Connor Mahoney: “I want to give the Millwall fans something to smile about”

BY JAKE SANDERS

Connor Mahoney reckons he will have a good relationship with the Millwall fans – and says he will thrive off the hostile atmosphere at The Den.

The 22-year-old winger joined the Lions from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth earlier this month on a long-term contract and marked his home debut by scoring a late equaliser in Millwall’s 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad in their final pre-season outing on Saturday.

Clearly delighted with his first goal for the club, but Mahoney quickly turned his attention to Millwall’s Championship opener against Preston North End on Saturday.

“It was unbelievable, wasn’t it? Goal of the Season already,” Mahoney joked. “I was on the left first-half and most of the second-half and then I switched to the right. Right is where I prefer to play, cutting inside and doing that, but the left I enjoy that as well. I thought that was probably the best team goal, I think Thommo’s [Ben Thompson] was a better strike, but the goal for that third one was very good. It was pleasing.

“It was a good game, I enjoyed it. I didn’t think it was going to be like that, I thought it was going to be a bit more hoof ball from us, but we showed that we can get it down and play and we scored some good goals.”

“I have spoke to a few of the lads and they said that the first game of the season is going to be a big one, it’s going to be busy, it’s going to be loud and the atmosphere is going to be good, so hopefully I will be able to make my proper debut on Saturday and hopefully score another.

“I think I will [thrive off the fans]. Obviously it’s not nice if they shout bad stuff at you, but at the end of the day they pay their money, they are entitled to say what they want. But I think we are going to have a good relationship, I will show them something different that maybe they have not had before or maybe they have lacked before and I just want to bring that quality on the ball and give them something to smile about, little moments of magic like that today.”

Mahoney has just scored two goals in 72 senior career appearances – both coming while he was on loan at Birmingham City last season – and whilst the former England Under-20 man is targeting a much better goal tally this season, making goals are equally as important.

He said: “A big thing for me is to also getting assists, I think I have shown already that the delivery will be where it needs to be most of the time. That is something I work on a lot, my delivery. So I think if I can get a good partnership with Coops [Jake Cooper] and Smudge [Matt Smith] they are going to score a lot of goals from my set-pieces this season.”

“I need to score more goals. But last year I didn’t get many shots, but this season I have set my targets for what I want to hit and I think I will be able to do that.”

Millwall finished 21st last season, just four points above the relegation-zone and are once again among the favourites in the Championship to be relegated this season, but that’s not how Mahoney sees things planning out.

He said: “I have said before that this club can’t go and spend millions and millions on players like many other clubs, but what we do have is work-rate, effort and we will put the hours in on the training ground.

“So if we can’t match teams in that quality department then we will definitely match teams in the hard-work and grafting. I think a top-half finish would be a successful season, but I think if we are in and around that by Christmas or February then why can’t we push for the play-offs and dream.”

PICTURES BY BRIAN TONKS