More Millwall post-match reaction – Stoke loanee earns praise as well as a consistent top performer
Adam Barrett had high praise for Benik Afobe after the striker grabbed his third goal of the season to seal Millwall’s 1-0 win over Reading on Tuesday night.
The on-loan striker pounced on Ryan Leonard’s driven cross to cap a fine team move.
It’s the third time in as many games that the Lions have struck from inside the six-yard box following Tom Bradshaw’s brace from close-range in the 2-1 win over Stoke a couple of weeks ago.
And assistant boss Barrett had praise for Afobe for ensuring he was in the right place at the right time to break the deadlock.
“We’ve spoken about it a lot and we’ve worked hard on it, the centre-forwards getting in between the sticks,” Barrett said after the match.
“Bradders [Tom Bradshaw] did it in the last home game with two little tap-ins. Benik kept going and kept putting himself in there. Goalscorers want to score goals, so that will be a big relief for him and a confidence boost.
“It was a fantastic move, great vision from Jed [Wallace] and a really good run from Ryan Leonard.
“We’re delighted with that and pleased for Benik, but the most important thing now is you’ve got to build on it.
“We want more and he’ll be wanting more as well. Hopefully it’s just the start of things and he can get on a good run.”
Although it was Leonard who teed up Afobe, it was Jed Wallace who found the marauding wing-back with a sublime dinked pass to put him in behind the Royals defence.
And Barrett was full of praise for the Lions talisman – as well as a couple of other standout performers on the night.
“Jed’s been a very important player ever since I’ve been here,” added Barrett. “He gives us a spark going forward and he can produce something out of nothing.
“His energy second half and intensity was superb. It sets the tempo for the other players behind him. I was really pleased with him. But it wasn’t just him, it was Benik, and Mason [Bennett] coming on, Billy [Mitchell] behind him and then the guys at the back were very aggressive and front-foot second half as well.
“He’s a big player for us, Jed, and gave us that spark.”
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