The lowdown on Middlesbrough 1 Millwall 0 – Lack of end product in final third will be a big job for Neil Harris’ successor

Millwall were unable to send Neil Harris off on a high as they were handed a third consecutive 1-0 Championship defeat, this time at the hands of Middlesbrough.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Middlesbrough: Brynn, Ayling (Dikjsteel 22), Van den Berg, Edmunsson, Borgess, Hackney, Howson, Doak (Jones 75), Azaz, Burgzorg, Latte-Lath (Conway 75). Subs not used: Dieng, Fry, Clarke, Gilbert, Barlaser, Hamilton.

Burnley: Jensen, Leonard, Tanganga, Wallace, McNamara, Saville, De Norre (Mitchell 79), Esse (Ivanovic 79), Honeyman (Watmore 59), Azeez (Emakhu 59), Langstaff (Bradshaw 79). Subs not used: Roberts, Bryan, Harding, Wintle.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

The Lions started brightly, Macaulay Langstaff was played through by Femi Azeez but the striker was denied by the leg of Solomon Brynn. They were made to pay for that in the 10th minute, a simple one-two undid the Lions defence and Emmanuel Latte Lath tucked home the decisive goal.

It was by no means a classic. Boro carved out a few chances after they took the lead and Finn Azaz, the Championship’s Player of the Month for November , fired an effort wide after being neatly played through by Neto Borges. Brynn denied Azeez in the 27th minute – that was as close as Millwall came to a first-half equaliser.

The second half was a scrappy affair with neither side managing to gain enough momentum to create any significant chances.

TACTICAL APPROACH

Harris made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Sheffield United on Wednesday evening. Ryan Leonard, George Honeyman and Langstaff were all recalled as Joe Bryan, Duncan Watmore and Mihalio Ivanovic made way. The Lions made it tough for the home team. As you would expect from a Harris side, they did not give much away and it was really down to Middlesbrough to open up their visitors, something they did not have much success in doing. Something the Lions have been good at under Harris is making sure they stay in games, only Watford and Bristol City have scored more than one goal against Millwall this season and they were the first two opponents of the campaign.

STAR MAN
Japhet Tanganga. He has been outstanding for Millwall since the day he arrived. He provides a lot of leadership in the back four and offers that calm reassuring factor to the rest of his team-mates in that back four. This was a game where he didn’t have an awful lot to do, but what he did have to do he did it well. The only disappointment for him will be the fact he picked a booking in the second half.

BEST MOMENT

A great combination between Esse and Langstaff set up the latter for a huge opportunity in the opening exchanges but unfortunately for him and his team he could not convert the chance. Had that gone in it could have been a very different game.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Millwall’s end product.

It’s been a source of frustration all season, that final ball or lack of a killer instinct has been what has cost the Lions. Not being ruthless enough in both boxes, that is where games are won and lost.

While Harris has introduced a strong backline and cut out the mistakes at the back, the end product is still leaving a lot to be desired. The starting line-up at the Riverside did not have anyone who has scored more than one goal – apart from Romain Esse.

As stated above, the South Londoners were not short of chances, Langstaff and Azeez both had big opportunities either side of Boro’s opening goal. A big task ahead for whoever takes over the reigns.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB

Who will replace Harris? We know it will be someone that agrees to the vision that owner James Berylson has set out…but who will it be? There is not an obvious candidate to pick from. Mark Robins is out of work and has a great track record especially from his time at Coventry. However, his time in management has been mainly north of London.

It’s hard to know what direction the board will go in. Whatever they decide, they know they must get it right. The Joe Edwards experiment was a brave one and perhaps had it been done at a different time may have worked but, at a crucial time  in the season, this next call must be right.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“In the end, we were chasing the game, and they got a few one-on-ones—that’s football. But the game was won and lost in the first half, during a 10-minute spell. We could’ve been 2-0 up in the opening seconds, but we missed two one-on-ones. They went up the other end, took their chance, and scored. It comes back to the penalty areas—that’s what it always is. Our shape, desire, build-up play—it was all exceptional again.”

MAIN PICTURE: ALAMY