The Lions’ boss was delighted with their come-from-behind coup at Chesterfield despite a sluggish opening half-hour, writes Ben Smith.
Millwall manager Neil Harris has conceded that his team started lethargically in their 2-1 victory at Chesterfield on Saturday, but recognises that the win was imperative.
The south east London side had fallen behind to Sam Morsy’s long-range strike on 25 minutes, but were back on level terms through Aiden O’Brien less than two minutes later.
Lee Gregory’s effort shortly after the restart turned out to be the Lions’ winner, and helped Millwall leapfrog Peterborough United and Sheffield United to move back into the play-offs.
The triumph in Derbyshire marked the Lions’ third consecutive league success, but boss Harris acknowledges that their display was far from perfect.
“In the first 30 minutes or so we were not at our best,” Harris told Millwallfc.co.uk.
“The boys have shown great resilience and we had to work hard for that win.
“I thought we deservedly went behind in the game and we never really got going for whatever reason. We were a little bit slow out of the traps and we certainly couldn’t keep the ball.
“That was the difference from when we scored until the end of the game; we took care of the football.”
Fantastic
Chopper paid tribute to former Wales international Steve Morison, who did an impressive job for the team in an unfamiliar position.
Harris added: “We adjusted slightly when we got back to 1-1, asking Steve (Morison) to play a little bit deeper, which is a role he can certainly do because he has got the knowledge, ability and desire to do that dirty work around their midfield players. And I think that gave us a real option to get out.
“I thought Lee Gregory’s hold-up and link-up play, as well as his forward running, was fantastic and he deserved his goal.
“It was nowhere near our best performance of the season but it’s a hugely important victory. It was a battle.”
Millwall’s upturn in form has put them back in the race for promotion, and Harris has called on his players to remain there.
“It’s a terrific achievement to get into the top six,” he said.
“The lads have done brilliantly to get there but we have to stay there now.
Harris, who was thrilled to have overcome a potential banana skin, now prepares for the visit of bottom side Crewe Alexandra next weekend.