Alex Grace’s takeaways from Millwall’s 3-0 home defeat to Leeds United – Scoreline not a reflection of the game as deadline day signing produces positive display

BY ALEX GRACE

Millwall were beaten 3-0 by Leeds United on Sunday lunchtime. 

The clinical Whites showed why they are expected to up with the big guns in the league this season. 

For Millwall, it’s a third defeat in six games this season and a second loss at home in three games.

Despite this, there were positives to take from a largely content performance.

Here are Alex Grace’s four takeaways from the Sunday lunchtime battle at The Den:

SCORELINE NOT A TRUE REFLECTION OF THE GAME

Leeds have a lot of quality, even with the players that have left the club during the summer. They still started the day with nine players who have played in the Premier League. Added to that, what they were able to bring on from the bench. 

With the quality they have, they should be heading back to the Premier League straight away – anything less will be a huge failure. 

A 3-0 scoreline did not reflect this contest. Millwall, for large parts, kept the Leeds front boys quiet. 

The visitors looked very shaky at the start. Illan Meslier looked a bit fragile with balls into the box and a clash with Tom Bradshaw brought out that fragileness in him. 

Taking your chances is a massive thing in any football match.

You can look at all the stats in the world, but the one that’s most important is the goals scored column. Leeds showed how to win a game. They showed how to be clinical.

Their three goals came from only three shots on target. You do not need to be brilliant or play fantastic football to be successful in this league. You simply need to take your chances, and Leeds did just that emphatically. 

For Millwall, they can take away that they gave a good side a run for their money, but in the end, the quality in the final third shone through.

WORRYING PERIOD

Despite all of the above, Millwall’s form is beginning to be a real worry – the Lions have won just four of their last 15 games in league and cup. Form that saw them drop out of the play-offs last season when it looked all but secured. 

The fanbase is getting itchy and a bit restless. Rotherham will become a big game on Wednesday night, as the Lions need to get some confidence into their ranks. Rotherham, like the Lions, have not started brilliantly, and they will be coming to The Den looking to cash in on a side that are struggling for confidence and in front of goal.

Millwall had 11 shots against the Yorkshireman but created not one big chance. Toothless in attack. That will be the thing worrying Gary Rowett most of all that his team are finding it so hard in the final third of the pitch. That is putting pressure on the rest of the team.

Leeds were able to overrun the Millwall midfield on numerous occasions on Sunday lunchtime, and that piled more pressure onto a defence that is not at its strongest. 

LONGMAN A POSITIVE BUT FLEMMING BENCHED

Ryan Longman and Allan Campbell arrived on season-long loan deals on deadline day. The former is a very versatile player, and he showed that on Sunday by playing at left wing-back. He looked the best player on the pitch from a Millwall perspective. He got forward, tried to create things going forward and also forced Meslier into a good save in the first half. 

His corners also caused problems with his corners. For the most part, he looked confident and assured in that left-wing-back role. We know that isn’t the position he has been brought into play but it’s good to know there is a good alternative to have there with Joe Bryan’s start to Millwall life impacted by injuries.

A surprise absentee from the starting lineup was Zian Flemming. The Dutchman has not had the best of starts to the season following all the transfer speculation around his future. However, many in the ground were surprised to see him starting on the bench. He was replaced in the starting 11 by Alan Campbell in that attacking role. The Luton loanee really struggled to have an impact in a game where Millwall’s midfield really struggled.

A CHANCE UPCOMING TO GET THE SEASON GOING

Millwall are always slow starters to the season, we know this – we have seen it every year since they returned to the second tier. We are now entering the period of the season where games start to come thick and fast.

Rotherham are next up on Wednesday night before a trip to West Brom, after that back to back games against Swansea and Plymouth, two teams, the former in particular, have really struggled at the start of this season, and that is something Millwall will need to press home on when they are playing at home. 

Playing games back-to-back in a week can have a great effect and build some really positive momentum if you have a good result generated at the start of the run. Obviously, a bad result and it can quickly end up in a downward spiral. 

Gary Rowett and his team need to put this result behind them, build on the positives and get that good result that can kickstart their season. We all know what can happen when this club gets on a roll. 

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS