Millwall’s defending earns praise from Sheffield United manager

Paul Heckingbottom was frustrated with Sheffield United’s performance in their 1-0 defeat against Millwall at The Den – but praised the Lions defending late on.

Jake Cooper was the matchwinner once more against the Blades. Cooper has scored five goals in his last six league matches against Sheffield United.

Millwall have won four games in a row – dispatching Cardiff City, QPR, Derby County and Sheffield United. It is the South London club’s best run since March 2018.

United manager Heckingbottom said: “It was a tough game. Two teams that played Wednesday night, first-half that’s what it looked like.

“There wasn’t anything in the game. Probably if you look at statistics and passing, we probably shaded it. We would’ve taken a 0-0 the way we played.

“To come away with a point, with the form that Millwall are in [would’ve been good]. But performance wise, we weren’t at our best so that’s a disappointing thing, the way we lost.

“If I go through the pattern of the game, we could’ve been better first half. I wanted a bit more energy. Second half, we started well and then we mess up on a corner and Millwall have four or five corners or set plays in a row, that really kills the momentum.

“The game was like that until they scored from one. They defended very, very well. That’s when we did start passing the ball quicker and slicker but they killed all the space and defended their box very well.

“When it was there for us to go and create we didn’t. When we were moving the ball quicker, that’s when they had the lead and defended very well.”