Manager Neil Harris has praised the side for putting in a professional performance in the weekend’s victory over Port Vale.
Hosting Rob Page’s side at The Den for the game, Millwall put Oxford United Johnstone’s Paint Trophy disappointment behind them to take a three one victory with goals coming from a Lee Gregory brace and a Steve Morison effort.
Speaking to the official site in his after game press conference, there was plenty that had pleased Harris about the day especially as he was looking for a reaction following Oxford and four successive home defeats in recent times.
‘I thought we were excellent in the first-half today. The hold up play from my forward players during that period was as good as we have seen from them this season, and on this occasion we took our chances when they came along. Our centre halves were dominant and impressive, the only downside was the goal we conceded.’
Harris went on to say that he had said at the start of the season he wanted us to be a side that attacked, so to have hit January and have three players in double figures already is a good achievement, but of course we can still show improvement in our offensive play as we can in our defensive play and that will be the aim now we are in the second half of the season.
‘I said at the start of the season that we’ll try to be attacking and score goals, and to have three players in double figures at this stage is a good achievement, but as a team we need to be more consistent with our goalscoring and likewise in terms of keeping clean sheets at the other end. At half time, I said we needed to be professional, manage the game and that’s a learning experience for some of the younger players. It was an important result for us, catching up on the teams who played yesterday and to build on last week’s win at Oldham. We are still very much a work in progress with lots of room for improvement, but we have a good group of players willing to learn and develop which gives us plenty to work with.’
The win puts Millwall in eighth place in the League One table only one point off the last play off spot.
In wider press conference coverage, Harris is also quoted as saying the only difference for him when he looked at Port Vale and Oxford was how clinical we were at the weekend.
‘We had real attacking intent in the team. I am sure the shot count is a lot fewer than Thursday when we had 11 clear-cut chances and didn`t take any of them. I asked the players to express themselves today and enjoy it and that is what they did.’
With Jimmy Abdou reaching the 300 game milestone at the weekend, the South London Press also have the gaffer praising him and Shaun Williams for their work rate on the day.
‘Our two centre-mids work tirelessly. Jimmy Abdou gets the praise because he covers the ground so quickly but Shaun does it too. Shaun is a ball-playing midfielder and I have been asking him to add to his game. He wants to play with the ball at his feet but sometimes, you don`t play like that. He is learning about picking up second balls and winning it. Every week, they leave nothing on the pitch. We do make subs to try and win games but most of the time, it is because the player is dead on his feet. They give me everything they`ve got.’
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
Professional Performance For Harris
