Millwall boss Harris clearly angry and unhappy after 1-1 draw against Derby County
Millwall head coach Neil Harris was angry with his side after their 1-1 draw against Derby this afternoon.
The Lions boss was up quickly after the Championship match to address the assembled media and looked visibly annoyed by the result, which saw their opponents collect their first away point of the season.
Millwall had chances to take the lead with Macaulay Langstaff twice going close, a first-half effort clipping off the right upright before Rams keeper Jacob Zetterstrom stuck out a right leg to deny the former Notts County striker when he had outpaced Eiran Cashin.
Derby went ahead in the 78th minute. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s corner was flicked towards his own goal by Millwall sub Femi Azeez and Jerry Yates scrambled it in from close range.
But Mihailo Ivanovic’s first goal for the Lions since his club record move from Vojvodina drew the Lions level. He opted to round Zetterstrom and slot a low finish home.
Harris said: “Disappointed. It might look like a really good point and recovery – but we are better than that at The Den.
“They have had one effort on goal and scored. I think (Corey) Blackett-Taylor should do better second half when he cuts inside and scuffs it into the advertising hoardings but other than that, it is their first effort inside the penalty area to get near to our goal. The ball ends up in the back of out net and the mentality is not good enough – we have to do better than that.
“Before that we should be in front. We’ve got three really good chances to score. In my pre-match presser I talked about how good our expected goals are for and against – that we should be in the top four of the division. Well, I’m fed up talking about it – so I’m not going to talk about it anymore after today.
“But again we are not ruthless enough in one penalty area and we get punished in the other. Fortunately the big Serbian geezer comes on and rescues a point for us.
“We deserved a point but I’m fed up of sitting here, especially at The Den, and finding ways to give the ball away. It’s got to stop.”
One positive was Ivanovic, 19, getting off the mark.
“I’m really pleased for him,” said Harris. “He has moved abroad, away from his family, to come and follow his dream. It is so important for a Millwall number nine to get off the mark, especially here at The Den.
“It will do his confidence the world of good. It is good for us as a group when we have got so few options – look at the subs Derby are making and then look at the options I’ve got, especially at the top end of the pitch.
“I’m absolutely delighted for Mika. It is an important point for us – we backed up a really good point at West Brom. But I’m the Millwall manager – I need to demand more of my players here at The Den. We need to make sure we stop finding ways of shooting ourselves in the foot, especially here against Watford and Luton. We almost did it again today.”
Millwall failed to make the most of deadball moments.
“They were really poor,” said Harris. “Seventeen thousand people saw that and it’s important that the fanbase understand that I saw it as well. The delivery wasn’t good enough or the way we attacked the ball. We were soft at times. The application and attitude of the players was immense from box to box but not good enough in both penalty areas.
“I’m not going to talk about individuals (for Derby’s opener) but that ball cannot go in our goal.”
PICTURE: BRIAN TONKS