Millwall saved their Championship play-off hopes alive with a commanding 3-1 victory over Norwich Metropolis at The Den on Easter Monday, bouncing again strongly from their Good Friday defeat at Blackburn.
Head coach Alex Neil, going through his former membership, was stuffed with reward for the Lions’ response after their Ewood Park reverse, as a brace from Mihailo Ivanovic and a objective from Femi Azeez secured a fourth consecutive house win.
With different outcomes going their method, Millwall are three factors behind sixth-placed Coventry Metropolis forward of Saturday’s conflict with Swansea Metropolis.
Ivanovic opened the scoring inside eight minutes when Azeez’s pushed cross ricocheted off the Serbian’s knee and into the underside nook.
Azeez doubled Millwall’s lead within the thirty ninth minute, heading in George Saville’s free-kick on the close to submit.
Norwich discovered a method again into the competition earlier than half-time. Shane Duffy rose highest to nod in Jacob Wright’s nook on the again submit.
The Canaries didn’t construct on the momentum after the break and Ivanovic added his second and Millwall’s third objective within the 69th minute, heading house one other Saville set-piece to take his tally for the season to 12 objectives in all competitions.
“Friday was only a recreation too far for us by way of depth that we’ve put into so many matches,” mentioned Neil.
“Bodily, we’re stretched as a squad.
“A number of the lads which have come again have performed a number of video games—it’s been robust, however they’ve accomplished so effectively, so it’s arduous to be important.
“We had been all upset with Blackburn.
“Nevertheless, after we’ve had a setback, the response has been emphatic.
“That was one in every of our greatest performances by way of effort and possibilities created. We had been the dominant workforce all through the match, and Norwich are a great aspect. They’ve acquired good attacking gamers, they’re the second-highest goalscorers within the league, in order that menace is all the time there. However we needed to give attention to successful the sport—for apparent causes.”
Neil was fast to spotlight the construction of his workforce in contrast to the one which went out at Blackburn.
“I felt just like the steadiness was a lot, a lot better in the present day,” he defined.
“We didn’t play sufficient at Blackburn. When you don’t play sufficient, you don’t drag one other midfield participant by and so they keep intact. We had been too direct and didn’t win sufficient duels. As we speak, the 2 centre-forwards had been an actual handful as a result of we performed behind them and dragged an additional midfield participant out.
“The vast gamers provided one thing completely different—Tristan overlaps Luke (Cundle) on one aspect, and Zak (Sturge) helps from behind on the opposite. Zak was beginning his first recreation at this stage and George [Evans] was enjoying his second having simply conceded 4 away from house. We’ve had masses to take care of, however we haven’t cried about it or felt sorry for ourselves. We’ve dusted ourselves down, put the lads which can be out there into the workforce, and so they’ve accomplished brilliantly.”
It’s now 11 Championship objectives for Ivanovic since his transfer from Serbia in the summertime and Neil praised his striker.
“He’s grown as a participant,” the pinnacle coach mentioned. “He’s main the road higher, his understanding of when to go and press has improved, and his motion within the field is one thing I’ve been on to him about since I got here right here.
“You’ll be able to see now, with the probabilities he’s getting, that’s improved vastly.
“We want to remember—this child is 20, he’s come from a overseas nation, and he’s needed to be taught all concerning the league. That’s 12 objectives now, which is a good achievement for him personally. However for us, we’ve got to credit score each strikers. Josh Coburn was excellent in the present day, and so they bounced off one another very well.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
