Rowett fury as Lions show a lack of bite

GARY ROWETT accused his Millwall stars of wilting under pressure as their play-off bid went up in smoke.

Starting the day two points behind sixth-placed Cardiff, the Lions were left stunned by out-of-form QPR who won thanks to Conor Masterson, Ryan Manning, Ebere Eze and Todd Kane efforts.

Rowett said: “I wouldn’t describe it as a great game unfortunately.

“I’m disappointed. I could stand here and say we’ve come so far, done so well and I’m so proud but that’s not me.

“When the pressure was on, we were not able to step up and handle it. We looked very vulnerable.

“We can’t play the little old Millwall card anymore. We needed to capitalise on the opportunity, we did not show the relevant work ethic to get the result.”

Despite Rowett’s claims, this was a genuine thriller from start to finish – a game you simply did not want to finish.

The hosts took the lead two minutes before the break as Yoann Barbet’s header from Eze’s corner was kept but Masterson tucked home the rebound for his first Rangers goal.

Rowett gambled by throwing on an extra forward in Matt Smith and he needed just four minutes to equalise against his former club.

The game turned crazy after that. Ryan Manning’s low drive from distance should have been kept out by keeper Bartosz Bialkowski after 52 minutes – but was not.

Eze made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute then Shaun Hutchinson headed in at the near post from Wallace’s corner five minutes later.

Todd Kane’s diving header after 74 minutes restored QPR’s two-goal lead until Jayson Molumby’s deflected shot deep into injury-time pulled one back again.

QPR boss Mark Warburton later confirmed Bright Osayi-Samuel was omitted due to talks with Club Brugge over a proposed £4.7million move.

He said: “There is strong interest. Talks are at advanced stage but no paperwork has been completed.”