Gary Rowett believes his side will have to learn quickly when it comes to playing behind closed doors.

Millwall were outplayed by a technical Derby side, youngster Louie Sibley starring, scoring a hat-trick on only the second start of his career.

Rowett knew that the lack of home crowd would be challenge for his side.

"I think it’s difficult," he said.

"We all knew that coming into these games we’d have to learn very quickly.

"I knew it was going to feel strange.

"We’re obviously a team that thrives on the energy of the crowd in certain moments of the game and I think we found it hard when the game fell flat.’

He felt that Derby’s style of play was a key factor in helping them deal with the new environment.

Rowett continued, "Derby navigated it better than us, with their technical players and their slow build up play.

"We started ok; we scored a very good goal.

"I thought the goal was good play, we broke well, pinched it in midfield and showed a bit of composure to finally put a good ball in to Matt Smith.

"After that we conceded two very, very poor goals in my opinion. They were very well taken from Sibley and I’m sure derby will be delighted with them.

"They were very poor, very soft and I felt as though defensively we looked a little bit passive. We didn’t move our feet very well and get around the ball.

"I thought there were some strange moments in the game, but it is what it is, and we need to navigate them quickly to be better next week."

Millwall were slow to react after drinks breaks in both halves, conceded shortly after on both occasions. Rowett admits his side has some learning to do if they are to improve.

"It’s an ironic one because it was their goal kick when the drinks break got called.

"I spoke to the referee at half time because as we ran on after the drinks break, he just whistled, and they carried on.

"In my opinion, if you’re going to have a drinks break, you then have to reset exactly how you would when you left the pitch."

"I think we switched off poorly for that. But look, everyone’s learning, the officials are learning, we’re learning, it’s just strange, a different type of football."