Alex Grace’s takeaways from Millwall’s 1-0 win over Plymouth – Lions home record under Harris a huge factor in Championship safety

Jake Cooper ensured that Millwall concluded their home campaign with a victory over Plymouth Argyle. The home season, which has been challenging, notably improved since Neil Harris returned to the club in February.

This contest was tight, with the visitors needing a win for survival. However, Cooper’s second-half header means Plymouth must now secure a victory on the final day to ensure Championship survival.

Here are Alex Grace’s takeaways from the final Den contest of the season.

LIONS END HOME CAMPAIGN WITH A WIN

It’s not been the easiest of seasons for everyone associated with Millwall Football Club. 

However, the main objective of staying in the league has been achieved and they can all look forward to another season in the second tier. 

As mentioned many times this season, a Millwall side is known for strong home form. 

Harris, in his first tenure as manager, made a point of making sure the Lions were compact at home and very rarely would they lose. That was something Gary Rowett carried on during his four-year spell. But, this season has seen the side lose nine games in SE16, the worst tally since the 2014-15 season when the team were last relegated from the Championship. 

Harris has been a big part in the resurgence of Den form. Six games in charge at home, five wins, one draw and just two goals conceded. He has often said how people told him that this group of players can not play at The Den, he and the team have put that myth to bed in some style. 

It all bodes well going into next season. Harris will demand high performance levels from the players and they will have it drilled into them about what playing at home in a Millwall shirt means. 

SEASON ENDING STRONGLY 

Millwall have responded brilliantly to their disappointing Easter period. Last-minute defeats at both Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town left the fan base downcast ahead of what looked like a tricky period of games. However, Harris’ men have responded in the perfect way with four consecutive wins over Leicester, Cardiff, Sunderland and Plymouth on Saturday. 

This is a team that had come on leaps and bounds from Joe Edwards’ final game in charge against Sheffield Wednesday when the team looked bereft of any form of confidence, and defensive frailties were obvious. The improvement under Harris has been clear. Twenty-three points have been won under the club’s all-time record goalscorer, which is an indication that the talent and the ability were there – it was just getting it out of the players and finding the right formula to play.

 The target now is to finish as high as possible, looking at the league table after the weekend’s victory, the Lions are now closer to the top half of the table than they are to the relegation places. Victory at Swansea next Saturday could see the South Londoners finish as high as 13th in the table; considering where they were at the back end of February, that would be a satisfying end to a disappointing season. 

BART’S EMOTIONAL FAREWELL AS OTHER POTENTIAL EXITS LOOM 

Millwall confirmed the news last Friday that Bart Bialkokwski would leave the club after five years. A fan favourite and someone who more than earned his reputation in a Millwall shirt was given a fitting send-off. He lost his place as the first-choice shot-stopper last season to Geroge Long, and that has continued this term with new keeper Matija Sarkic claiming the regular starting position. 

The goalkeepers come out for their warm-ups ahead of the rest of the team, he was given a rousing reception from the home fans when he came out. He is a back-to-back Player of the Year award winner, which goes to show how much he was thought of in his prime Millwall days. He leaves Millwall having played 169 times for the club, someone who had firmly become a fan favourite.

On the lap of appreciation, there was a select group of fans calling for Tottenham loanee Japhet Tanganga to stay, he was the last to finish that tour of the pitch, another that the fans have taken to. 

Questions remain over the future still of captain Shaun Hutchinson – his contract is up at the end of the season in which he has not been able to feature as much as he would like due to injuries. He is the club’s current longest-serving player having made 256 appearances since the summer of 2016.