Millwall head coach Edwards on 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday: It’s another really disappointing performance

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards admitted his side failed to create anywhere near enough in the final third after a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at The Den.

The Lions are only a point above the Championship bottom three after the loss today – a sixth reverse in seven league matches.

QPR’s win at Bristol City only amps up the pressure on the South Londoners, who have suffered four straight losses.

Millwall have taken one point from a possible 21.

Edwards said: “Another really disappointing performance, again just lacking quality in a lot of areas really. A similar theme to some of the other games, albeit in some of those other games in the first part we have had a bit more conviction about us going forward.

“I’m thinking of Preston, Boro and Leicester – where we knew we were starting well but not hanging on to it. It’s been a bit of a theme that we have spoken about. But today was box to box. We didn’t really get dominated by Sheffield Wednesday but when it came to them having an opportunity to hurt us they had two moments and scored two goals.

“The ball across the box is a clean and fast ball – they are there to finish it. We’re not defending our goal well enough at the moment – it’s too easy to score against us out of nothing moments. Then, up the other end, for how much we had of the game – I wouldn’t say domination or good control – in the second half we don’t create anywhere near enough.

“It is a sign of a team going in with a lot of good intentions but clearly playing with a lack of confidence and a lack of conviction – that ultimately presents itself in a lack of quality. We’re not doing enough to get results.”

Ike Ugbo scored Wednesday’s first in the 31st minute from a low cross by Anthony Musaba.

Musaba made it 2-0 before the break, finishing across Matija Sarkic from Barry Bannan’s threaded throughball.

Asked how Millwall arrest a concerning slide, Edwards said: “For all of us involved – and I’d give all the credit and respect to the players of what they are capable of – it is definitely a concerning period, for sure.

“The amount of games we have lost now since New Year’s Day and some of the performances, I would never try and sugarcoat it for the players and say it wasn’t concerning. But the reality is that being a player, coach or manager at this level is that sometimes it is really tough – and the only way is to stand up, stick together and face it. You just have to play better than we are.”