ALEX Neil got off to a losing start in his first game as Millwall head coach on New Year’s Day.
Worse, it was former Lions boss Gary Rowett in the other dugout as Oxford United won 1-0 at The Den thanks to Ruben Rodrigues’ goal in the 57th minute.
Rowett spent four years from 2019 to 2023 at Millwall, leading them to four top-half finishes and to within 45 minutes of finishing in the top six in his last season.
There were boos from some Millwall supporters after the game, as the U’s won away for the first time in the Championship this season. Rowett has nine points from nine since he took over.
But there was one moment when Lions fans were convinced they should have had a penalty, and looking at the video below, they have a strong case.
It involved their young star, Romain Esse, a transfer target for Crystal Palace. Esse runs at and beats the defender and is clearly taken out. The contact appears to be right on the line of the penalty box. If a foul is given on the line, the rule is it’s a penalty.
However, referee Ruebyn Ricardo didn’t whistle and Oxford got a goal-kick.
Millwall had another shout for a penalty late on when George Saville went down, but again the hosts’ claims were ignored.
Millwall travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
