Millwall boss Neil Harris: Lions will never lose their identity under my watch

By Richard Cawley

Neil Harris has described Millwall’s eighth-place finish in the Championship as a “huge performance” by his squad – and promised they will not deviate from their core values.

The Lions managed to rip up the bookies’ pre-season prediction that they would struggle following promotion from League One via the play-offs as fears of the drop were eradicated long before the final weeks, when nerves really ramp up.

Millwall were the highest-placed of the clubs who came up – ending up three points ahead of Sheffield United and a huge 29 in front of Bolton Wanderers.

It was only back-to-back losses to Fulham and Middlesbrough late in April that killed off their play-off hopes.

Harris said: “A small percentage of me, a very small percentage, is naturally disappointed we didn’t quite have enough to get in the playoffs. I look at Charlton getting in with 71 points [in League One] and we got 72 in the Championship. Over the years that has often been enough to get in the play-offs.

“The reason we were in with a chance is because of the 17-game unbeaten run at the turn of the year. If you look at the bigger picture, without that we’d never have got that chance.

“Naturally I’m really pleased with the season we have had, considering we thought it might be a long, hard one trying to pick up as many points as we can and be fighting against the teams who ended up being around the bottom three. We thought Birmingham, Burton and Barnsley were going to be our competitors. So to some degree, being so far away from them is a huge performance by the group.

“We got better and grew into the league. Our performances improved with the continuity within the team and the squad. There was a growth in stature of individual players. There was a realisation that a lot of these teams are huge by name only – not necessarily with the ability to back it up.

“When we performed like we did at Villa Park, we should’ve come away with the correct score [a win instead of 0-0], it gave us real belief. It was the same at Elland Road [a first away victory of the season].”

Millwall have been unapologetically 4-4-2 under Harris and the clear vision he has for the way his team should play – both with and without the ball – has undoubtedly played a big part in their success in recent seasons.

“There is a fine balance between bringing in better footballers, who can pass the ball a lot more, but that sees us coming away from Millwall’s identity,” said the Lions chief. “I was watching back our game [against Villa on the final day of the season] and some of our play around the back to build switches of play was outstanding – then you get the diagonal ball forward.

“If you look back it is six or seven passes to move the opposition, then we get the ball forward and it becomes about desire to get in the box from Ryan Tunnicliffe [to win the match-winning penalty] and be in a goalscoring opportunity. That’s us at our best. That is our base and it hasn’t changed for three years.

“Millwall Football Club isn’t 16 or 17 passes and then the keeper ends up smashing it forward. That doesn’t get people off their feet. People running, tackling and winning corners – things like that get you a standing ovation at this football club, I know that better than anybody.

“We won’t lose our identity but against Villa on the final day we had some really good footballers on the pitch – Ben Marshall at right-back and our midfield four are all excellent, technical footballers.

“Fred [Onyedinma] is a brilliant footballer as well, having that pace to run in behind. We’ve got really good footballers who want to pass the ball.

“I see players playing without fear and with freedom. We have to continue to get the blend better – playing with that freedom and making an extra pass but also doing what we’re good at. And what we are good at is keeping clean sheets, keeping the ball away from danger zone, our goal.

“If that means playing in the final third, so be it. Before the Villa game we had created the third most chances in the division. That goes to show our style of play is effective – 72 points shows that.”

Millwall kept 19 clean sheets and had the joint-fourth best defensive record in the Championship.

“We have recruited players in the last couple of years in that area, the back four, and giving them vital time to progress – Mahlon Romeo over the last two years has progressed into a good full-back.

“The five main players, including Byron [Webster], at the start of the season have really progressed. But it also becomes about the defensive shape in front of them – the players being so hard-working and reliable. That’s testament to the work that Adam [Barrett] and Livers [David Livermore] do with them every week on the training pitch.

“You add in the centre-forwards and the work they get in. On the last weekend Stevie Morison ended up quite a lot of the time 30 yards from his goal, helping everybody else. That gives us the base to counterattack from, where we’ve been so deadly in the second half of the season. We’ve got the pace to get up the pitch and the ability to use the ball in the right way.

“Nineteen clean sheets is some achievement. Seventeen games unbeaten as well? That’s down to the backbone of the squad, the team setup and the belief about what we do. “Yes, there has been games where we’ve got after the ball, pressing the ball well – Leeds at home springs to mind and QPR at home was the same. But at times you don’t want to be chasing all over the park because good players at this level will play through you. You see it week after week, goals conceded by teams from trying to press the ball too high and losing it. That’s not the way I want to play.”

Now comes a break for the Lions. For Harris, it is hard to switch off.

He said: “I am looking forward to the break. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be preparing for the play-off games. I’d love to be doing that – pushing for the Premier League.

“Now it has gone, it gives us a chance to focus. I’ve got some tough and some strong decisions to make within the club. You have to take your time to get them right. And it gives me a chance to reflect with the staff on how we’ve done and how I feel we can take small steps.

“Planning for pre-season has started a long time ago – the trips and friendlies. The friendly line-up is not concluded yet.

“I get to spend some time with my wife and my children. I’ve not had a period of time with them since last summer and I look forward to some time away with them, certainly.”