Manager Neil Harris has said he was gutted at the full time whistle in the three all draw against Derby County at the weekend.
Having been delighted with the performance levels of the players as we built up a two goal advantage, his disappointment was palpable as we let that two goal lead disappear twice to let them back in for a point at the end of the game.
Speaking to the official site Harris was of course however delighted for Lee Gregory and his hattrick, but that delight didn’t cloud the overall disappointment he felt.
With us not holding on for the win, it now means in tonight’s game between Rotherham and Reading, should Rotherham pick up the victory we would be relegation to League One.
‘If you score three goals at home then you expect to be on the winning side. That is a big disappointment for us. We had enough senior professionals out there to see the game out. The players, as a group, have built hope and belief. They will have to pick themselves up on Monday morning. It’s out of our hands, as it has been for a long while. We just have to hope that Reading do us a favour so that we have a chance on the final day.’
Moving on to Gregory more specifically and his achievement of scoring his first hattrick in professional football, Harris added.
‘He has scored two penalties because he practises 10 in training every day. That is what you need to be a top player. Lee has been a bit unlucky this year and in another season, I’m sure, he would have hit 16 or 17 goals at least. He will score 20 goals for us next year, I’ve no doubt about that.’
Having talked about his disappointment at scoring three on home soil and not taking the win, Harris went on to say that despite improvement in our home form under him – two wins, two draws and one loss in five – the season’s form reads five wins, seven draws and eleven losses and he knows that form simply has to improve a lot further next season whatever division we find ourselves in.
‘The bottom line is if you play for Millwall Football Club then you win your home games. Whatever happens, whatever League we’re in next year, next year’s squad will be dominant at home. It will be young, it will be hungry, it will be athletic and it will play with Millwall spirit. The home record has not been what it should have been. That’s not through lack of effort, certainly not; everybody has had a right go. That is going to be the starting point in the summer.’
Going back to Derby, Harris also said in wider press interviews that he knows the penalty for them was the turning point and for him it was a ridiculous decision from the referee.
‘Their first goal was really poor. It was a poor set piece to concede from the free-kick and we didn’t have the right set-up. The second one was a very soft penalty, I think the boy has done really well to buy it. It was a ridiculous decision. I think for their third goal, sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say ‘what a great finish,’ but to be 3-1 up is disappointing. I’ve not had a go at the players. If they get simple things wrong like the wrong shape on set-plays or our set-up isn’t right, then words would be said.’
Adding.
‘The players as a group are built on hope and belief and to come from being on the run they were on and to get the performances and results that they’ve got has been testimony to them as a group. I certainly am not accepting perspective and ‘well dones’ for achieving some points, especially at home. The bottom line is if you play for Millwall Football Club you have to win your home games.’
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
Harris’ Derby Draw Disappointment
