Manager Neil Harris has picked out summer signing Tom Elliott’s display in last night’s League Cup first round victory over Stevenage.
Hosting the side at The Den for the game, Millwall went through as winners following a brace from Elliott in the second half, and Harris was full of praise for his, and the teams’ performance on the night.
Speaking to the official site as he met with the media following the game, Harris was pleased to have booked our place in the second round draw – especially after what he conceded was a lacklustre first half showing.
‘There was no ranting or raving at half-time. We just didn’t play with too much freedom in the first-half. We were too rigid. We didn’t take care of the ball at key moments. We gave it away far too easy. We were far too predictable in our play. Stevenage were excellent in the first-half, though. They pressed us really well and were aggressive. They worked really hard.’
Harris went on to add.
‘I told the players to trust themselves on the ball and to trust their team-mates on the ball. Play with a bit more freedom. In the second-half – but not for all of it – we were really good.’
With Elliott’s brace on the day firing us into round two, Harris went on to say.
‘If you’re going to play with a Tom Elliott or a Steve Morison in the team, you’ve got to serve your strikers. They were two great deliveries for Tom’s goals – Fred has the ability to do that when he plays in wide areas and Shane, as always, puts in a good cross. Tom’s got the ability at the back post with his size, aggression and power to score goals like that.’
Harris confirmed that Jake Cooper had rolled his ankle in the first half and that was what led to his substitution just after the 30 minute mark, but he continues to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s visit by Bolton Wanderers.
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