Millwall winger Connor Mahoney rates his performances last season + determined to raise game next season

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Connor Mahoney finished last season with a bang – now he wants to show he can be a game-changer on a more consistent basis for Millwall.

The 23-year-old winger scored and claimed two assists as the Lions signed off the 2019-20 season with a 4-1 demolition of Huddersfield Town.

But Mahoney readily concedes that his first campaign in SE16 didn’t fully go to plan.

He was one of Neil Harris’ marquee signings in July 2019 but he only started 14 times in the Championship – and was a used sub in 24 league fixtures.

“It was difficult coming to a new changing room and a new style of play that I wasn’t used to,” said the former England U20 international. “I had a strong end to the season but I’m looking for much more this time around – more game time.

“I don’t want to be coming off the bench. I want the gaffer to be able to trust me and play me from the start.

“I’d give myself a five or six [out of 10 for his impact last season]. I’m probably being a bit harsh, but there are always areas to improve.

“The fans have seen some of what I can do – but only in flashes. It is time for me to do that on a consistent basis so that I’m delivering Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday – it’s no good doing it once every three or four games.

“To get to that next level you have got to do it week in and week out. I want to try and get that out of myself.

“It’s been a positive start to training. I feel fit and ready. I want to start where I left out – in amongst the goals and assists.

“The gaffer told me to go and play with freedom [against Huddersfield] – there wasn’t much riding on the game. I wanted the season to carry on so that I had a few more games to show the gaffer again what I can do. But the matches will come thick and fast when we get back and there is that chance to refresh the memory.”

Mahoney seems more suited to the tactics employed by Gary Rowett, who succeeded Harris in the Den hotseat in October.
The former Stoke, Derby and Burton boss wants the Lions to be more confident in possession, to play their way up the pitch.

“The old gaffer had his ways and they were a little more direct,” said Mahoney, who started nine of the first 10 Championship fixtures before Harris stepped down.

“The new gaffer has come in and I think it suits me more.

“We’ve started bringing in players who are technically very good – like Woodsy [Ryan Woods] and Troy [Parrott]. We’ve already got a bunch of talent at the club – you can see that in the games where we’re getting the ball on the floor and passing it around.

“That’s what the gaffer wants. He wants to move away from long ball, but we need to be versatile and do both if we’re losing or chasing a game. You’ve got to be able to switch it up. We’ve got the likes of Smudge [Matt Smith] who we can bring on and go a bit more direct. If we can improve both sides then it is only going to help us.”

Mahoney will come up against his former club Bournemouth, who saw their five-year stay in the Premier League ended last month.

The Blackburn left-footer switched his hometown team for the Cherries in July 2017. Both of his appearances for Bournemouth came in FA Cup ties and he was loaned to Barnsley and Birmingham.

“It just shows how tough the Premier League is,” said Mahoney. “They will be looking to go straight back up but when they come to Millwall it will be a bit different to what they are used to.

“When the fixtures come out on Friday it will be one of the first that I look out for.

“They have not changed much in the backroom staff – and I don’t think they should because of the success Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall have had over the last 10 or 12 years. It’s been remarkable.

“It will be interesting to see their style of play in the physicality of the Championship when you play a heavy schedule, especially over the Christmas period.

“They’ll have a lot of work to do to go back up. We showed last season that we can beat anyone on our day.

“That will be our mentality again and we’ll look to go that bit better.”

Millwall finished eighth in the Championship – the second time in three seasons since promotion that they have been in contention for the play-offs.

But there are few surprises with the bookies, who give the shortest odds to the three clubs dropping down from the top flight along with Brentford, who lost the Championship play-off final to Fulham.

Cardiff, Stoke, Swansea and Derby are also more fancied than Millwall.

“I don’t know our budget but I wouldn’t say it is up there with some of the teams – and we held our own against some of the big ones who go out and spend millions on players and wages,” said Mahoney.

“The main point we have is an unbelievable dressing room of lads, a tiny squad but one that is full of confidence in each other.

“I think that goes an extra five or 10 per cent that we need – that puts us up to everyone else’s level.

“It speaks for itself that people like Mason [Bennett] and Jayson [Molumby] have left but still say it’s one of the best dressing rooms they’ve been in. There is a camaraderie and banter. Everyone is pulling in the right direction to get Millwall to that next step – which is the Premier League.

“We’re confident going into the new season and we know what we can achieve if we put our minds to it.

“I’ve loved my time here and I’m so happy here. Hopefully next season we can go and create a bit of history.”