Neil Harris was delighted with his side’s performance in their 1-0 win at Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
The Lions fielded a youthful side at Fratton Park and won the game thanks to one of those academy talents in Romain Esse.
Esse started alongside Aidomo Emakhu and Alfie Massey as Harris made six changes to the side that lost to Watford on the opening day of the Championship season.
“There are some real positives tonight. The first is that we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves on the back of a late winner against us when we’ve clearly deserved to win the game on Saturday. We bounced back in the correct manner. The huge professionalism the boys showed early on Sunday morning, when I got them in, and on Monday before coming down today.
“More vital, probably, than that is the performances of the three young lads in the team tonight. Romain to score the goal, Aidomo to show glimpses of his raw power, pace and directness but also Alfie Massey made his debut for the football club tonight. That will be very special for him and his family.”
Harris’ side were very rarely threatened by the home side as they defended superbly and prevented Pompey from even having a shot on target.
Harris said. “We were the better team. Portsmouth had some good pressure second half and when people looked at the size and names on the teamsheet it might not have been renowned as a Millwall team or a Neil Harris team here – we went a little bit younger and faster tonight. We knew set-plays were going to be a real avenue for them. I told the lads: “You’re outsized – apart from Jake (Cooper). You’re not the biggest team, but you’re going to have to dig in and do a job. Their only chances came from set-plays.”
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