Alex Neil was delighted to get his first Championship win as Millwall head coach as his side claimed a 1-0 victory at Luton Town on Saturday lunchtime.
The Lions collected their first league victory at Kenilworth Road since October 2000 thanks to a stunning strike from Mihailo Ivanovic.
It was the Lions’ first win since December 21 and just their second away win of the season – after October’s 1-0 success at Swansea. The victory moved the Lions seven points clear of the relegation places ahead of the 3pm kick offs.
“I don’t know what the gap looks like at the moment – it’s not my focus – my focus is on our performance,” said Neil.
“The win is the most important thing. But the manner in which we won was most important for me. We deserved to win. We had the best chances in the game. We missed a penalty. Aaron (Connolly) has a shot the keeper makes a really good save. Mihalio had an unbelievable opportunity to make it two at the back post.
“You know when you come to Kenworth Road that you are going to have to defend well, you are going have to win your duels, win your headers and land on second balls.”
Contests between the two sides are usually very tight and competitive and this was no different.
Millwall were disappointed not to go in 1-0 up at the break after Connolly’s penalty was saved by Luton stopper Thomas Kaminksi. It was Millwall who had all the efforts in the first half with Connolly denied by Kaminski before the spot kick.
It was a brilliant goal from Ivanovic, the technique shown for the volley was outstanding as he scored his fourth of the season in all competitions.
Neil was pleased for his striker. He said: “He had a great chance right after it as well, the one at the back post where he probably should have taken a touch. He sort of hits it into the ground – that would have finished it off.
“Strikers feed off chances and feed off goals, don’t they? He’s featuring much more prominently now in terms of minutes and that’ll do his confidence the world of good that finish.”
The victory was slightly tainted as the Lions lost Calum Scanlon and Lukas Jensen to injury.
Neil is unsure how long they could be out for.
“They don’t look good do they?” said Neil. “Callum’s had to come off. I think it’s a hamstring, we need to get it scanned and get the extent of it.
“You’re never going come off as a goalie with four minutes to go unless you need to, so that’s a worry. We need to get that scanned to have a look at it.
“We’ve got pretty much four front players out. We’ve got two right-backs out. We‘ve just lost another left-back who is now playing as a left winger for us and we’ve just lost our goalkeeper.
“So I don’t want to hear any team in this league complaining about injurie,s because if you come and look at ours, we’ll be as extensive as anybody.”