Stats breakdown by Millwall boss shows they have used fewest players in Championship and lack of bench impact

Millwall’s management team have conducted a review of their Championship season to date which has flagged up some interesting statistics.

The Lions come out of the lull of the international break with three matches in the space of eight days, starting with tomorrow’s home game against Derby County.

Head coach Neil Harris has already talked about the fact that the league standings is not a fair reflection of the performances produced by his players.

Millwall are 18th heading into the SE16 showdown with the Rams.

The club’s all-time record goalscorer was asked if he had been able to pinpoint the factors behind them not getting their just rewards.

Harris said: “I’m very clear – we’ve had a nine-game review over the last 10 days. We’ve spent a lot of time as staff with the stats and reviewing. There are a hell of a lot of stats out there nowadays.

“Ultimately, we have used the second least amount of players and we’ve had the lowest impact from the bench in the first nine games – in goals scored or goal contributions. That paints the picture.

“If you look back to the first two games we lost in injury-time, both league games, then that paints a real picture – that we’ve not had the strength in depth or the right profile of player available to us. Coupled with the fact we made too many individual errors, certainly in the first two league games, that cost us the points.

“That is why we are two, three or four points behind what, theoretically, we should have.

“Those facts speak for themselves. We’re in the top three for expected goals and big chances created – sixth from bottom in big chances conceded and expected goals conceded. We should be in the top four in the division – but we’re not.

“We need a fitter squad, we need to get the younger players who have come in – without any Millwall experience or Championship experience – up to speed as quickly as we can, we know that is going to take months rather than days but we are working to help them all the time.

“This maybe is some of the reasons why we historically start seasons so slowly – and a bit slower than I hoped this season. But it is also why I’m confident we will grow as a group.

“I’m not making excuses about why we’re a few points behind where we hoped we would be. I’m just giving absolute fact as well as transparency and honesty in what I see.

“I have to be patient with the players and group. We have to be patient as a football club as we help these young players develop and be good Millwall players in the Championship while relying, at the same time as well, on a lot of senior players, who have performed admirably for me so far, to keep the group moving forward.”