Millwall club record signing Zian Flemming was not frustrated at barren scoring run

BY ALEX GRACE

Zian Flemming spoke of his delight after he ended his goal-scoring drought during Millwall’s 1-0 victory at Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Millwall’s number 10 scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute as Millwall claimed a vital three points in their battle for a top-six place in the Championship.

“It took a bit too long for me to score a goal, I was getting a bit impatient – but I’m happy that it’s in and that it gave us three points,” said Flemming.

“Sometimes you get some chances, and they just don’t go in. There have been loads of games where I didn’t get that many chances, but I was important to the team in a different way. It’s not something you keep thinking about or make a big deal out of. Obviously you want to score, so the more, the better and the sooner. It wasn’t like I was frustrated about it – just impatient.”

Whilst the Dutchman had not found the net since the 2-0 success at Watford on Boxing Day, he has remained a vital part of Millwall’s attacking play and showed his importance during the games against Sheffield United and Burnley.

“I try to be important to the team, not just by scoring goals but in other ways as well,” he said. “Sometimes you won’t score a goal, but you’ll be valuable to the team, and I think I’ve done that in the past two months but obviously, I want to be valuable in that way and score goals.”

Asked if he has felt frustrated at any stage of his barren spell, he said: “Sometimes you have a period where the chances drop in front of you, and every shot is a goal. Look at Bradders in the last two games, where he scored four in two. Sometimes you won’t get that many chances, you might get one, and you are a bit unlucky when they won’t go in. I think even Haaland isn’t scoring all the time. Don’t make too big a deal out of it, but obviously, you want to score every week, or I do.”

Tom Bradshaw had overtaken Flemming at the top of the club’s goalscoring charts after his hat-trick against Sheffield United and the equaliser against Burnley last Tuesday night, and the club record signing is happy to see others finding the net for the team in what is a crucial period for Millwall in their battle for a top-six place.

They continue that quest against Luton and Norwich this week.

“It’s really good that we have multiple players that can score goals, give assists or decide the game,” said Flemming. “The last games were big, and obviously, the closer you get to the end of the season, the bigger they become. I don’t think we have to make too big of a deal of it, it’s an important game, but it’s just one of the other 46, and if we approach it in the same way we have been doing it all the time, we have a really good chance of beating both of them.”

Due to injuries and illness, Gary Rowett has been forced to turn to the club’s youngsters to help bolster the first-team squad.

“It’s good for every club that there are a few young players from the academy coming through,” said Flemming. “Even if it’s just for the numbers, but also for the academy to give the team a solid base. You see it with Billy and Danny in the first team now for a while, and that’s a very important point for every team, and I think Millwall do it very well now.

“Rom has been around for a while now, come on a few times, and he’s doing really well. He’s an important player for us and could be even more so in the future.”