‘Everyone has to be ready’ – Millwall boss Neil Harris takes stock during international break

Neil Harris has not seen any drop in confidence levels after his unbeaten record as Millwall head coach was ended by Leeds United.

The big-spending Yorkshire side went top of the Championship after a 2-0 victory over the Lions at Elland Road on Sunday.

Wily Gnonto and Dan James scored in each half for Leeds, who are unbeaten on home turf in the league this season and have not conceded a goal from open play in 2024.

Millwall had started to exert more control in the second half before James’ finish ensured nerves did not set in during the closing stages.

“I made it very clear to the group afterwards – it was a very spirited display but the better team won on the day and we accept that,” said Harris. On the day you have to credit the opponent and where they are at as a football club and where we are at this moment – 10 points from four games now goes to 10 points from five games.

“We’ve been to Leeds and Southampton, played Watford at home and been to Blackburn – as well as having a real ding-dong game against Birmingham. That is a bloody good points return and the players should be proud of what they have done.

“It just goes to show the work we need to do between now and the end of the season.

“The players came in on Wednesday morning (after a couple of days off) in a really good frame of mind and in really good spirits.

“The lads who have gone off on international duty have done that with really good confidence in their play and their fitness levels.

“We can really look forward to attacking an exciting Easter weekend.”
Millwall have eight matches remaining to clinch safety with four of those at The Den, starting with the Good Friday visit of West Bromwich Albion.

“We come back and play all those games in the space of five weeks – that’s what the football calendar is and it’s a level playing field for all teams,” said Harris.

“We have to make sure that physically we look after the players in what they need – the lads who have played a lot of match minutes for me need shorter, sharper stuff on the training pitch this week.

“The lads who haven’t played a lot – like Wes (Harding), Allan (Campbell), Murray (Wallace), Hutch (Shaun Hutchinson), Bartosz (Bialkowski), Adam Mayor, Romain (Esse) and Casper (De Norre), to a certain degree – they get bigger minutes. They will do an 11v11 as well.

“Everyone has to be ready. It does give us an opportunity to fine-tune what every individual needs.

“The lads who go away are privileged to represent their country and we offer absolute 100 per cent support  to them and look forward to seeing them back, hopefully in one piece.”