Izzy is in a right tizzy
WEST BROM fans turned on Valerien Ismael after seeing their side fall to a third league loss in four games.
They screamed, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and “Your football’s sh*te” after Mason Bennett fired Millwall into a deserved 67th-minute lead.
The home fans added their voice to the calls for Ismael’s head when Benik Afobe added the second nine minutes later.
Other than the opening 10 minutes, when Andy Carroll’s fierce volley forced Bartosz Bialkowski into a top save with his feet there was little for the away end to get excited about.
The only penalty-area fireworks the visitors could muster were the three flares thrown on the pitch by disgruntled supporters.
But a defiant Ismael said: “I am confident I can turn this form around.
“I have no issue because I spoke to the players.
“We know what we have to do. It is a tough situation. It is not only for me, every manager in the world, if you don’t win games you are getting in trouble.”
Ismael revealed the aim was to push hard for an early goal to get some confidence back in the team after the midweek loss to Preston.
The Baggies had good chances inside 10 minutes, but there was little in terms of creativity.
Karlan Grant miscued from Alex Mowatt’s corner.
Carroll’s volley came from Jake Cooper’s headed clearance, then Grant blazed over after a loose pass from Scott Malone.
After that, it was as if the Baggies had rope-a-doped themselves.
Malone volleyed over, then Afobe was inches away from turning in Danny Mcnamara’s pass before Millwall dominated after the break.
Ofobe, Oliver Burke and Bennett all threatened before the latter opened the scoring.
He turned the ball in from an acute angle when the ball landed at his feet from Malone’s free-kick.
Albion’s fate was sealed when Afobe cut inside Matt Clarke and slotted his left foot shot inside the right post to end a run of three league defeats.
Boss Gary Rowett said: “The first half was a real battle and not a great spectacle, but we knew the game would be like that.
“In the second half, we were the dominant team and it was just a case of if we could take our chances – and, thankfully, we did.”
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 7, Hutchinson 7, Cooper 7, M Wallace 6, Mcnamara 7, Kieftenbeld 7, Mitchell 7, Malone 7, Bennett 8, Afobe 7 (Evans 89), Burke 7 (Burey 77). Subs not used: Long, Thompson, Pearce, Mahoney, Lovelace. WEST BROM: Button 6, Kipre 6, Bartley 6, Clarke 5, Furlong 6, Livermore 6, Mowatt 6, Townsend 6, Phillips 6 (Diangana 59, 6), Carroll 6, Grant 5 (Robinson 59, 6). Subs not used: Palmer, Ajayi, Molumby, Reach, Gardner-hickman. MAN OF THE MATCH: Mason Bennett. Non-stop running and harassing defenders rewarded with opening goal. REFEREE: Joshua Smith 6.