Smells like team spirit for Millwall as suspended George Saville travels to Bristol for Ashton Gate victory

George Saville’s decision to travel with Millwall’s squad for their New Year’s Day game at Bristol City despite being suspended underlines the team spirit running through their ranks.

That is the verdict of Lions head coach Joe Edwards after the experienced midfielder – red carded in the win over Norwich City last Saturday – still made the journey to Ashton Gate and celebrated with his team mates.

“That just sums up the spirit right throughout the group,” Edwards told the South London Press. “Sav and Coops were suspended for the Cardiff away game and they both travelled down to that.

“This one was the New Year as well – so he went out of his way to come on his own. He’s been at Millwall a long time across his stints and he’s a big character in the group.

“I know he is devastated with the red card and now we’re going to lose him. Great to see he wanted to be a part of it and he’s got a long relationship with Hutchy (who scored the winning goal) and he was delighted as anyone.

“They were great scenes and hopefully we can keep and build on that feel-good factor we’ve definitely got in the group.”

Millwall had failed with an appeal on Saville’s dismissal for bringing down Jon Rowe as the Canaries player was on a counter attack at The Den.

Asked if he was surprised it was unsuccessful, Edwards said: “I was. I still think it was quite harsh. We made the decision that there were elements we could see in real-time why it got called the way it did. We appealed the severity of the ban – not the actual decision.

“We believed in that appeal, so to see that get knocked back was disappointing.”