Four takeaways after Millwall’s 1-0 loss at Huddersfield – Hutch such a huge miss as away form still an issue

Millwall’s run of four consecutive Championship wins came to an end at the hands of Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

Gary Rowett’s side were handed just their second defeat in eight games thanks to Yuta Nakayama’s fluke finish in the ninth minute.

It could, and perhaps should, have been more comfortable for Mark Fotheringham’s side. They had an effort cleared off the line and hit the post in a dominant first-half performance.

Here are Alex Grace’s takeaways from the contest.

WINNING RUN ENDED

Millwall were brought back down to earth with a thud in West Yorkshire. It was a very tough first half for Gary Rowett’s men, who could not have complained if they found themselves further than one goal behind at the break. Etienne Camara was denied by George Long before Billy Mitchell cleared Jack Rudoni’s header off the line from the resulting corner.

Credit must be given to Huddersfield. It looked like they were desperate to win the game, and you can see why. The Terriers came into the game  rock bottom of the Championship table. People have short memories in football, it’s well worth noting this was a team that reached the play-off final last season. One of the other journalists sitting alongside me said their performance was akin to some of the terrific performances they produced during that run to Wembley last season.

There was a feeling among the Millwall fanbase before the game that this would be a potential banana skin, and that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

AWAY FORM REMAINS A CONCERN

There is still a big concern about Millwall’s away form. They have not been the side that have found it easy on the road, and that is well documented. However, if the Lions are aiming for a place in the top six, they are going to have to start picking up points on the road. The South Londoners have taken just five points away from home this season, only Middlesbrough and Huddersfield have a worse record.

However, coming up next for Rowett’s men is a trip back to one of his former clubs in Birmingham City. The Lions have enjoyed recent success against the Blues and are unbeaten in their last six trips to St Andrews, leaving hope that Saturday’s defeat can be quickly forgotten about.

HUTCH A BIG MISS

It’s been said before, but Shaun Hutchinson is such a big miss for the Lions and it was clearly evident at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Charlie Cresswell is a good defender in his own right, but Hutchinson offers that calmness in defence – something Cresswell and Cooper lacked a little. There was a tendency to overplay between them at times which prevented Millwall from getting the ball forward.

The captain is set to be out of action until after the World Cup, the Lions have worked so hard in recent weeks to get their season up and running, and the partnership between Hutchinson and Cooper has been vital to their defensive improvements. Cresswell is a young player learning his trade and will make mistakes. He will now get the chance for a run in the team before the World Cup break with Murray Wallace still recovering from injury and Millwall’s centre-back options very limited.

DESPITE DEFEAT MILLWALL REMAIN WELL-PLACED

The Championship is the most unpredictable league in world football – as Saturday proved, with the team at the bottom of the league defeating opponents who had won their previous four games.

There is initial disappointment at losing, and the run ending, but the Lions are in eighth spot with 24 points. That is not a bad position to be in at this stage of the campaign, they are just seven points off second spot with a game in hand. It shows the unpredictability of this league. It’s well worth remembering at the start of the month, the Lions were just three points above the bottom three after the defeat at Blackburn.

Don’t get too high with wins and, more importantly, don’t get too low after a defeat.