mentality, I guess a bit more consistency, more belief. I’d probably point to those sort of reasons.”