Millwall boss hails impact from subs – and keeper Jensen – as Lions salvage a point with late leveller

Neil Harris was delighted to see Femi Azeez open his goal account for Millwall with the late equaliser in today’s 1-1 draw at home against Sunderland.

The leveller came from two substitutes combining.

Irish attacker Aidomo Emakhu produced a low cross from the left which Azeez slotted past Anthony Patterson in the Black Cats goal.

“All the subs contributed when they came on,” said Lions head coach Harris. “It’s not easy for Aidomo to come on in the 90th minute, to try and make an impact in the last five minutes.

“I just felt throw caution to the wind and that we had to get more bodies on their last line – overload. Get the wing-backs to get the wrong side of their full-backs etc. It came off a transition but it proved a vital moment for us.

“Femi is getting better and better in a Millwall shirt. He’s starting to show his qualities. He has got three assists now but for him to get his first goal, it will be really key for him.”

Lukas Jensen did not manage to make it four straight clean sheets at The Den due to Aaron Connolly’s early strike which put Sunderland ahead. But the Lions number one crucially kept out Milan Aleksic’s shot with his legs to deny the visitors from enjoying a two-goal cushion.

Harris said: “It was a good save and that’s what you need in game-defining moments, don’t you?

“For the free-kick that the referee gives for their goal, is it a free-kick? It’s debatable. It’s not why we’ve conceded. It is poor organisation skills, is why we conceded.

“Lukas makes a big save and then we go up the other end a second later and score.”

PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS