NEIL Harris paid tribute to Steve Morison after the Millwall striker scored for the first time since the play-off final last May to give his side a 1-0 win over QPR at The Den on Friday night.
Morison headed home from Jed Wallace’s cross in the 55th minute for the only goal of a tight and tense contest.
QPR’s best chance to equalise fell to substitute Matt Smith, but he headed Luke Freeman’s corner just wide late on.
“He deserved his goal tonight and for what he has achieved this season,” Harris said of his captain. “People that come regularly see his performances have been outstanding, and his leadership qualities are outstanding.
“I praised him in front of the players, and sometimes he gets a little bit embarrassed, he always has done over the years, but you’re never too grey or too old to get that praise from your manager.
“I said to him it had been a long time coming and those goal posts don’t move, but his performances have warranted his starting place and he showed that tonight.”
QPR’s coach was delayed reaching the stadium before the game, but it didn’t affect them as under former Lions boss Ian Holloway they frustrated their opponents in the first half.
The Hoops had a chance to go ahead before the break only for Jake Bidwell to head straight at Jordan Archer.
Harris praised QPR for their performance but said his players usually “find a way” at The Den.
“It’s a great evening for us because we got three points,” Harris continued. “There was an added spice about the game because of Ollie coming back to his own club. The atmosphere was generated off that and I thought it was brilliant within the stadium.
“QPR certainly played their part on the pitch, and off the pitch with their fans. It was a great London derby, lacked a little bit of quality at times but there was passion and aggression. Fair play to QPR because there are not many teams who have come here and knocked us out of our stride at times.
“But my boys find a way, especially here at The Den, to up it and I said at half-time that it would be decided by a mistake or a moment of quality. Or it was going to peter out into a nil-nil. That moment of quality was delivered by Jed Wallace and Steve Morison doing what he has done best over the years, not so much this year, in front of goal.”
Image: Millwall FC