“A joke and embarrassing” – Neil Harris left raging as Millwall drop short of standards they usually set
BY JAKE SANDERS
Neil Harris was left raging after Millwall slipped to their first defeat of the season at Sheffield Wednesday – calling their defending “a joke and embarrassing”.
Goals from Barry Bannan and Tom Lees put the Owls 2-0 up and it was only after the Lions boss introduced Jiri Skalak and Tom Elliott on 60 minutes that his side started to improve.
Ryan Tunnicliffe pulled a goal back late in the second-half, but Wednesday held on for their first Championship win of the campaign.
“I won’t accept that we were strong to finish and should have got something out of the game. I won’t accept that.” Harris said.
“We threw the game away in the first 60 minutes for sure. It wasn’t until I made the subs there was an impact on the game.
“The first goal was a great strike, but the lead up to it was embarrassing by us. The second goal – I spoke at half-time about leadership from set-pieces and doing better. It’s a joke of a goal. If you give yourself a mountain to climb.
“We come here tonight and if I’m Sheffield Wednesday, the last team I want to see roll into town on the back of their manager’s comments on Sunday is Millwall. We didn’t do well enough. We didn’t compete well enough for our standards. Our use of the ball in first-half was nothing short of childish. Individually and collectively we were poor and the amount of opportunities we had in good areas to use the ball better to get end product and we didn’t.
“I’ve left them on no uncertain terms what my thoughts are. Those standards won’t be accepted, and we need to do better on the road.
Lions midfielder Shaun Williams missed the game and Harris revealed why he was absent from the squad.
He said: “Shaun Williams had a serious family issue. Things are improving. It was unfortunate for us, no Shaun Williams tonight and then we lose George Saville at half-time.”
When asked whether either will be ready to face Rotherham on Sunday, he replied: “It’s too early, I don’t know.”
The Millwall boss was also questioned about Tom Bradshaw after the Barnsley forward was reported to be close to joining the club after rumours circulated earlier in the day.
Harris said: “I don’t know. I have been in Sheffield all day.”
IMAGES BY PA.