Millwall should be in top-half of Championship table – key player makes claim as he assesses Lions start
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Ryan Leonard has agreed with Millwall head coach Neil Harris that the Championship table is not a fair reflection of the team’s endeavours in the opening nine matches of the season.
The Lions are 18th in the standings after a stalemate at West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
Only Norwich City have created more big chances (29) than the South Londoners – level with Leeds United on 27 – this season.
And the same applies for big chances missed. The Canaries are on 19 with Millwall and their Yorkshire rivals on 17.
“I didn’t know those stats,” Leonard told the South London Press. “They are good stats, but also bad ones at the same time.
“We are creating chances and I can’t remember in my time at Millwall being right near the top of the table for big chances. It shows that we are playing a lot more on the front foot and attacking.
“If we are creating chances that can only be a good thing going into the rest of the season – especially for the boys at the top end of the pitch. Long may it continue.
“If you look at a lot of our performances then we have deserved more wins on the board and to pick up more points than we have. We’ve been unlucky with a few injuries and the goals we’ve conceded have been the type, as a club, we don’t like to concede.
“Other than the Cardiff game (a 1-0 loss last week) when we were well below our standards as a team – we know that – we have performed well and arguably been the better side in 90 per cent of the matches we’ve played so far this season.
“We could easily be in the top half of the division. For some reason we haven’t had the rub of the green, in terms of some of the results going with us.
“As a group we’re trying to look at the positive side of what we have done so far and aim to really build on that.
“Our backs were probably against the wall after the Cardiff defeat, we were all hurting from that, and West Brom was a game where we had to roll our sleeves up and show what as a team, and a football club, we are about.
“It probably wasn’t the easiest on the eye for people at the game, and our supporters who travelled, but we defended solidly and got a good point. There won’t be many teams that get clean sheets against them this season.
“It was important we stopped the rot after Cardiff and put in a dogged performance.”
Four of Millwall’s next five fixtures are at The Den after the international break, starting with Derby on October 19.
Leonard and Romain Esse were seen arguing during the loss to Cardiff – but the former says it just shows their desire to be successful.
“Me and Rom had a bit of a falling out on the pitch but we went in Thursday morning, had a chat about it and a cuddle before moving on,” said Leonard, 33.
“It’s football. Like I said to Rom: ‘If we didn’t argue or say anything then it means you wouldn’t care’. The fact we do have the odd argument is okay as long as nobody takes it personally – which we don’t do.
“We are a great group of lads with a really good squad ethic. We can call each other out when we feel people are doing wrong and also say well done when people deserve it.
“It’s the kind of things we also say in training as well.
“Me and Rom want to do well as individuals, as a team and as a football club. It can only be a positive thing. If someone does something really well then I’ll be the first to tell them that too.
“Rom tries hard and works his balls off. He is performing on the pitch and getting his rewards. Some of the best games I’ve seen Rom play is when he maybe hasn’t scored a goal or an assist.
“Our job as players around him is to keep trying to help him improve, keep giving him the football and let him do his thing.”
PICTURES: BRIAN TONKS