GARY Rowett discussed a crazy game at Deepdale and highlighted Millwall’s character to come away with a crucial 4-2 win.
The Lions took an early 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 later in the first half. However, Zian Flemming’s hat-trick goal and Charlie Cresswell’s late header were enough to send them into the World Cup break with another away win.
“If I could’ve chosen how we did it, there would’ve been certain points in the game where I wouldn’t have chosen how we did it,” Rowett said after the game.
“I think it reflected on what’s a crazy Championship league, isn’t it? Preston are a team that don’t concede many goals, we’re a team that don’t score many goals away from home and don’t win many games. We end up scoring four and winning the game.
“I thought the game swung from end to end today in terms of control and pressure. They started quite well, we then grew into the game and scored two very good goals, different goals with Zian, brilliant first goal, great bit of skill.
“I think the top end of the Championship is dictated by moments of brilliance. We haven’t had the players to be able to do that but players like Zian certainly have come in and that can be the difference in these games. A great little turn, he’s just held the player off, great turn, great awareness, a little bit of skill and then places it in the bottom corner. The second one is a great free-kick.
“We’re 2-0 up, look like we’re pretty much in control, then I thought there was a contentious goal in my opinion. It was interesting where I felt as though the player had just held George Long’s arm to stop him jumping, they then showed it on the big monitor and it was clear that he held his arm to stop him jumping.
“As disappointed as I am, they’re 2-1 back in the game. They got the second, it’s a good ball into the box, we started to step off, we started to get a bit nervous and they started to take control of the game. Getting in at half-time, I was really disappointed and I had a bit of a go at the players.
“I felt as though Ched Evans typified the first half, I thought he was outstanding, I thought at times he was unplayable. It was just down to sheer desire and sheer hunger to go and run and chase and fight. I said to our players that’s going to win somebody the game in the second half. We need to be the team to show that as well and see what happens.”
Photo: Millwall FC