NEIL Harris believes Jake Cooper’s clearance off the line against Barnsley on Saturday epitomises Millwall’s spirit and “winning mentality”.
Cooper’s last-ditch intervention as well as some excellent saves from Jordan Archer ensured a 15th clean sheet in the league this season – more than all of last season in League One.
The Lions are now 12 games unbeaten in the Championship and have equalled the club record of successive league away wins.
“It’s testament to my players, not just in the team but in the squad because they push each other,” Harris said. “It’s a winning mentality. There have been a lot of games recently when we’ve not been at our best.
“We’ve not got the ability at the moment to be able to go through 90 minutes dominating, so we have to find ways. Whether that’s outscoring the opposition like we did against Leeds a few weeks back to set the ball rolling, or against Brentford and at times today when we had our backs to the wall and are throwing our bodies on the line.
“Even more so it was the goalkeeper, he made some outstanding saves. I’m delighted for the club not just to equal that record but 15 clean sheets as well is a great achievement for us.
“Barnsley threw caution to the wind in the last half an hour and were unlucky not to score. The ‘keeper made some good saves, there’s one off the line. We had one off the line last week as well and I was very clear to say in the press that’s not a coincidence the defender clears it off the line. It’s anticipation and a winning mentality. Jake Cooper gets up and clears it off the line.
“That’s an indication of where we are at the moment, everyone is in it together. The spirit in the camp is outstanding and there is great leadership in the dressing room, as well as some top young players coming through.”
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