Neil Harris breaks down how Millwall pressure tactics help to “wear down” Championship defences

By Richard Cawley

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Neil Harris has spoken about how the work ethic of strikers Lee Gregory and Steve Morison helps Millwall to grind down opposition defences.

Both men were on the scoresheet in midweek as the Lions defeated Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. The South Londoners are unbeaten in seven matches – and 11 at The Den.

“Moro felt he was below-par at Birmingham,” said Harris. “The performance was out of character for him in terms of the last three months.

“He was back to his best on Tuesday night. Lee has had a real mark of consistency for probably a dozen games now – if not longer. You could probably argue all season.

“Goals are coming as well now. As a pair they showed their understanding to play together – not just with the ball. What they do without it is so key to us.

“I don’t want to harp on about our defensive shape, willingness to work and make it difficult for the opposition – but when you have got two strikers who make defenders pass constantly backwards and sideways it wears teams down.

“That is what changed the game at Birmingham after the first 15 minutes. I got the message to Steve – it was a case of pressing from the front and the game completely flipped. They started to try and force the ball and change the tempo. That’s when we got a foothold.

“The press from the front two, wide players or someone like George Saville stepping through gives us a foothold. Sheffield Wednesday’s goal was completely against the run of play – Jordan was beaten by a wonderstrike. I can’t remember him having to make another save. That’s testament to the back line and the work Shaun Williams did, but also the team shape and how hard it is to break through.”