‘It would have been a hell of a goal’ – Millwall manager reacts to Ryan Leonard’s disallowed strike at Birmingham City

The popular 31-year-old has shown a tendency to hit stunning long-range efforts previously and almost added to his collection at St Andrew’s yesterday.

After Kevin Nisbet’s opener from a free-kick, George Saville sent in a corner after 20 minutes for Millwall.

It flew over the heads of all the bodies in the box and fell for Leonard, stationed about 25 yards out.

He hit a stunning volley that took a flick off Jake Cooper on its way in, leaving the assistant referee to rule it out for offside.

Jay Stansfield would equalise in the second half for the Blues and the game would finish 1-1.

On the offside incident, Rowett said: “The moment where we score from the corner routine. I think he is offside – I think it’s Coops and it just glanced his head. I think he was offside so I’ve got no complaints just, when it takes that long, you feel maybe they [the officials] are not sure. But I think they were right.

“So disappointing for us because we could have been 2-0 up of course and it would have been a hell of a goal. Great strike, he strikes a lovely ball and it would’ve been a nice routine. And that maybe gave Birmingham just a tiny bit of a lift.

“You could just feel the atmosphere in the stadium go up a notch and they obviously get the penalty just before half-time and we end up saving it.

Leonard only managed a couple of minutes of game time in the opening three league games against Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Norwich City.

But the versatile former Southend United star has now started the last two games against Stoke City and Birmingham as Rowett moved to rejig his defence after a few disappointing results at the beginning of the season.

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Hogan missed his second penalty of 2023 for Blues during the 1-1 draw with Millwall at St Andrew’s – and he has now missed five of seven he has taken during his career. The miss proved costly for Blues, although Eustace’s side did manage to salvage a point thanks to Jay Stansfield’s clinical 53rd minute strike.

Lukas Jutkiewicz scored Blues’ last penalty to down Leeds United on August 12, but he was in the stands after being banned for three matches for a red card in the Carabao Cup defeat to Cardiff City on Tuesday. Hogan stepped up and missed to create doubt over whether he will take the next Blues spot-kick.

“It’s something we might discuss, but I want people to take the penalties who are very confident,” said Eustace. “Scott is confident at the moment after he scored two in two. When he picked it up I had no problems, but it might be a discussion we have going forward.”

Blues had more possession than their opponent for the first time in the Championship this season and created 17 shooting opportunities, compared to Millwall’s 13. But Blues only hit the target four times and dropped points on home turf for the first time this season.

“I thought we started the first half really well,” Eustace added. “I think they scored against the run of play. We have to remember that’s the first time we have been behind this season and I thought the lads showed great character to stay in that first half without Millwall causing us many problems.