Millwall boss Rowett tell players to feel the pain (of defeat) but look to the future

By Paul Lagan at the Den

What can a manager say to his dispirited players after they were crushed 4-3 after being 3-1 up at half-time?

Add to that the spice that a win would have extended their season into the thriills and spills of a play-off scenario with Wembley on the horizon and the Premier League a realistic offering.

So what did Gary Rowett say to his charges?

“All I said to the players is that sometimes in these moments you have to feel a bit of this pain and think about how you can be better," he said.

"You have to use that as a little bit of fire and motivation to be better.

“We’ve got our Player of the Season award on the pitch afterwards and even the players getting it are reluctant because they are thinking about the game.

"We give the fans, who have been brilliant today and throughout the season, a clap but at this moment there is a feeling of disappointment that is very hard to take out of your head.

“In a couple of days time, when a few of the lads are sat on a beach somewhere, they may start to reflect a bit more and detach emotionally. At the moment everyone in the club is just so disappointed that we got so close but couldn’t manage to get it over the line.”

Millwall finished eight in the Championship after the humbling defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers