‘Worst league performance of the season’ – Millwall boss Harris reacts to setback at Cardiff City

Neil Harris felt his Millwall side produced their “worst league performance” of the season during their 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City tonight.

Perry Ng’s header sealed a first victory of the season for the Bluebirds, who had only collected one point in their seven previous games.

The hosts recently sacked boss Erol Bulut.

Millwall came into the contest in Wales off the back of an impressive 3-1 home win against Preston North End at the weekend.

“I felt we massively helped Cardiff City tonight,” said Harris, who had a spell in charge of this evening’s opponents. “That’s our worst league performance this season, without a doubt. It was a poor performance.

“We haven’t got the points total that we deserve. The stats show we should be much higher up the league table and have more points. The fact is we haven’t. But the stats don’t lie that Cardiff have been the lowest-scoring team and the worst-performing team in the division.

“Individually and collectively we were a poor Millwall side today. I said to the guys: ‘If you aren’t going to be at your best or fluid enough in our play, then you can’t give poor goals away’. Ultimately a Neil Harris team and a Millwall team can’t get suckerpunched on set-plays.”

The first goal was always going to be key in this contest with Cardiff yet to win and Millwall having failed to claim anything when they have conceded the opening goal this season.

Harris said: “Once you go behind, then the stadium has a bit of belief and confidence. We just didn’t react accordingly.

“We talked about it before – don’t give them a leg up and don’t give any opportunity to build that confidence. The first goal mentality is key in the Championship. It’s key in our fixtures, at our football club, but it was going to be vital today.”

Harris acknowledged the fine margins that often dictate the outcome in the Championship.

“Dunc should score at the end,” he said. “The difference is we have a corner on the stroke of half-time – (George) Saville knocks it back across, Romain (Esse) heads it and it’s cleared off the line. The ball is almost in the back of the net.

“At the other end, a free header for Perry ends up in the back of the net—that’s the fine margins of the Championship in our games. Today they didn’t fall the right way for us.”