, Neil Harris: ‘We are conceding avoidable goals’

Neil Harris: ‘We are conceding avoidable goals’

Millwall manager Neil Harris said his side are conceding ‘avoidable goals’ when speaking to The72 in his post match press conference. 

Does that result reflect the game?

“No, i thought we dominated from start to finish. Shot count, set pieces, crosses areal duels, foot races, tackles and shots on goal. I thought we dominated everything. The scoreline says it was 2-2, thats the bottom line of it. We can’t keep scoring goals at one end and conceding at the other. We have to get back to 0’s to 1’s, that’s what got us an excellent result at Bristol City and that’s what we need to get back to. To come from behind at The Den is not always easy. We get ourselves in front and we are absolutely dominating the game. But then two free headers in our penalty area. I can’t remember a free header for Hull all afternoon other than that. That individually is not acceptable.

Does letting Hull back into the game come down to players not being 100% fit?

“No mentally they need to be better. When your defending. My man doesn’t touch the ball, my man doesn’t score, that’s all it is. I learnt that at a very young age. The first goal was poor, a player switches off, he as put his hand up and says he switched off for the goal but the second one is just too easy.

After being so solid at the end of last season to now, what do you put that down to? 

“Well it’s the same back four, same back four today. Mindset, mindset is the one. Confidence certainly. We work all week on having a game plan, giving the players confidence and having a game plan and trying to make things simple for them and I think we saw in so many ways a simple Millwall performance, as you did last week at Bristol City, but a Millwall performance that completely dominated Hull. We scored two goals could have had more obviously, could have had more of an end product in the final third. Certainly shouldn’t conceded two goals today.

There was a spell after half time before you took the lead where there were chances. What did you make of that?

“In the second half, thought for 20 minutes we were excellent and deserved to be in front. But after that Hull had no pressure. Built no pressure on us and had no chances and that’s why we are disappointed today. If someone bends one in from 25 yards or they cut you open with some really good play no problem but we are not conceding goals like that we are conceding goals that are poor or avoidable that’s the word I think I should use and today the second goal certainly is avoidable.

What do you put that down to?

“Mentality, same players, focus not letting your man score. At the end of the day you have to be better than your opponent. We were better than the opponent for the majority of areas across the pitch today, other than a corner with 15 minutes to go.

What did you think of Aiden O’Brien 

“Aiden grew into the game certainly. He wasn’t at his best first half but I thought second half a lot of good stuff we did came through him, picking up second balls and setting up Jed with the chance just after half time. He obviously scored a very good goal himself with his left foot. Really pleased for him, delighted to get him to 70-75 minutes. I can sit and talk about individuals, I thought Lee Gregory was the best player on the pitch by a mile. I thought he was outstanding. There was so many good things about our play, so many positives about our game but ultimately the frustration is we don’t get the three points.

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