HARRIS HAILS HIS MIGHTY MORISON
Millwall manager Neil Harris singled out the performance of experienced striker Steve Morison for his part in the Lions’ victory over struggling Birmingham.
The 34-year-old missed his side’s away defeat against Brentford two weeks ago through injury, but provided the cross for his side’s opener that was turned into the net by Blues defender Maxime Collin 63 seconds after the break.
Summer signing Ryan Tunnicliffe then sealed the victory 14 minutes from time with his first Lions goal.
“I think the period off did Steve the world of good, he led the line magnificently,” said Harris. “I felt that after the last two defeats we needed leadership and senior players on pitch – he fits that bill.
“He’s got a big heart, he’s always been a strong runner and he’s got the desire. We don’t always have to have a big man on the pitch but it certainly helps us.”
The hosts had earlier dominated an opening 45 low on action, with Morison, Lee Gregory and Aiden O’Brien all spurning half-chances inside the box.
Despite Millwall’s pressure, City striker Isaac Vassell could have put his side in front seconds before the break. First he headed straight at goalkeeper Jordan Archer from Jacques Maghoma’s cross before firing inches wide of the post from an acute angle after fooling Jake Cooper with a neat dummy.
The deadlock was quickly broken after the interval, as Colin – under pressure from O’Brien at the back post – diverted the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak and into his own net.
Morison forced Kuszczak into an excellent save 17 minutes from time with a powerful right-footed volley.
The hosts sealed their victory soon after, as Tunnicliffe slotted home from 15 yards after substitute Tom Elliott’s stinging, curling drive was parried by Kuszczak only as far as the onrushing midfielder.
Jed Wallace almost made it three 180 seconds later as his crossturned-shot looped onto the roof of the net.
“We knew it was going to be a scrap, we knew it would be a battle,” added Harris.
“That said, I told the players before the game that as much as it was going to be a fight, there would be opportunities for quality in the game. We had the key moments.”
City rarely called Archer into action after the break, although he made a smart reaction save on 64 minutes to deny Che Adams from a tight angle.
Substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz also headed over from five yards in stoppage time.
The defeat was Birmingham’s first under new manager Steve Cotterill, who felt his side didn’t do themselves justice at the Den.
He said: “There’s been nothing in the game today that we’ve not worked on all week. We’ve had to play really good football for our opportunities; we really didn’t make them work too hard for theirs.
“If Isaac Vassell’s chance goes in just before the break that may have put a difference slant on the game, but we wouldn’t have deserved that. I think we played better in the second half yet conceded two goals.
“We know we’re going to have put performances in back-to-back. This was important in terms of building on last week’s result (against Cardiff City). We’ve made it doubly difficult for ourselves by not winning. It doesn’t help us put confidence back into the team.”