Our U23s suffered a 4-0 defeat in the Professional Development League against Millwall on Tuesday afternoon.

A brace for Seb Drozd and goals from Sean O’Brien and Tyrese Briscoe sealed the win for the Lions, their first victory since the opening day of the season.

Drozd opened the scoring after 28 minutes, after the Millwall man cut inside and struck a powerful left-footed effort which evaded the Reds’ goalkeeper and found the back of the net.

Shortly after, the visitors conceded a penalty which was converted by O’Brien off the underside of the bar.

After the interval, Drozd got his second when Barnsley failed to clear a corner and the Lions’ attacker prodded home from close range.

Briscoe then sealed the win for Millwall, latching onto a deft through ball and confidently finishing.

Speaking after the game, Head Coach Martin Devaney gave his take on the defeat: “Moments in the game, in terms of us, we didn’t take our chances. In terms of them, in the moment, when they were on top, they scored the first one which was a good goal, poor defending by us, but it’s about players learning and developing.

“In those moments you’ve got to steady the ship and get through five, ten minutes. But then there was a quick penalty and before you know it you’re 2-0 down. It’s a tough task when you’re away, travelled down on the day to play Millwall.”

When asked where improvements could be made, Devaney replied: “Physicality. That desire to go and win your duels and as a collective group it just wasn’t there today. I know it’s difficult when a squad’s put together and a lot of the boys aren’t used to playing with each other at the moment, but like I’ve said to them, it’s your time, it’s your game time.

“You have to be fighting tooth and nail to try and get the shirts from the first team players, and today unfortunately as individuals and as a collective it wasn’t good enough.

“We did play well in spells, but in those spells when you’re dominating, you have to score and unfortunately we didn’t have that killer pass or that killer shot today to affect the goalkeeper, unfortunately they did.”

REDS XI: Trialist (GK), Hassan-Smith, Helliwell, Sraha, D Benson, Trialist, Thompson, Hondermarck (Kalinauskas, 64), Cole, Christie-Davies, Bremang (Trialist, 71).

Not used: Brown (GK), Lancaster, Sherlock.