NIL POINTS BUT STEVE’S STILL SMILING
NO WINS and no goals in the league usually means a terrible time for a new manager, but Millwall boss Steve Lomas insists he is enjoying himself at his new club.
A second-half goal from James Vaughan earned Huddersfield their first win at The Den since 2007, while condemning Millwall to one of their worst league starts.
But despite a difficult start to life as a Championship manager following a summer move from St Johnstone, Lomas claims he’s having a good time in south London.
“I am enjoying my time here,” said Lomas. “I could’ve stayed up in Scotland and settled there.
“But I wanted to come here and test myself and this is a real test. I am enjoying it, as perverse as that may seem, but you have to take stock when things aren’t going well.
“I thought we kept going right to the very end, it gives me heart that the lads are going every step of the way. I’m sure if we keep performing like we did we’ll get our rewards.
“I thought that’s the best we’ve played this season. We had a good week’s training and we started on the front foot with Huddersfield being camped in.
“Throughout the game we had eight decent chances and you have to convert one of them. But to concede a sloppy goal from a setplay is bitterly disappointing and that sort of us put us on the back foot.”
Millwall dominated the opening period, creating chances with Steve Morison having a hatful of chances but converting none.
Huddersfield nearly grabbed the lead just before the half-hour mark. A long ball forward from Adam Hammill was met by Vaughan, who got between the Millwall defence but saw his attempted chip stopped by Stephen Bywater.
Millwall responded with a chance of their own soon after, with Morison failing to head Alan Dunne’s cross on target.
Just under five minutes into the second half and Millwall had another chance, but Henry’s shot agonisingly flashed across the face of goal.
However ten minutes later the away side went ahead. A corner from Hammill was headed in brilliantly by Vaughan for his fourth goal of the season.
Lomas’ side began to chase the game thereafter, but not one of the chances created by the home side could be converted - adding to the frustration building around the New Den.
Terriers’ boss Mark Robins praised his goal scorer’s efforts, hailing his impact on the club since he signed permanently from Norwich over the summer for an undisclosed fee.
Vaughan was on loan last term and scored 14 goals in 37 appearances, which prompted Robins to snap him up this summer.
“He was the best loan signing the club’s ever had and one of the all-time loan signings,” said the Huddersfield manager.
“That prompted us to the business we did this summer.
“We paid money for James, we paid money for Jonathan Hogg and apart from that it’s been free transfers and they’ve good acquisitions so far.
“We’re not getting carried away, it’s still very early days. It’s good to get the points on the board as it gives us confidence.
“It was a decent performance. We withstood everything Millwall threw at us and it’s not an easy place to come.
“I think they’re having a difficult time at the minute with a new manager who’s trying to impose his ideas on the players.
“I think he’s finding it difficult and he needs support.
“I think Steve needs the fans help to get a bit of stability as they have a good squad and they play some decent stuff.” To comment on this match go to http://boards.footymad.net/