Zian Flemming explains why wait for a first goal for Millwall is not causing him major concern

Zian Flemming came even closer to ending his wait for a first goal in Millwall colours on Wednesday night, but the fact the club record signing is having chances is a source of solace.

The 24-year-old attacker did nothing wrong with a strike on his weaker left foot against QPR, only to see the ball crash down off Seny Dieng’s crossbar and come back out into play.

Flemming has been foiled with Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric denying him twice at Turf Moor last month, one of those from a wickedly struck free-kick.

And Flemming was also not far away with a first-time effort in the 2-0 victory over Cardiff City, whipping the ball narrowly past the left upright.

“Whenever you don’t have goals it’s always important to have shots,” the former Fortuna Sittard player told the South London Press at the start of this week. “I’m not saying that you have to shoot from all different angles, you have to be realistic.

“But if you don’t shoot on goal then you will never score. And if you don’t score but are still having proper shots, in close, then you always know the goals are just around the corner.

“If you are having difficulty getting shots off it is even more difficult to get goals. It sounds a bit stupid and simple, but me having a lot of shots just gives me the indication that I’ve been a threat to the opposition.

“I’ve been close to scoring but the goalkeeper has saved a few times and against Cardiff it was just wide.

“The ball fell a little bit in between myself and Vogey [Andreas Voglsammer]. He had the first touch but I had a better angle to shoot. We both didn’t have the perfect angle, because the ball dropped a little bit in the middle, I had to shoot from a little bit behind me. I told him to leave it but unfortunately it was just wide, by only a few inches.

“I know with my shot in both feet that balls will go in.

“It’s football, sometimes they will go just wide of the post and sometimes they go just inside. Of course I will try to get them inside every time, or at least as many times as possible. I’m not really worried about it now.”

A knee ligament injury sustained on his debut against Stoke City ruled Flemming out for the next four matches. But that time on the sidelines allowed him to settle in the UK and properly move over from the Netherlands.

“At the start there were lots of bits to do, especially outside of football, but I feel pretty comfortable at the club,” said Flemming.

“After my injury I was really, really ready to get it going.

“The league here is just tougher. All the players we play against are stronger and quicker.

“In terms of mindset and style of play, in the Netherlands everything is, in general, very possession based. Everyone there is focused to have the ball and be patient with it.

“Here, in the Championship, it is more regular to play direct. It doesn’t mean you don’t play with the ball, but it is quicker towards the goal instead of patiently playing the ball around for a while.”