Millwall’s 2-0 win over Stoke City was near enough a perfect day according to midfielder Ben Thompson.

Thompson opened the scoring in the first half before a 75th minute Jed Wallace assured victory for Gary Rowett in his first game in charge of the Lions.

The three points against Rowett’s former employers lifted his side up to 15th in the Championship and Thompson believes there’s more to come from the South Bermondsey outfit under the former Burton, Birmingham and Derby boss.

“It’s a great result for him, a great result for the team, and an all-round good day at The Den,” he said.

“First half we played some great football, some of the best football we’ve played in a while.

“Second half we dropped off a bit, but at the end of the day we got the 3 points which is massive.

“If you play against your old club you want to win, you want to show you’ve gone on to bigger and better things.

“But for us and for him (Rowett) personally, it’ massive, for us any result is massive in such a tough league and against Stoke, such a big club, it’s brilliant.

“Our home form has been brilliant this season and hopefully that will continue and we can get more points on the road.”

Harris Effect

Thompson made his way into the Millwall spotlight under the guidance of Neil Harris who stepped down as Lions boss at the start of the month, a move that the 24-year-old didn’t see coming.

“When it was announced it was crazy, I didn’t know what to do, I’ve not experience something like that.

“Obviously I’ve been with him for four and a half, he’s been brilliant for mem as a manager and as a man, so it was so different to see one day he’s not there.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind.

“The new manager only had Thursday and Friday to get into us what he wants to do and how he wants to play so we did more work on the training pitch than we usual do but it’s paid off.”

Rowett Impression

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With little time for Rowett to implement his style on the side for the victory on Saturday, Thompson admitted everyone was eager to put their hands up for selection.  

“With a new manager coming in, the boys want to impress, there were a few tackles flying in in training, nothing stupid, but it was a good sharp training session.

“He’ll come in, put his style on it and get us how he wants us to play.

“There’s a lot of information being given out, it’s about listening and learning and taking it in, I want to learn and keep getting better and better.”

Millwall travel to Reading on Saturday.