Millwall skipper Pearce: We didn’t work them hard enough
BY ALEX GRACE
Alex Pearce admitted that his teammates didn’t test Huddersfield enough after the Terriers ran out 3-0 winners in SE16.
The Lions captain said they had not been creative enough this afternoon at The Den – and Huddersfield deserved the points.
Pearce said: “We are disappointed, bitterly disappointed in the dressing room.
“We have addressed it, certainly.
“I felt we started the game very slowly, first 15 minutes especially, completely different to Wednesday night to be honest.
“We didn’t move the ball well enough and they scored a good goal.
“Then we came into the game we actually got a foot hold and I was pleased with how we were playing towards the end of the first half, moving it with a bit more intensity and more on the front foot.
“I was pleased with the way we responded from the goal. I said that’s how we’ve got to play in the second half, but we had a go second half without really causing them any real difficulty at the back and thats the other real disappointment from today. Our final third entries were good but that final ball let us down at times.”
Tom Bradshaw started as the main striker in the 5-2-3 formation but found it very difficult to get into the game. He was replaced by Matt Smith at half time but he also struggled to get into the game in the second period as Huddersfield made life tough for Millwall.
Pearce said: “Smudge feeds off service and we didn’t get enough decent balls into him, enough crosses into the box and that was the idea behind bringing him on. The gaffer made the substitution and that was the thinking behind it, that we would get balls into the box.”
Pearce was also keen to give Huddersfield credit He said: “Give credit to Huddersfield – they played very well today. Their defenders stood up well to it today, especially when Smudge came on and they were deserved winners today.”