Millwall boss Gary Rowett was left complaining about key decisions he felt cost his side victory against Sunderland - insisting the Lions should have had an early penalty and also had a legitimate goal disallowed. Tony Mowbray's Black Cats earned a point in a 1-1 draw at The Den, with- sub Dennis Cirkin's header inside the final ten minutes cancelling out Jake Cooper's opener on the hour.
But Rowett was angry about two big decisions in the first half that went against his side. First, inside the opening five minutes when striker Tom Bradshaw went to ground inside the penalty area under pressure from Aji Alese.
And second, on the half-hour when Zian Flemming's shot was fumbled by Anthony Patterson and ex-Sunderland man George Honeyman followed up from close range, only for the 'goal' to be ruled offside because George Saville was adjudged to have blocked Patterson's view of the initial effort while standing in an offside position. "There were lots and lots of moments that were very contentious, in my opinion," said Rowett.
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"I've watched them back so I'm not just bleating about it as a manager who hasn't won the game. We should've had a penalty first half when Tom Bradshaw gets the other side of the full-back [Alese] and the full-back pulls him and then pushes him in the back.
"The referees need to be sure. He said: 'I didn’t feel there was quite enough contact to be a penalty'.
"So he wasn't sure. But the second one he is absolutely sure. You can't guess. If you watch it back then Saville is in and around that area but he is quite a way away from the keeper. When Zian strikes the ball it doesn't affect the goalkeeper at all, he dives straight away.
"He knows where it is going, he fumbles the chance and then he doesn't appeal it at all. Usually that is a good guideline.
"If I'm the keeper I'm getting up there and I'm saying he is in my way. They [Sunderland] think it is goal. They don't appeal. The officials chalked it off.
"After that the keeper has made two or three good saves and we've hit the bar. We're a little bit unfortunate not to win the game."
Cirkin's goal came from Sunderland's only effort on target of the match, and Rowett felt his side offered more goal threat - although the stats showed Millwall only had two efforts on target, including their goal. He said: "If you're a neutral bystander it was a competitive, end to end game where both teams more than played their part.
"If you view the game on possession and some really nice little touches and skill then Sunderland more than played their part in it. They had a ten minute spell first half and probably a ten minute spell second half where they make it difficult for you to get out to the ball, but I didn't think they threatened our goal that much.
"Longy [Milwall keeper George Long] has not had a save to make. They had one shot on target, the goal. We've had something like 15 shots."
Millwall suffered a serious injury on the stroke of half-time when Mason Bennett came out worst in a 50-50 challenge with Patrick Roberts and was stretchered off after lengthy treatment on the pitch during the interval, and Rowett says the initial feeling is that Bennett has broken a bone. Sunderland also picked up an injury with Cirkin suffering concussion after being accidentally punched by the goalkeeper as he headed the equaliser.
Cirkin was knocked out and needed treatment but was able to walk off the pitch, although he will now be subject to the concussion protocols to ensure he has fully recovered, meaning he will not be able to play in Wednesday's FA Cup fourth round replay against Fulham at the Stadium of Light. And Rowett said: "Hopefully Cirkin is alright too, because he got clobbered off Longy for the goal, which was brave
"Hopefully he's not too serious as well."
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