Sheffield United 1 Millwall 2: Manager reaction as Blades suffer injury-time heartbreak

Sheffield United are looking to build on Saturday’s victory over Stoke when they host Millwall at Bramall Lane this evening.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Keep up to date with every key moment on our live blog, and refresh your page for the latest update.

Blades v Millwall LIVE from the Lane

Key Events

Gary Rowett’s reaction...

Gary Rowett, the Millwall manager, believes his side were worthy winners at Sheffield United this evening after describing his side’s performance at Bramall Lane as their best of the season so far.

The Lions left it late to take all three points, with centre-half Jake Cooper stepping up in injury time to smash home the winner in front of his side’s jubilant supporters who had made the journey north to Sheffield.

They had earlier seen Jed Wallace give their side the lead with a well-struck effort that appeared to catch out Robin Olsen in the Blades goal, before Blades skipper Billy Sharp equalised from the penalty spot after John Fleck was fouled by Scott Malone.

United’s Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off by referee Matthew Donohue for two bookable offences, the second coming when the Wolves loanee was adjudged to have dived in the Millwall box under pressure from Malone.

And Rowett admitted afterwards: “This is always a very difficult place to come, especially when the crowd gets behind Sheffield United and lifts them.

“They are a good side, quick and incisive, so we knew we would be in for a tough time.

“But I thought we deserved to win the game because that was probably the best we have played this season. We left it late, but it was a great strike by Jake.”

"I felt we could cause them lots of problems tactically and I think we did,” Rowett added.

“I think our press was good, first half and our transitions were excellent.

"We went 1-0 up and probably should have got another goal.”

We didn’t start with the energy and levels we expected we would, we couldn’t connect the passes and in the first few minutes of 11 v 11 we moved better and created some chances. I had the sensation that we were finding the better shape to be more dangerous and create things. After the sending off we were still organised without being in serious trouble. We played close to 40 minutes with one player less, it was really hard for us and they scored at the end.

SJ on the Blades’ red card

I cannot complain a lot about the decision [to send Morgan off]. It killed us but I cannot complain about it.

We didn’t have enough movement, we didn’t connect or find enough power and I took the decision. When it was 11 v 11 I thought we played better, the team was more calmer and organised.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s reaction...

“It’s definitely a hard defeat for us,” he admitted. “Our expectation for this game was completely different.

“We didn’t start the game well, they won some physical battles and started the game better. We mussed the energy and desire and power in the first half.

“We changed the shape and at half time we tried to re organise ourself and had good chances.

“The team was organised, we didn’t have a lot of problems and created a few chances. They created one chance and scored from outside the box, Cooper scored with one good shot. We need to try and stop this kind of situation. We didn’t defend it well enough and it was expensive.”

and the boos ring around Bramall Lane as Matthew Donohue makes his way off the pitch - a stinker of a day for him as the Blades go down 2-1 at home to Millwall. They deserved more on the strength of their second half showing, especially with 10 men, before suffering the hammerblow of Cooper’s late winner for the Lions. Stay tuned for post-match reaction from both managers, player ratings and more...

and that’s probably the winner in injury time as Jake Cooper smashes home on his left foot, the Blades players are crestfallen on the pitch as the Millwall players and fans go absolutely mental and it looks a long road back from them to rescue anything from this game now

as a shot is parried into his path by Olsen, he’s a few yards out but it comes quickly to him and he puts it wide - he may have been flagged offside if it had gone in but with these officials tonight, I wouldn’t be too sure

from Sharp as he looks to get on the end of Fleck’s ball - it was blocked by a defender as a corner is given which comes to nothing

Big chance for Afobe

as Millwall break quickly after Ndiaye looked to be pushed over, but nothing was given and Afobe should have put his side ahead, but his shot goes wide of goal - much to United’s relief

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.