Millwall’s young guns impress their boss in EFL Cup win at Portsmouth
Millwall head coach Neil Harris was quick to praise his young players after their 1-0 EFL Cup win at Portsmouth.
Romain Esse scored his third senior goal for the Lions with a classy finish after George Honeyman had won possession on the edge of the penalty area.
Harris started Esse, 19, and Aidomo Emakhu, 20, on each wing with academy product Alfie Massey, 18, making his debut in central midfield.
“Firstly I’m delighted to win the game,” said Harris. “Secondly thank you to the brilliant following for coming to support us – I’m delighted they got to see a victory.
“There are some real positives tonight. The first is that we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves on the back of a late winner against us when we’ve clearly deserved to win the game on Saturday. We bounced back in the correct manner.
“The huge professionalism the boys showed early on Sunday morning, when I got them in, and on Monday before coming down today.
“More vital, probably, than that is the performances of the three young lads in the team tonight. Romain to score the goal, Aidomo to show glimpses of his raw power, pace and directness but also Alfie Massey made his debut for the football club tonight. That will be very special for him and his family.
“We were the better team. Portsmouth had some good pressure second half and when people looked at the size and names on the teamsheet it might not have been renowned as a Millwall team or a Neil Harris team here – we went a little bit younger and faster tonight. We knew set-plays were going to be a real avenue for them. I told the lads: “You’re outsized – apart from Jake (Cooper). You’re not the biggest team, but you’re going to have to dig in and do a job. Their only chances came from set-plays.
“Other than that we created three or four really good chances other than the goal.
“We could have won the game by more.”
Summer signing Macaulay Langstaff made his first start for Millwall.
Asked for his assessment of the former Notts County striker, Harris said: “He did well. He is learning the game all the time. It’s not just about being able to stick the ball in the net, it’s about learning how we are going to get there.
“He is adapting to Championship football and adapting to the way I want him to play, a different style to what he is used to at Notts County. He is learning about how to press for my team. He is developing all the time.
“I’m going to keep saying the same thing – we have to keep being patient with him. It is a huge step up, even for a 27-year-old, but he has got huge energy and real desire. He wants to learn. He played 30 minutes at the weekend, and had that experience at The Den. He’s played 62 minutes tonight and got that experience from a Championship standard game.
“He will just get better and better the more time he is on the pitch.”