Rooney assesses Millwall defeat

Argyle’s 1-0 loss at Millwall on Wednesday means that the Pilgrims have scored just once in their six away games this season - and earned just one point on their travels.  

While the defeat at The Den was nowhere near the 5-0 drubbing of Cardiff City, the Pilgrims did not lay enough of a glove on the Lions to entertain the idea of taming them.  

In the first half, there was little in the game, and Argyle probably had more of the ball than their hosts, but Millwall scored via Romain Esse in the 13th minute, and this turned out to be the decisive goal.  

After the half-time break, the game seemed to meander along, with little incident of note, and Argyle never really did another to excite the 1,400 or so travelling Green Army.  

“I felt we had good possession of the ball, but we didn't do a lot with it,” said Wayne Rooney, in his assessment of the game. “We were a bit toothless in the final third tonight.  

“It was very disappointing because I felt if we had that energy, or that bit of creativity in the final third, we could have had something out of the game. 

“I put every attacking player we had on the pitch and tried to get more bodies forward, tried to get something. 

“We didn't cross the ball enough. We didn't have enough shots. We didn't test their keeper enough. That was disappointing for us. Our decision-making wasn't great. It's something we need to look at and address because when you have possession of the ball, you need to do stuff with it, and I don't think we've done a good job.” 

Things might have different had a decision gone Argyle’s way in the opening 30 seconds of the game. Mustapha Bundu went down under a challenge in the area, and referee Sam Allison pointed to the spot. However, the penalty was never taken, as he then spotted an assistant’s raised flag.  

The decision to give Bundu offside was a somewhat controversial one, as replays seemed to indicate that the final touch before the ball reached Bundu may well have come off a Millwall player.    

“In the first minute we should have had a penalty,” Rooney said. “Their player plays it back into Moose (Bundu), he gets in front of the player and the referee gives a penalty. According to the fourth official, the reasoning was he was offside, but their player played it back into him. He explained that to me and said that Callum Wright played it back, which he didn't. 

“We just don't seem to be getting them little decisions, which could be crucial in games. And that was a big one.” 

The game was the epitome of a game in which the first goal was crucial, as going in front when they did allowed Millwall to have not only the numeric upper hand, but the ability to drop deep and put the onus on Argyle to break them down.  

“Their goal was a mistake from Bali [Mumba] when we had full control of the game and then it becomes difficult,” said Rooney.  

“They got into a good shape and made it difficult for us to break them down. We struggled with that.  

“We knew if they go a goal up, even at 0-0, they're quite direct, they put the ball forward. They didn't create a lot, but they're effective in what they're doing. We knew that, so when they go a goal up, then they're going to try and defend and try to keep it away from their goal. 

“They've done it well, but I think we had opportunities to be more creative, be more clinical and we didn't take them.”