Lions left outraged
GARY ROWETT believes Millwall scored a perfectly good goal – but doesn’t believe it cost his jaded side victory against Coventry.
Tom Bradshaw’s diving header seemed to have given the home side a 2-1 lead just before half-time, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
“It was a big moment and I feel they got it wrong,” said Lions boss Rowett.
“It would have been good to go in at 2-1 and the game might have gone slightly differently.
“Sometimes they go against you, we haven’t had many go for us.
“Our quality wasn’t quite there. Second half we couldn’t create enough energy to go and win the game.
“At the moment, we are hanging in a bit. We are getting results, we are not easy to play against, but we are not playing as well as I’d like us to.”
Coventry had the better chances, but some fine stops by Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and some wasteful finishing meant they never took full advantage. The visitors went in front in the ninth minute. Dominic Hyam played the ball in to Viktor Gyokeres in the area and, after Millwall failed to clear, the Swedish striker placed a shot into the bottom corner.
The shock seemed to wake up Millwall, though, and after a Hyam block snuffed out a Matt Smith effort, they levelled in the 21st minute when Jed Wallace crossed for George Saville (top, left) to score.
Bialkowski denied Gyokeres early in the second half while Coventry keeper Simon Moore had to turn a Bradshaw header round the post.
Coventry boss Mark Robins said: “The game could have gone either way. It has been a really good week.”
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 8; Ballard 6, M Wallace 6, Cooper 5; Leonard, Kieftenbeld 6 (Mahoney 81), Saville 7, Malone 7; J Wallace 6, Smith 6 (Mitchell 68, 6), Bradshaw 7 (Bennett 81).
Unused Subs: Long, Hutchinson, Thompson, Pearce.
COVENTRY CITY: Moore 7; Hyam 7, Mcfadzean 6, Clarke-salter 6 (Rose 62, 6); Kane 6, Hamer 6, Sheaf 5, Maatsen 7; O’hare 7 (Allen 82); Godden 6 (Walker 82), Gyokeres 7.
Unused Subs: Wilson, Jones, Waghorn, Dacosta.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Bartosz Bialkowski. Made a string of fine saves when Coventry threatened to overwhelm Millwall.
REFEREE: Keith Stroud 5