Rooney’s counting cost of red card
DERBY battled to a hard-earned point after playing most of the second half with 10 men, but manager Wayne Rooney believes they still should have won.
Nathan Byrne’s red card in the 64th minute meant the Rams had to withstand a late Millwall onslaught.
But Rooney was frustrated after Festy Ebosele’s first-half goal was almost instantly cancelled out by Scott Malone, after a much improved performance.
“Over 90 minutes we probably did enough to win the game,” said Rooney.
“But to concede not long after you score and before half-time was a blow.
“I don’t think there is a lack of fight – it is more the aggression and energy when you get to the ball.
“We are a young team, so when we are coming to places like this and getting points, it is encouraging.
“But we just have to be more clinical.”
Millwall boss Gary Rowett said that his team looked nervous early on and didn’t settle until the second half.
“The whole place seems edgy,” added Rowett.
“We were the dominant side in the second half, even before the sending off.
“I can’t fault them for their effort.
“The game was there for us and you have to find those little bits of quality.”
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 7; Ballard 5 (McNamara (74th) 5), Cooper 5, M Wallace 6; Leonard 6, Mitchell 6, Saville 7 (Smith 80th), Ballard; Bennett (Bradshaw
(75th) 5), Malone 8; J Wallace 7, Afobe 6 (Ojo 87th)
DERBY: Roos 6; Byrne 4, Jagielka 7, Davies 7, Buchanan 6; Bird 7, Shinnie 6; Ebosele 7 (Kazim-Richards 87th), Lawrence
7 (Aghatise 90th), Knight 6; Baldock 7 (Sibley 87th)
STAR MAN: Scott Malone
REF: T Robinson