JON Dadi Bodvarsson was glad there was no VAR at The Den on Wednesday night – and is not a fan of it in football.
Bodvarsson scored Millwall’s equaliser against Fulham after Aleksandar Mitrovic had given the visitors the lead.
Iceland international Bodvarsson scored from an offside position, but after consulting, the officials decided the last touch had come off Fulham’s Josh Onomah.
In England, VAR is only used in the Premier League.
“I was trying to time it right and not be offside,” Bodvarsson said. “Then I saw the Fulham players were not happy, so it was a bit of a VAR moment, we weren’t sure if it was a goal or not. But thankfully they decided to give it. It was good to get on the mark as well after a little while.
“When I think about it back I felt the Fulham player had the final touch, but I haven’t seen it back.
“I don’t like [VAR]. Football is a game of moments and mistakes. That’s how it should be.”
Millwall haven’t won in four league games, but Bodvarsson felt there were plenty of positives against Fulham after their 2-0 defeat to West Brom the previous Sunday.
He said: “We were much more aggressive, won much more second balls, we were better as a team defensively. We’re happy with the performance but disappointed we didn’t get three points.
“The energy levels we put in, especially in the first half, were really high. We were collectively really good. We were a threat attacking.
“Unfortunately it maybe died out a bit in the second half but we still were disciplined enough to at least get a point.
“You might say we’ve been in a little bit of a rut lately not getting results, but then you have to think that we’re playing top sides.
“But we ask for higher standards for ourselves. It’s a bit disappointing we didn’t get three points [Wednesday] but at the same time you have to realise we haven’t been on a great deal of form lately. Performance-wise we can take a lot from the game.
“Confidence-wise the team was never down after those results, we knew we were playing against top teams. We didn’t let it affect us, we kept on training hard and focused on our own ambitions.
“I think Gary Rowett has maybe polished it a bit, made us believe in ourselves and our ability because we have some really good players football-wise.
“He’s given us much more confidence going forward to express ourselves a bit more. We mix it up a bit as well, not just long balls and chase.
“He set the tone from day one and he’s been brilliant for us.”
Bodvarsson’s goal was his fourth of the season, and he isn’t guaranteed a start in the side.
“I want to try to start as many games as I can. As a centre-forward you want more games for your confidence and to get on a run,” he continued.
“But I understand at the same time that Smudge [Matt Smith] and Bradders [Tom Bradshaw] have been really, really good this season.
“My goal for the rest of the season is score more goals, help the team get up the table and see where that takes us.”
Jed Wallace missed a penalty in the 22nd minute, after five previous success from five spot-kicks this season.
Bodvarsson added: “When I looked at his reaction he was a bit surprised, because he does extra in training to try to keep on top of it.
“Eventually it happens with players that they miss penalties, but he’s been excellent in penalties and I doubt it will affect him.”
Image: Millwall FC