Millwall midfielder will ‘bounce back quickly’ from dejection of conceding late penalty in Huddersfield draw

Joe Edwards has explained why he did not feel the need to talk to George Saville about his costly handball in Millwall’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The Northern Ireland international conceded a spot-kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time which was converted by Delano Burgzorg.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy had put the Lions ahead earlier in the second period and they looked to be heading for a first Den win in more than three months.

Saville was visibly dejected by the concession of the penalty – dropping to his haunches at full time. Both Joe Bryan and assistant head coach Andy Myers tried to lift the midfielder back to his feet as he contemplated the final outcome.

“The honest answer is I haven’t spoken to Sav about that,” Edwards told the South London Press yesterday afternoon. “And that is probably because of who Sav is and how experienced he is. Maybe if a young kid had come on, been involved in that and shown such disappointment then I’d feel the need to get around them.

“But I put it down to that Sav was showing how we all felt at that moment. I wouldn’t go overboard, even in my thinking about it, of how responsible he felt. Look at the manner of the situation. It was so unlucky and it happened in a split second. You couldn’t put it down as a stupid mistake by someone – it is one of those freak incidents, whether it is just a natural reflex or instinct.

“We all know Sav wouldn’t do anything deliberate like that. I also know that he is an experienced player and a mentally strong player – so I didn’t feel the need to get around him too much. He’ll bounce back from that quickly.”