Jake Cooper intent on “backing up” Millwall’s dream start under new head coach Joe Edwards

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Jake Cooper is ready for the second match under Joe Edwards after the head coach’s tactical changes worked a treat for Millwall before the international break.

The Lions head into tomorrow afternoon’s home game against Coventry off the back of a confidence-boosting 4-0 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday.

If Millwall can end their wait for a home victory – which stretches back to September 20 – it could be enough to lift them into the top half of the Championship.

Cooper, who has skippered the Lions in the absence of Shaun Hutchinson, has enjoyed Edwards’ opening weeks in the hotseat.

“Since the gaffer came in he has made it clear he wants to change our philosophy and how we play,” the former Reading centre-back told the South London Press. “That’s been exciting and a new challenge.

“You couldn’t ask for a better start, beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-0. I don’t think I’ve ever won 4-0 for Millwall, these things don’t come around often! The lads performed perfectly.

“We’re looking to improve on the last match, which will probably be difficult, but we want to back it up.

“We need to get our home form back on track, it’s as simple as that.

“We had three days training with the gaffer before the match, so it wasn’t anything massive (that was changed).

“It was about being more composed on the ball, finding the short passes and having more players available to pass to – that’s what he touched on – and having players around you when we build up, so that we have got those passes that are options.

“You saw in the game at Sheffield there were more players dropping down and we created a natural shape of a back six to try and build through possession.

“He made it clear that Sheffield Wednesday were going to have more ball than us – they play a more expansive style than we planned to play.

“The gaffer didn’t want us all short tippy-tappy, he still wanted those longer passes played if the time was right.

“It is a tiny change in mentality. With everyone on the same page it should be pretty straightforward.”

Edwards was pleased that when George Saville scored at Hillsborough every outfield player was in the opposition’s half.

Cooper said: “The gaffer put it up on the board – the way he wants us when we’re attacking the box.

“We were like: ‘We’re going that high…really? What if they leave someone on the halfway line?’ But it makes total sense to drop in where their striker goes to stop the outball into them.

“Even more importantly it pushes our midfielders on to stop them regaining the ball on the edge of the box and starting their counter-attacks from there.

“He made it so clear to us what he wanted and we were out there trying to do as he told us. It effected their goal, so I’m sure the gaffer was very happy with that.”

Cooper’s central defensive partner Wes Harding has scored in three of the last four matches.

And even in the match he blanked – the 1-0 defeat to Southampton – the Brummie had a header which came back off the crossbar.

Harding’s goals have all come since late October – in stark contrast to two in 140 games for previous club Rotherham United.

Each time he has replicated Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark celebration.

“His scoring record is a bit crazy,” said Cooper. “Everything seems to be falling for him and he’s playing with huge confidence.

“I said to him the other day I was a bit gutted he hadn’t got four in four, with the Southampton one. He’s got to keep going.

“Wes is a great human being and he has a brilliant attitude. His celebration is a bit iffy but it’s everyone’s personal choice and he enjoys the moment.”

Cooper is a big – quite literally – target from set-pieces but the last of his 22 goals for the Lions was more than nine months ago, in a 1-1 home draw against Sunderland.

So does he act as a decoy for the likes of Harding to pounce?

“Potentially,” said Cooper. “I certainly get marked the most vigorously.

“I’m a bit disappointed I haven’t found the net so far. I’ve had a couple of good chances but I know it will come.

“We’re right at the top of the league for set-play goals which means I’m doing my job to a good standard.

“I’m hoping I can start chipping in myself in the near future.”

Cooper had a run of 136 consecutive league starts – playing every minute – until a dislocated shoulder ended that sequence in December 2020.

But once again he has been an ever-present in the 2023-24 Championship campaign and the last 20 games of the previous one, putting him on 37 matches.

“You know what I’m like – I want to play all the games and be out there as much as possible,” said Cooper. “I pride myself on that.

“I have every intention of that run continuing as long as I can make it.

“I knew that other run would come to an end at some point with suspensions and illnesses, stuff like that.

“I was fortunate I only missed a game or two with the shoulder dislocation and the fact it was an upper-body injury didn’t affect me too much.

“You know things like that will happen, it’s part of the game.”

Nearly all of Cooper’s 317 Millwall appearances have been under two managers – Neil Harris and Gary Rowett.

“It’s mad,” said Cooper. “I’ve been here seven seasons and when I was at Reading I had four or five bosses in the two or three years I had in their senior team.

“It’s been so well-structured here that the managers stick around. The owners, the Berylson family, always support the manager that they pick.

“It was a bit of a shock when Gary decided to leave, I didn’t see that coming. But I spoke to him and it seemed very clear that it was his decision and he felt his time was up.

“It was time for us to move on and focus on getting as high up in the league as we can.

“Gary did a fantastic job. We’d probably been an up-and-down club between League One and the Championship – we have kind of set ourselves now in this league, although it never really feels settled in the Championship.

“If you look at the league finishes it shows he has brought the club on a big way from where it was.

“I’m sure he’ll be proud of what he has given to the football club.”