Alex Grace’s takeaways from Millwall’s 2-0 defeat to QPR – Lions fail to deliver as a unit as positives hard to find
Millwall were handed a second consecutive Championship defeat after they were beaten by relegation-threatened QPR on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Ilias Chair and Sinclair Armstrong sealed a 2-0 win for the hosts, who won for just the third time at home all season. Millwall will quickly want to move on and look to improve ahead of this weekend’s game with Preston.
Here are Alex Grace’s four takeaways from the disappointing defeat.
A POOR DAY AT THE OFFICE
Instantly forgettable – that is the best way to describe that performance.
It was a very poor showing from the Lions and one that came out of the blue. Recent performances have been very good, the attacking intensity has been high and teams have been under constant pressure. Leicester and Middlesbrough both had to survive scares before landing their knockout blows but QPR had a very easy ride against a surprisingly lacklustre Lions outfit who managed just two shots in the entire contest.
Head coach Joe Edwards was equally baffled in his post-match press conference as to why his side had struggled so much against their London rivals. It was a game very low on quality and the two goals reflect that.
If a spectacular goal is scored and that is what beats you, then you can hold your hands up and say ‘fair enough’ – however, that was not the case at Loftus Road. Joe Bryan and Brooke Norton-Cuffy will both feel they could have done better with the first goal as neither covered themselves in glory.
The second goal summed up Millwall’s day – a simple shot, parried by Matija Sarkic and Armstrong reacted quicker than any Millwall defender to slot home the rebound.
There is not one individual who can be blamed for this defeat, as a collective, the team was not good enough.
AN ODDLY LACKLUSTRE SHOWING AS NISBET STRUGGLES
No-one can accuse Millwall of being passive and lacklustre in recent weeks – or since Edwards came to the club. He himself said it was a surprise to see his team struggle to create chances after doing so well against the likes of Middlesbrough and Leicester.
Since his arrival he has introduced a high-pressing game but Rangers navigated that very well. They managed to nullify the threats of Duncan Watmore and Norton-Cuffy. They did their homework and Millwall did not have an answer.
The head coach was left frustrated his side carried on doing the same things that weren’t working rather than trying something new or looking to break out in another way.
It was a tough game for Kevin Nisbet. The Scotland international had no joy whatsoever and was replaced before the hour mark having had just 12 touches in the game, he is a very different player to Tom Bradshaw who this contest would have suited a lot more. Former Hibs striker Nisbet is certainly the most natural finisher at the club but he needs to get those chances to be effective.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE PLAYERS ARE RETURNING
There are not many positives to take from the contest, however, seeing some key players return is one.
George Saville is back from suspension and his leadership and bite in midfield was certainly missing at Loftus Road. The team was lacking someone in midfield who could grab the contest by the scruff of the neck and give the Lions a bit of bite which was severely lacking. Casper De Norre is a player that suits the Edwards style and he will fit in perfectly to the centre of the pitch.
You feel a partnership of Saville and De Norre will be the first choice going forward. Billy Mitchell and George Honeyman have both done good jobs stepping in but the return of the key duo will give Millwall a bit more discipline and snap in the middle of the park.
LIONS REMAIN IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION
My thinking before this game was that was it was must-win or must-not-lose due to the points gap. Obviously to be defeated was disappointing but Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday both failed to win – along with Huddersfield. It means the gap to the bottom three is still a healthy eight points. Take the goal difference into account you can say it’s nine. That is not something to get complacent over – but it’s a reason not to panic.
Relegation has not been something the Lions have had to worry about in recent years. The Gary Rowett era saw Millwall become an established top-half side and the gap to the top half is six points.
At this stage of the season the table does begin to take shape and it’s looking likely to be a season of mid-table security. However, what this league has always taught us is to expect the unexpected.
A run of three wins or three defeats can change the outlook very quickly, there is plenty of life left in this campaign yet.
PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS