MX23RW : Monday, December 23 06:21:34| >> :600:253094:253094:
[monks data]
Attendance: 15,017
Millwall logo
Championship | Gameweek 3
Aug 17, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

1-0

Smith (37')
Wallace (43')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Neil Harris delighted with "Millwall result" as 10 men beat Sheffield Wednesday

Neil Harris delighted with
© Reuters
Strong second half display earns Lions a point against Sheffield Wednesday.

Millwall boss Neil Harris hailed the character of his squad after they played more than half the match with 10 men to grind out a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday at The Den thanks to Matt Smith's 37th-minute header.

The visitors had 70% possession and 21 shots but were unable to find a way through an obdurate Millwall rearguard

Harris said: "That's a Millwall result if ever you saw one. Sheffield Wednesday had a lot of the ball without really causing us problems other than an Adam Reach moment of near genius.

"They're going to dominate the ball, get the ball in the box and in Steven Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes, they've got top players.

"But I'd give credit to my players because we had a really strong second half. To stand strong against that quality of opponent in the form they're in is impressive."

Despite losing Jed Wallace just before the break following his challenge on Kieran Lee, the hosts maintained a solid defensive structure and Harris provided some insight into his tactical thinking to tame the Owls' livewire winger Kadeem Harris.

The Lions boss explained: "We felt it was important we played in the 4-4-1, if anything to help Mahlon Romeo against Harris.

"I was disappointed to have to take Matty Smith off. He had an excellent first half but chasing Barry Bannan around is not his game really.

"If there's any team who can play with 10  men and two banks of four against 11 men, it's us."

Harris was unhappy with the attitude and application of some his squad last season and has noticed a difference already in the current campaign.

"Last August wasn't a good window for us and when we started losing and letting in late goals it becomes a snowball effect and it's hard to stop.

"We dug in over the course of the season, regrouped in the summer, made the changes I wanted to implement and we got a new group of players and a new mentality. You're seeing that in the performances."

Neither manager held strong opinions on Wallace's dismissal, but Wednesday's Lee Bullen rued his side's inability to turn domination of the ball into clear-cut chances.

He said: "Millwall deserve a lot of credit for what they've done today, to hang on for that length of time under the pressure they faced.

"I would like to think in future games that if we get nine shots on target, we can put two or three of those away.

"It wasn't to be today. We made a mistake for the goal and it feels like we've been sucker-punched. We've just got to take a deep breath, relax, and not get too low after that, because there were a lot of positives from that game."

Wednesday's caretaker boss said the decision to leave Fernando Forestieri out of the squad was tactical and that he is in the frame for Tuesday's visit of Luton.

On his own future, Bullen added. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to be caretaker.

"All I'm focused on is the next game and that's all I'll focus on until the chairman wants to have the conversation.

"He obviously feels we're doing allr ight at the moment, because he would have made a decision otherwise."

ID:368446: cacheID:368446:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5106:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tom Bradshaw scores for Millwall on August 13, 2019
Read Next:
Tom's the toast of his teammates after breaking his Millwall duck
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!