Millwall boss Neil Harris on being pushed into the spotlight post-match by George Saville

Neil Harris got his moment to step forward and take the adulation of Millwall’s away support at Southampton – with George Saville pushing the head coach forward.

The Lions had just less than 2,800 travelling fans at St Mary’s Stadium and they saw the Lions pick up a 2-1 victory against the Championship promotion-chasers.

Harris returned for his second permanent spell in charge of Millwall earlier this week – replacing Joe Edwards as head coach – and his name was regularly chanted by the Millwall support both before, during and after the game.

Saville was adamant that the club’s all-time record goalscorer should be at the front of the celebrations.

Asked about that, Harris said: “It was important I showed the appreciation – between me to the supporters. But, for me, that is for the fans – that win. And my players. I just got here – I’m alright, I’m in a good place!

“But we needed that as a football club. The dressing room needed it and the fans needed it. It was more important that the players got the reception – not me.

“But Sav, he’s a Millwall man. He was excellent today – him and Billy Mitchell in the middle of the park were so, so good. So competitive and so aggressive in their approach. Their positional play was so good. It was a nice touch – George understands how football works.”

Millwall are still only a point outside the bottom three as QPR won and so did Huddersfield. It means Stoke City join Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United in the drop zone.

Harris was unaware of the other results when he came in to do his media. He said: ‘It pushes us another game forward. It’s important we get some more points on the board. We need points. But we can only take one game and one step at a time.

“All we have achieved today is chemistry between the supporters and the pitch again today. It’s a start. We have got three more points on the board. We have got confidence and belief in the group – goals for individuals. It has been a whirlwind for me, the last few days, but also the players as well.

“The eight or nine lads that I gave Millwall debuts to, they know me very well and I’ve stayed in touch with them over the years. The other lads have had to learn about me quickly. My character, personality and spirit to win games of football. And they will learn quickly.”