NEIL Harris praised his players for immediately switching focus back to the league after reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend.
Millwall showed no signs they were still basking in the plaudits they received for that, as they contained Derby before Jed Wallace struck in the 72nd minute to seal the win.
“That was one of the highlights for me. I spoke in depth about the mentality after the game at Wimbledon because of the difficulty of playing away from home in a tight ground,” Harris said.
“But then I followed it up with a lot of words to the group about mentality [at Derby] because the whole of the Championship and probably the majority of our fans would have been looking at it and thinking what a great cup draw we can look forward to, what a professional performance we had at Wimbledon, but are we going to be focused on the league? Well my players answered that [Wednesday night].
“There was no way I was going to let them take criticism for not being focused, but to get them to do it individually and collectively is another matter. Outstanding.”
Wallace scored for the second time in three away league games, strikes that have earned his side four points.
“Jed’s an instinctive player, a lot of attacking players at this level are,” Harris added. “Jed’s unpredictability is that he can go right or left foot. We know he’s got great shooting ability.
“As soon as he got himself one v one with Ashley Cole I thought he was going to get a shooting opportunity. In the middle of the goal, however good a defender you are, it’s very difficult to defend a one v one in that space.
“Then it was just that little bit of calmness, and luck going through the keeper’s legs or under the keeper. It was a very good goal.”
Image: Millwall FC