Millwall have been a tough defensive unit to break down – but it needed training ground graft to sort conceding goals
By Richard Cawley
Millwall have already matched their clean sheet total for the whole of last season – but Jake Cooper admits it took some hard graft on the training ground to eradicate some weaknesses.
The Lions made it 14 shutouts in the Championship campaign in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Brentford.
And the fact that they have already reached the same amount as the 2016-17 programme – and at a higher level – speaks volumes for one of the division’s most difficult defences to break down.
“We had a few problems at the start of the season with letting some goals in,” said Cooper. “But instead of being arrogant and sticking with what we have been doing we looked at it really closely, went out on the training pitch and worked on ways to stop it.
“There were a number of ways we did that and now we are reaping the rewards, keeping lots of clean sheets.
“I know the manager said the club has not got enough recognition for their achievements in the last 18 months, I don’t think Millwall ever get credit that isn’t due.
“But the defence don’t expect too much, from our point of view it is our job to keep the ball out of the net. If we do that we are always going to nick one with the attacking players we have got.”
Millwall is a happy club. A confident group of players – buying into manager Neil Harris’ tactics and methods. A sixth straight away league win at Barnsley on Saturday, equalling the club’s record, would only fuel hopes of a late play-off charge.
The Lions are unbeaten in 11 Championship matches – seven of those victories.
“I’m not sure there is a better bond in world football than we’ve got between the players, staff and the fans,” said Cooper. “It’s remarkable.
“This is the most togetherness I have felt. I’ve only been in one other dressing room [Reading], but if there is a better one then I’d be surprised.
“Everyone gets along and that doesn’t happen at many clubs. That bond is pushing us forward.
“We have got nine games left and people didn’t expect us to be in with a shout of the play-offs. It is a credit to the way we have been in the last couple of months to put ourselves where we are.
“We don’t need to get too ahead of ourselves – the fans included. The gaffer mentioned the play-offs for the first time to us after Saturday’s match. We won’t be changing anything we do, that’s for certain.”
Millwall are likely to need title-winning form – an average of two points per game – to be in the mix to reach a play-offs for a third successive season.
“I can’t see why we can’t do that after going 11 matches unbeaten,” said Cooper. “We have got a great record at home, but also away now. It is just down to us. We have got no pressure.”
Bracknell-born Cooper spent the second half of last season on loan with Millwall before a permanent transfer in July. He recently went past 50 appearances for the Lions. He has played every minute in the Championship since mid-October, only suspension ruling him out of the home loss to Burton.
“I think this is my longest run in a side,” he said. “I did the whole of a second half of a season at Reading. I’m getting valuable experience.
“I have loved it so far. It has been a great season for me. We have done well as a team and that always helps individually. It is not about individuals on the pitch, we’re out there to help each other.”
Millwall’s success – so comfortably acclimatising to the second tier following promotion – is likely to draw admirers.
“If you do well there is bound to be interest,” said Cooper. “That is the business that football is right now.
“But we’re happy to stick together. The summer is still a long way away. We’ve got nine games to go. At the moment we are all Millwall players and want to do as well as we can in a Millwall shirt.”
Cooper, capped by England from under-18 to under-20 level, could see his performances lead to an international call-up.
He said: “There might be something arising but I won’t talk too soon. We’ll see….there could be.
“I don’t know for sure, we are doing some digging. It is a good thing to play international football. If we can make that possible, why not?”