Bristol City boss Johnson complimentary on Millwall: They make you cross for their meatheads in the middle

Bristol City manager Lee Johnson spoke of his respect for Millwall counterpart Neil Harris after Sunday’s 1-1 draw.

The Lions were able to produce an improved defensive display at Ashton Gate to pick up their first away point since the 2-2 at Nottingham Forest in early October.

Johnson said: “We controlled 60 or 65 per cent of the game, which was good against a difficult, dogged side who face you up to your own goal a lot.

“They’ve got some good players. I was pleased with many elements of the performance but naturally when you’re so much in control, a lapse in concentration and we don’t defend their goal well enough.

“People leave feeling frustrated but I thought we got our identity back.

“I enjoyed today. It was a proper slugfest in areas at times and we competed well, which is why the goal is disappointing.

“I’m seeing it as a positive even though we should have made the situation better for ourselves by taking the opportunities to penetrate the middle of the goal.

“Credit to Millwall, what they do do is defend the middle of the goal really well with the big lads they have got in there – they show you down the outside so you have got to cross it to the two meatheads [Jake Cooper and Shaun Hutchinson] they’ve got in the middle of the goal.

“Millwall do that really well. I know Neil really well, I’ve got a lot of respect for what he has done last year. They were excellent but at this moment they are struggling. Why is that? Is it a break of the ball? Confidence? A couple of players that they’ve lost. He’s a good manager, for sure. He’ll turn it around.”