Rival boss reveals why he is so impressed by Sheffield United
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Speaking after goals from Mo Besic and Oliver Norwood had booked United’s place in the fifth round draw, Rowett confirmed he had tried to make the tie a test of physique rather than football in an effort to dilute the opposition’s Premier League quality.
But Rowett, whose side are eighth in the Championship, said: “We had to try and make the game a bit of a scrap.
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Hide Ad“You’re hoping a Premier League side with a poor mentality comes, one that doesn’t want to be there.
“But what you get with a Chris Wilder side is a team that comes with a brilliant mentality and then the difference comes down to that bit if quality.”
Millwall had entered the match unbeaten in their last six outings, but Rowett added: “To begin with, I don’t think there was a lot in it.
“But then we just stepped off them and bit and got punished for that. That’s when you see the ability they’ve got. But also the attitude as well.
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Hide Ad“They pinned us back with their athleticism and their shape as well.
“We competed well. But in the end, we just lacked that little bit of quality when it mattered. And they (United) didn’t. You saw that.”