Four takeaways from Millwall’s 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United – Check of Cresswell’s character and lack of creativity evident

Millwall fell to their first defeat of the new Championship season at Bramall Lane on Saturday, where Sheffield United cantered to a 2-0 win.

The Lions fell behind after just seven minutes in dubious circumstances after Jake Cooper was sent sprawling from behind in an aerial challenge. That left Ilimian Ndiaye all alone to send a cool finish past Bartosz Bialkowski.

Sander Berge doubled the lead for the hosts after a sloppy pass from Charlie Cresswell shortly after, and it could – and should – have been 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, but Bialkowski produced an excellent save to deny Oliver Norwood from the penalty spot.

Here are Daniel Marsh’s takeaways from a disappointing afternoon on the road:

AWAY DAY BLUES CONTINUE

It was Millwall’s inability to pick up results on the road that effectively killed their play-off hopes last year – and unfortunately, those away day blues made an unwelcome return on Saturday.

Bramall Lane is probably one of the toughest places to go in the Championship, and the Blades are certainly likely to be in the promotion mix come May. So the fact that Millwall gifted them the ball time and time again in the first-half didn’t make the task at hand any easier.

In truth, the Lions were the architects of their downfall on Saturday – Sheffield United were good, but Millwall made them look great at times.

Fixing Millwall’s away form is a non-negotiable if Gary Rowett wants his side to finally gatecrash the play-off party at the end of this season, something Rowett himself has already alluded to.

In fairness, the Millwall boss has already spoken about adding extra energy to implement a high-pressing approach away from SE16 in a bid to try and improve things. It remains to be seen if that plan will translate into results on the road this term, but unfortunately for the Lions chief, he was without George Honeyman and Tom Bradshaw for the first away clash of the season – arguably two of Millwall’s most effective pressers.

Millwall will be desperate to make amends at Swansea in nine days’ time in a bid to lay down an early marker in regards to their away form.

CRESSWELL’S CHARACTER CHECK

It’s been a rollercoaster few days for Cresswell, who was the hero last weekend after producing a two-goal haul on his debut to down Stoke.

But he was brought back down to earth with a bump in Sheffield after his horrendous miscue gifted the Blades their second goal.

In fairness to Cresswell, he was far from the only Millwall player who was less than accurate on the ball, as miscued passes became a bit of a theme in an abject first-half display. But none were quite as poor as the one he produced in the comfort of his own half to leave the Lions with a mountain to climb.

Mistakes are part and parcel of football, and his mishap at Bramall Lane will by no means define his loan stint in SE16. But the 19-year-old – who played with a real swagger against Stoke – now has to show the character to bounce back after a less than stellar showing this week.

CREATIVITY WOES

Millwall certainly improved after the break, but there was still a distinct lack of excitement in the final third.

Crafting chances has been a struggle at times for the Lions, who, of course, lost their main creative outlet in Jed Wallace this summer.

Rowett has made moves to try and replace the wideman’s influence, namely in the form of Honeyman and the club’s new record-signing, Zian Flemming. Unfortunately, both were unavailable for the tip to the Blades.

It’s not exactly a secret that the Lions are still looking to bolster their attacking options, but the current tactical shape relies heavily on creativity being provided from whoever is sitting in that No.10 role.

It would be unfair to pass proper judgement on Millwall’s work in the final third after just two matches – particularly as the two players the Lions have signed specifically to fill that role were both missing on Saturday. But the lack of clear-cut chances created from open-play will only intensify the pressure for the Dutchman to hit the ground running once he returns from an MCL injury.

There were enough positive signs against Stoke last weekend to hint that Millwall have the scope to improve their output this season – even if the majority of the good things we saw last weekend were absent at Bramall Lane.

SAVILLE STAKES HIS CLAIM

George Saville has had to adapt to a new, deeper role since his return to the Den last summer, but the Northern Ireland international was given the chance to make a mark in his preferred, advanced role on Saturday – and he certainly made the most of it.

The Lions midfielder was head and shoulders above the rest of his teammates in the first-half and was everywhere until he was withdrawn in the 81st minute. 

Saville was on the bench as a midfield three of Honeyman, Billy Mitchell and Jamie Shackleton made a big impression against Stoke last week. But Saville’s all-action display will certainly give Rowett food for thought ahead of next weekend’s match against Coventry at the Den.

PHOTOS: BRIAN TONKS