‘I don’t need to dress them down’ – Millwall head coach explains why post-match not the time to address QPR defeat

Joe Edwards has explained why he did not read the riot act to his Millwall players after today’s 2-0 defeat at QPR.

The Lions paid the price for a disjointed display at Loftus Road with Ilias Chair and Sinclair Armstrong scoring scruffy goals that gave the relegation-threatened west Londoners maximum points.

Millwall were sent out early for the second half but struggled to improve on a tepid opening 45 minutes in which Asmir Begovic was underworked.

“I’m quite consistent that I don’t speak too much after a game – whether we win, lose or draw,” said Edwards. “The simple fact is that there is a lot of emotion involved.

“I spoke at length at half-time. I was very clear it wasn’t good enough and we needed to step up – I spoke to some individuals about that. But the message is that is absolutely nowhere near the level for us and we know that.

“The very brief things I did say about us having to get back to it Monday and Tuesday and really look at that game – analyse it – to make sure it doesn’t happen too often.

“When I was saying it, typically of our lads, a lot were nodding along and agreeing – because they know it. I didn’t need to dress them down. A lot of these players have got credit in the bank with me because they have been working their socks off in recent weeks, buying in a lot and clearly trying to put into practise what they are taking on.

“Inconsistency is frustrating. A lot of teams have it and we’re not the only team in this division that looks like they are making some progress and then hit a dip. The only way to get out of it is to get back to work, face up to it and improve.”

It was Chris Willock’s cross to the back post which was forced home by Chair in the 27th minute.

Then Armstrong pounced at close range after Jack Colback’s shot was only blocked by Matija Sarkic.

“They kind of sum up the day,” said Edwards. “It was a poor game of football – and that’s not to take anything away from QPR because particularly in the second half, when they started to grow in spirit and belief a bit, it reminded me of us three weeks ago when we played them on Boxing Day.

“We got to a point where we were kind of just desperate for a win – however we could take it. There was a real fight and we were getting to the second balls. They grew into that team today.

“Small moments still decide football matches like that. Just because they didn’t play great stuff all day or cause us many problems in playing through us, you’ve got no right to think you’re entitled to a draw.

“It’s poor defending for the first goal. It is a ball that arrives at the back post. QPR have scored goals like that before and we’ve got to deal with it, we’ve just got to defend. The second one starts from a free-kick where they are bright – really telling of the day that they catch us out with a free-kick where we should be alert.

“The shot is not that difficult and it ends up in our net.

“You can definitely look at it and say two soft goals but coming into a London derby with the standards we want to have, I’d absolutely take the defeat today and not feel hard done by with those two goals because you play poorly, like we did, you’re going to get punished.”