Ian Holloway admits David Cotterill came back to haunt him last night after Millwall missed out to Birmingham City for the winger in the summer.

The Welsh international was a free agent in the close season having decided not to accept a new contract extension from Doncaster Rovers.

Holloway even had the 26-year-old in his house for talks at one stage, although it never got as far as the Lions boss would have liked and the player decided instead to sign for a Blues side he inspired to a 3-1 success at The Den yesterday.

Ollie said: “We came out and we drew that second half. That’s a travesty but I thought there was one thing that made the difference and that was Cotterill.

“That’s what our report said.

“Ironically he was sat in my garden last summer and he has ended up at Birmingham.

“That was probably my fault.

“But listen, would he have signed for me? I don’t know.”

The Millwall manager added: “We were chasing a lot of deals then.

“I was looking for a big man as well.

“There was a couple of other things lined up and before I knew it he has gone off and not waited for my answer and signed for Birmingham.

“But there you go.”

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