Millwall manager Neil Harris – full reaction from win at Burton as he talks about no fear in the Lions camp

By Richard Cawley

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Neil Harris admitted his Millwall side have no fear of the Championship after they made it four straight away wins on Saturday – Ben Marshall’s goal securing maximum points at Burton Albion.

The Lions have taken 14 points from their last six matches to top the form table along with Fulham and Cardiff City.

Below is Harris’ reaction following the latest victory, this time at the Pirelli Stadium.

BEATING BURTON

I’ve got to be honest – we’re going like a steam train at the minute. We have no fear of the division anymore. Four in a row away from home and anyone who has seen us this season will know we could easily have double that on the road. That was probably our worst performance on the road this year, I certainly felt Burton should have took something from the game – but we should have comfortably won the home game against them, so its swings and roundabouts. You have to give credit to the players for finding a way again to win the game. We couldn’t be happier at the minute.

We’re moving in the right direction, it really is a tough league. There’s some good players and some good clubs but you look at our squad of players at the moment and they are striving to get better all the time.

If Burton scored before half time it would have been a different second half. Sometimes you have to take goals like we got, scrappy goals with a little bit of fortune in there when they come along because you don’t get them too often.

WHAT’S CHANGED?

The consistency, individually and collectively. It took us a while to find our feet in this division. Nothing’s changed in our style of play. Certainly the players we’ve added in January have helped. I think the whole mentality on the training ground has changed. Tim Cahill and Jason Shackell’s experience, Ben Marshall’s quality and Harry Toffolo’s competitiveness. They’ve all certainly added to the group. The players have to play well

ON REVENGE FOR THE HOME GAME

I certainly feel for Nigel [Clough] today. Back at The Den I didn’t believe they should have won the game. That’s football I suppose. We’ll certainly take those moments of luck when they come along.

ON DEFENDING 

We defended our penalty area really well. Burton’s spells of pressure put us on the backline. That’s 13 clean sheets we’ve had this season in the league. that’s a great return. We defend as a team and score as a team. I knew we were going to see that game out today.

ON BURTON

I’ve watched their last three games and Burton have been outstanding. They got five points and should have had nine. Burton have got the players, they’ve got the spirit and the belief on the back of today’s performance and from what I’ve seen from the last three games to be okay this year.

PERMANENT SIGNINGS

Marshall has brought quality, he’s brought competition. Standards as well. He trains excellently every day. A fantastic ability with the ball and great work ethic as well. Players don’t always see that side of it. That’s the sort of level of player you want at the club. He knew some of the players already but he’s fitted into the group well. All of the signings have come in and made a good impact.

ON WHAT THE CLUB CAN ACHIEVE THIS SEASON

We have to be realistic, as the table sits we’re six points off the play-offs and on a great run. The bubble can burst if you lose a couple of games. What I will say at the moment is my players have earned the right to be where they are in the division. Any club that’s come across us this season would say we are a top-half team. We have to keep looking up so we can keep striving to be better. I talk now about 50 points. That was the aim. Do I think that will be enough to stay in the division? No I don’t. We want to keep aiming for 50 points as quickly as possible. We should be looking up. I want the players to be better all the time. I said to the players at half-time ‘What do you want? A 0-0 draw or do you want nine points in a week?’ We saw the response and the players found a way again.”