ROWETT: WE’RE MISSING FANS
BRENTFORD BOSS TAUNTS NERVY BAGGIES
Kick-off 7.45pm TONIGHT’S trip to Hillsborough cannot come quickly enough for Slaven Bilic, who is desperate for West Brom’s promotion push to get back on track.
The Baggies boss gave second-placed Albion a pep talk after Friday’s defeat at Brentford, who are also fighting for top-flight place.
Bilic said: “The players are hurting. We’re all hurting. It’s a cliché but we can’t wait for the game. Against Brentford it just wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t us.”
BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank cranked up the mind games after his side slashed the gap on the automatic places to two points.
Bryan Mbeumo, Josh DaSilva and substitute Joel Valencia grabbed the goals in this canter against a toothless Reading side.
And the Bees, with three straight wins after the restart, are piling pressure on faltering West Brom ahead of their trip to Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
It was 20-yearold French sensation Mbeumo, in his first start since testing positive for Covid-19, who put
REFEREE:
GARY ROWETT believes Millwall are missing their fans more than most.
The Lions’ play-off chances are all but over after Bartosz Bialkowski’s own goal denied them a first win since the restart.
Mason Bennett’s first goal for the club had put them on their way. DaSilva settled a non-contest just past the hour and Valencia sealed a comfortable win.
The anxiety levels in the West Brom squad must be soaring – just 10 days ago the gap was 10 points. Frank said: “You can always talk about putting pressure on them.
“If they fail to win their game, there will be more pressure. We are dreaming about promotion of course, but automatic is too far off to think about.
“I don’t know what West Brom are talking about and I don’t care, but they need to handle all that pressure.”
There was a minute’s silence
Millwall ahead, but they just could not hold on.
Boss Rowett said: “Lack of fans has had a huge impact. The Den is a unique place – we need our fans.
“Teams come here and they are finding it a massive relief with no fans – I’ve not enjoyed it.”
Millwall took the lead as for the three murder victims from a city-centre stabbing incident that left Reading stunned 10 days earlier – with the players wearing black armbands.
Reading boss Mark Bowen had no complaints about the result.
“In every department Brentford were stronger, quicker, and brighter,” he said.
“I picked the side and expected more from them. I understand the frustration of fans who are saying they are seeing a lack of fight. I didn’t see that in the first two games, but I saw it tonight.”
Rafael 5, Gunter 5, Moore 6, Morrison 6, Obita 5, Swift 5 (Adam 68, 6), Rinomhota 5, Meite 5, Ejaria 6, Olise 5 (McCleary 60, 6), Baldock 5 (Puscas 60, 6)
Raya 6, Dalsgaard 7 (Roerslev 81), Jansson 7, Pinnock 7, Henry 6, Norgaard 8, DaSilva 7 (Baptiste 65, 6), Marcondes 7 (Mokotjo 81), Benrahma 7, Watkins 6, Mbeumo 7 (Valencia 61, 7)
MATCH STATS
Derby loanee Bennett scored from Jed Wallace’s 22nd-minute cross.
Swans’ Rhian Brewster (right) was denied on the line, but in the 66th minute his superb free-kick hit the bar before bouncing in off Bialkowski.
Boss Steve Cooper said: “It was a tough game.”