Millwall skipper Hutch: We wanted better start – but there is no reason for panic stations

Shaun Hutchinson is into his seventh season at Millwall and so he  is more aware than most that the Lions can often take a while to click into their groove.

But the experienced centre-back, 31, has made no attempt to hide his disappointment at their start to the new Championship season.

Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Burnley means the Lions are averaging a point per game. But they also only had seven points on the board at the same stage in the 2021-22 campaign and ended up taking their play-off prospects right up until the final fixture at AFC Bournemouth.

What has smarted more for Hutchinson, signed on a free transfer after his release by Fulham  in 2016, is the 11 goals conceded. Their only clean sheet came in a 2-0 opening day win over Stoke City.

“Since I’ve been here we have never really got off to a great start,” the Millwall captain told the South London Press. “Not that it is any excuse. Every year we try and have the same thing ‘we’re not picking up results, what is going on?’ As much as that is frustrating, it is more the manner we are getting beaten – lot of goals going in. Cheap goals, silly goals…that is what is a big deal.

“I know it is no excuse but we’ve had some really difficult away fixtures. Reading at home was a really, really poor result. But the away fixtures – Norwich, Sheffield United and Burnley – are about as difficult as you can get.

“I need to reiterate that I don’t for one minute accept it and think it’s okay. We’re not playing great, we’re not playing at our best. The lads can feel frustrated at the start – but let’s not start panicking.

“We have been here many times before and results have come. We just need to iron out a few things. The manager mentioned it in his press conference  [after the midweek defeat] that the players need to step up a little bit, myself included, and start putting in performances.

“We need to get back to being hard to beat, a resilient Millwall team.”

Asked about Rowett’s comments after the reverse at Turf Moor, Hutchinson said:  “I wouldn’t really say it is anything we didn’t already know as players.

“There has been a lot of change in the team because the manager is looking for his best 11 right now – whether that is form, ability or whatever it might be.

“Nothing is really ticking yet to suggest that he has found his best 11.  I’m not really sure right now whether that is because a few people are not in form, or a few are not at full fitness or a few are not at full confidence. But I am certain it won’t take long before he starts to find his best 11 and we start picking up some consistent results.

“We need to stick to what we know, stick to what we do best and results will turn around.”

Millwall had lost only six of their last 37 home games in front of fans at The Den under Gary Rowett – casting aside the results when Covid  took things behind closed doors – before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Reading.The Lions headed into that fixture on a run of five successive home Championship victories.

It needs to just be a blip with three of their next four on their own patch, starting with Cardiff tomorrow.

“It’s no secret that no-one really fancies coming to The Den with how solid we’ve been there,” said Hutchinson. “Sometimes we might not be at our best away and you take a draw because of our home form.

“But if you don’t get results there you have to push for wins away.

“It’s been a strength and we need it to continue, because if our home form slips then we’ll be slipping down the league. We’ll be looking to build a bit of confidence in these games by getting clean sheets.

“It was a disappointing result at Burnley but I’m not too downbeat. I’m still looking forward to how our season is going to pan out.”