TESTING TIMES FOR THE LIONS

Covid wreaks havoc with staff as boss Rowett calls the shots from home

Deepdale, 7pm

MILLWALL will have no senior staff member on the bench tonight – after two more coaches tested positive for Covid-19.

Manager Gary Rowett owett is already selffisolating after testing positive, and the Lions have decided that assistant Adam m

Barrett and others rs will avoid making the trip to Preston too.

Instead, Millwall will be led by Under-23 manager Kevin Nugent, along with players Shaun Williams and Alex Pearce (above), at Deepdale and against Huddersfield on Saturday.

It has been confirmed that technical guru Joe Carnall had a positive test over the weekend.

Rowett will continue to try to lead his troops from his spare room. And he admits working from home has its benefits.

Rowett had to watch the 1-1 draw against Barnsley on Saturday by video feed and will not be back until Monday.

He said: “In some ways I thought it was harder, but it was easier as there’s less emotional attachment.

“If you’re on the touchline, you get more emotionally inv olved and it stops you fr om thinking clearly.

“I wanted to be as concise as I could. I didn’t didn want to pester Ad too much. He’s sticking his neck out and needs to have the chance to do that.

“I spoke twice in the first half, four or five i n the second, and at half time.

“I’m absolutely fine. I felt ropey for 24 hours, but I have been fine since

Saturday. My health is the least important thing at the minute – it is about trying to remain competitive. I just want to help Ad the best I can.”

The Lions travel to Preston on the back of seven points from three games since the international break.

And Rowett added:

“It will be a difficult game. Any game away from home against the likes of Preston will be difficult. People will look at their home form and the fact they haven’t scored at home yet, but Preston are a good side.

“We’ve l ost one i n seven, it’s a very positive start to the season.

“I’m looking at different s y s t e ms . Th ere i s a l o t of thought process involved . Players need to accept we will mix it up, we are trying to be proactive rather than reactive.”

‘It was easier at home.. there’s less emotional attachment’