Neil Harris toasted a performance he knew was coming as Millwall held their own against Championship leaders Leeds to earn a 1-1 draw at The Den.
After three defeats in a row Millwall could, and arguably should, have had all the points in a match after Jed Wallace converted from a long throw-in flicked on by Murray Wallace. Even after Jack Harrison brought Leeds level five minutes before the end the Lions had chances to win it, with substitute Tom Elliott going close.
Harris was convinced his side, who managed to impose their physical style on Leeds, “could have easily had four goals from set plays” and did not agree when it was put to him that Marcelo Bielsa believed his visiting side had deserved to win the game.
“What game was that?” he asked jokingly. “It was a game without a huge amount of chances. We matched Leeds throughout the course of the 90 minutes.
“When you’re playing against a top side - and Leeds are a top side - they’re going to create the odd moment of brilliance. They had a couple of chances with clever play or slight errors by us and the goalkeeper made a good save. But we scored a perfectly good goal, created a lot of chances and at the end should have won the game.
“Am I bemoaning only getting a point? No. I could be negative and say we conceded a last minute goal but I’d rather concentrate on us being really pleased with a point.
“It was a performance I knew was coming from the group’s attitude over the last few weeks. We lost three games in a ten day period and at this football club it’s almost a disaster. That’s how far we’ve come. I take it as a positive. That’s when you know you’ve got good players because there’s expectations level.
“I’m disappointed for my players that they didn’t get three points today.”
The renewal of a fierce rivalry threatened to turn ugly on the touchline in the closing minutes when both coaching teams were at each other’s throat.
Bielsa was quick to take responsibility due to his greater experience than Harris, to whom he apologised, but the Millwall boss brushed off any prospect of drama.
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“It’s just football, isn’t it? We should have given the ball back quicker in our dugout but you don’t because it’s two minutes to go and you’re 1-0 up at home. Obviously they got excited when they scored a goal but I spoke to Marcelo downstairs and there’s no problem whatsoever.”
