Millwall boss Harris: Leeds United is perfect next game for Lions

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Neil Harris reckons facing Championship leaders Leeds United next is perfect for his out-of-form Millwall side.

The Lions suffered a third straight league defeat on Saturday as 10-man Swansea stunned the South Londoners with a late turnaround to win 2-1 at The Den.

Millwall now have an international break to regroup before taking on Marcelo Bielsa’s side on home turf.

Harris said: “I’d rather play Leeds here on Tuesday and go again. But possibly with some new players in the group, that haven’t really trained with us and we haven’t been able to get the work into them, it gives us two weeks to do that.

“We couldn’t ask for a better game than Leeds United here. Yes, it’s a difficult game but it will be a Millwall atmosphere. My players have to respond to the criticism which will come their way from three defeats in six days. 

“I’ve had some harsh words with individuals, as with the group.

“If anyone had seen that coming in the ground then I wish they’d have told me. What more could I ask for the first 80 minutes, playing against 10 men? Yes, of course you’re going to make the odd, poor decision as an individual and a group.

“But Swansea dug in and made it difficult to break them down. But when we got our noses in front I couldn’t see us conceding. We never looked in any danger. 

“I thought I had enough leadership in the group to manage the situation – but you can’t explain individual errors. 

“You can praise quality but I’ll talk again about the mindset of my players as a group in the last six days. Without naming names, did the players do enough when we didn’t have the ball in the last 15 minutes to made sure we didn’t concede? Well, they didn’t.

“I think my goalkeeper has touched the ball six times, twice to pick the ball out of the net.”