The talking points from Millwall’s 2-0 loss to Bristol City – Low-quality clash sees Lions’ wasteful in possession
Millwall missed the chance to close the gap on the Championship play-off places after they were beaten 2-0 by Bristol City at The Den on Tuesday evening.
Here are Alex Grace’s talking points from Tuesday night’s clash.
A LOW-KEY AFFAIR THAT NEVER GOT GOING
The Lions have been involved in some real drab games this season. Coventry away, Hull and Oxford at home are just three that come to mind – and this was another. Neither team managed to get into their stride in a dismal first half, Millwall keeper Lukas Jensen’s two smart stops were the only action of note. City were missing the injured Nakhi Wells, a player who enjoys facing the Lions, and they lacked a bit of bite in the final third.
The hosts were wasteful with the ball in attacking situations. The gaps were there but, for whatever reason, Millwall could not find them.
A match lacking quality was settled by a poor goal as the Lions were undone from a set-piece. Poor defending from a City corner allowed the ball to be pulled back to find Vyner at the back post.
The second goal killed what was already a tough game to watch. Sam Bell’s initial shot from a City breakaway was saved by Jensen but former Luton man Harry Cornick was there to seal all three points for his side.
CHANCE MISSED TO CLOSE THE GAP ON THE TOP SIX
Alex Neil spoke after the win at Derby County at the end of last month about the ambition from him and the team to keep the season alive and not let it drift. Millwall’s final 11 fixtures are very tough, especially the away games.
If they wanted to really charge down those play-off places it felt like they needed to win this game and City’s away record is very poor as well, making this all that more disappointing. The Robins had picked up just five points away from Ashton Gate since winning 2-0 at Norwich in November.
The gap to West Brom in sixth is seven points and with road trips to Leeds, Sheffield United, Sunderland and Blackburn still to come, this could well be a bridge too far to cross.
Usually, you need to be targeting between 73-76 points to get a play-off place in the Championship. The Lions are on 45. To even reach 73 from here would mean needing to take 28 points from the remaining 33.
You can never rule anything out but, that looks like a very tall order.
MITCHELL PREFERRED TO SAVILLE IN MIDFIELD
Billy Mitchell has slowly made his way back into this Millwall team after a nightmare first half of the season for the academy product, who got injured in pre-season and did not feature until December.
He has started five of the last six in all competitions and slotted perfectly back into his role alongside Casper De Norre.
Mitchell offers something quite different to George Saville. The Northern Ireland international is known for having a bit more aggression and forward play in his locker compared to Mitchell but the latter is a calming presence alongside De Norre. He very rarely gives the ball away.
Neil has plans to evolve the style of play and Mitchell is someone who will be key to that.
NEGHLI A BIG LOSS AS AZEEZ FORCED OFF
Camiel Neghli became Millwall’s £3.5million club record signing in January when he arrived from Sparta Rotterdam. He is a player that arrives with a lot of intrigue.
The South Londoners have utilised the foreign market well recently. Zian Flemming’s arrival from Fortuna Sittard is the best example so far with Mihailo Ivanovic and De Norre also improving the squad.
Scoring goals has been the main problem for Millwall this season with just 34 netted in 35 matches. Winger Negli is someone who will hopefully assist with that issue.
But not in the short term.
Neghli came off with an ankle ligament injury against Crystal Palace on Saturday and is set to be out for the next six weeks.
And it could be a double whammy for Lions boss Neil with Femi Azeez withdrawn at half-time against Bristol City with a tight hamstring.
Hopefully it was caught at the right time and Azeez will not be forced into some time on the sidelines.