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Club News

Millwall Is Great Test Says Johnson

17 August 2015

Club News

Millwall Is Great Test Says Johnson

17 August 2015

Reds Head Coach Lee Johnson caught up with the press ahead of his side's long trip to Millwall on Tuesday night.

The Barnsley boss saw his side pick up their first maximum points of the season against Burton Albion on Saturday.

"I would assess it as a decent week," said Johnson. "I was disappointed to lose the first game but it was against a team that are used to playing with each other.

"It wasn't a bad week. If it was a school report it would be a B-minus or a C-plus.

"I watched the video again and I was probably a bit harsh on the lads. We really did dominate the middle thirds with good play, passing and moving.

"What became frustrating, not only for myself and players but the supporters, when we worked the ball into wide areas, nothing came of it. We actually kicked the ball behind the goal four times.

"We did all that work to get through the thirds and then they got a goal-kick. It was sloppiness but I have to be fair now, to the players.

"We were very solid where we needed to be solid but a little bit short in wide areas. Generally, I was delighted to get the win."

Millwall were on the end of a 4-0 thumping on Saturday, but Johnson is calling for caution as he prepares his side's trip to the capital.

"I've played there before and it takes a certain type of character to be able to go and produce on a stage like that," he said.

"It was a bad day at the office for them. I've watched their game and I don't expect them to be as bad. It's a really, really tough environment to play at the Den and our players should embrace it. They should go there with no fear, nothing to lose and that mentality to go get a result."

Johnson is hopeful Ryan Williams could again be on the bench, despite not utilising the Australian on Saturday, but has no fresh injury worries.

"We're still chasing fitness in a few," he added. "We could have only got about 10 minutes out of Ryan Williams. Conor Hourihane looked sharper when he came on.

"There are quite a few chasing minutes and it's not ideal to do that in league or cup games.

"He (Ryan Williams) has done very little in pre-season and had no games. We need to find him those games but we also can't push him too quickly.

"Yesterday we eased off him but today we will push him again."

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