LEE Gregory hopes Millwall’s two-game unbeaten run is a “stepping stone” ahead of the fixture at Preston next weekend as he urged the team to “get through that last hurdle” late in contests.
Millwall drew 2-2 with Hull at the weekend, the fifth time this season they have dropped points from winning positions at The Den, but Gregory insisted the spirit was good in the camp.
Neil Harris’ side have two tough away games at Deepdale and then Stoke City the weekend before Christmas.
The Lions were leading 2-1 on Saturday before Tigers captain Markus Henriksen headed in with 17 minutes left.
“It was frustrating. We were the better team, but conceding goals when we are on top is silly from us, we need to cut them out,” Gregory said.
“We came back fighting and got into the lead, I think we chucked everything at it for 70, 75 minutes. I think maybe we sat off a little bit too much and it was another mistake for their goal.
“The lads seem fine. It’s just, the last 15 minutes of every game we seem a bit nervy. So maybe next game we need to get through those last 15 minutes and start there.
“We’ve had two draws, so it’s two unbeaten games. It’s a stepping stone and hopefully we can get the win against Preston next week.
“I think we just keep switching off in the last 10 minutes. Look at the games we have played – Middlesbrough, Swansea City – we have been the better team and we just need to get through that last hurdle.
“I’m sure we’re going to start working more and more on that now, because it’s more obvious. We feel more comfortable at home and we just need to grind a result out [away].”
It was suggested to Gregory that this season, their second back in the Championship, was going to be more difficult after the overachievement of finishing eighth in 2017-18.
He said: “Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. I think it’s because we did so well, we are expected to do better than what we did last year because the expectations were high. Maybe we got knocked down a peg or two and we have to go back to what we did last year – the basics – and be the best at them.”
Gregory is Millwall’s top scorer with eight goals this season and he was asked if he’s on course for the target he set before the start of the season.
He said: “Not far off. I had a goal target before Christmas, so hopefully I can reach that target before Christmas.
“We have got a couple of games before Christmas, so hopefully I can nick a couple more and help the team get the win.”
Image: Millwall FC