Four takeaways from Millwall’s 2-2 draw at home to Hull – Lions showed character as international break presents chance to take stock

Millwall and Hull City played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at The Den on Saturday afternoon. 

Entertainment has not been something we have associated with Millwall games, but the Lions and the Tigers gave us a good spectacle to watch and lots of conclusions to draw to. 

Duncan Watmore gave Millwall the lead in the eighth minute before a quickfire double from Jaden Philogene and Adam Traore had the visitors in front at the break. 

Joe Bryan’s first goal for Millwall sealed a share of the spoils for Gary Rowett’s side. 

Here are Alex Grace’s takeaways from The Den:

MILLWALL SHOWED CHARACTER

After the 3-0 defeat to Swansea, Gary Rowett questioned his side’s character, and he would have been questioning it again at half-time on Saturday after some very poor defending led to Hull’s two goals.

One long ball down the pitch caught out Wes Harding and allowed Philogene to simply ghost in and bring his side level. Just minutes later, it was Danny McNamara’s turn for an error.

A misplaced header back to Bart Bialkowski caused panic, and the lively Philogene was involved once again as his cross back across goal was met perfectly by Traore.

At this point, tensions in the crowd were growing –  every misplaced pass was greeted with boos and the atmosphere was getting very tricky for those in blue.

Millwall’s inability to win at home over the back end of last season and the struggles so far this season have seen tensions rise considerably and pressure increase on Gary Rowett. 

The manager’s half-time substitutions and speech made a difference. His side was a completely different animal after the break and they showed the character he asked for. They did not fold – they stood up and made themselves counted for. 

The equaliser was deserved and, in truth, if there was going to be a winner, it was only going to be the South Londoners.

DEFENSIVE WOES CONTINUE 

Millwall have struggled so much defensively this season – conceding 13 goals in 11 games this season. However, if you read between the lines, it’s been at home where the problems have been magnified. Three defeats at home so far, two of which have seen the team concede three goals. Away from home, they have been so much more solid, keeping clean sheets in their last two on the road at West Brom and Plymouth.

Millwall do not score many goals – they are a team that have relied on their defensive stability for so long. It’s no secret the Lions are struggling with a lack of options at the back.

Shaun Hutchinson’s miss is a lot bigger than perhaps some realise – he is the captain and the leader. 

The defence, at times, looks like it’s lacking a proper leader. Teams have learned that if they come to The Den and manage to keep the crowd quiet, the tension grows. 

That’s when the mistakes come. This team doesn’t score many – just 11 goals this season – so if they go behind, it’s very tough to win. 

Rowett tried a different system in the first half, playing 4-2-3-1. Moving Ryan Leonard out of the back five and into midfield. Safe to say it didn’t work. The Lions need that extra bit of solidity in their defence while it remains in a shaky state.

CREATIVE PLAYERS NEED TO STEP UP AS SET PIECE THREAT DWINDLES

Millwall have never been the most creative side as mentioned above – they need the creative players to step up and find a new source of goals. 

Set-pieces have always been a massive threat for Rowett’s team. However, that threat is getting smaller and smaller by the week. 

The main threat at set pieces is of course Cooper, but his threat is so watered down by the fact teams stick two men on him – he can get pulled down and battered and bruised and gets nothing. 

His height is going against him and referees do not offer any sympathy. A set-piece goal did come this weekend via Watmore’s quick thinking to get on the end of some poor defending from Hull. 

Bryan has the quality to create, as does Brooke Norton-Cuffy. The likes of Zian Flemming and Casper De Norre also have creative qualities. We need to see more from those players in an attacking force. Perhaps the manager letting the shackles off a tough will help with that going forward. 

However, if that does not happen, Millwall’s chances of scoring goals will dwindle.

GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK 

This break comes at a good time for Rowett and his team. 

The week just gone was critical for the team and the manager with the mood of the fan base. 

Four points from six against two teams that are of decent quality is not a bad return. This break needs to be used in the right way. 

Getting Hutchinson back to full fitness is a big priority – the defence looks so much more solid with him in it. He takes the pressure off Jake Cooper who at times has looked nervous during this run of tough results. 

International breaks are also a good time to take stock of where you are. 11 games in and Millwall are 15th in the table, but just three points off the play-offs, as is the tight nature of the league that there is only three points separating sixth from 15th. 

At this stage last season, the Lions had two fewer points than what they have now and had conceded 18 goals, which is five more than now. For all of the despair, when you look at the facts, things are not as dire as they perhaps might look or seem going into the second break of the campaign. 

The first game after the recess is away to Preston, a good result there and things suddenly start to look rather different.

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS