‘Complete performance’ from Millwall delights Alex Neil

Millwall head coach Alex Neil felt his side’s performance in their victory over Norwich was the most complete they have produced in his time at the club.

Since taking charge at the end of 2024, Neil has turned the Lions into a team capable of challenging at the top of the Sky Bet Championship and the early signs this season have been very positive.

They have opened their campaign with back-to-back wins, without conceding, and the scoreline against the Canaries at The Den was a fair reflection of their dominance.

Guadeloupe international Tairyk Arconte scored twice on his home debut and his fellow new boys Jenson Metcalfe and Kyrell Lisbie were among those who impressed as Millwall bossed proceedings.

Neil said: “I thought it was a complete performance from us – it was probably the most complete performance we’ve had in the nearly 20 months I’ve been here.

“The reason I’m saying that is for a couple of things; doing it with four of the new lads that we’ve recruited in the summer and to do it against a good Norwich team who are well-coached and have good players.

“To do it in the manner in which we did it, I think we were the best team from minute one to the last minute.

“I thought there should have been more (goals) in the first half – 3-0 would have probably been a fair reflection – and then to turn it up again in the second half, when that 1-0 scoreline is always fraught with danger.

“I thought we had the balance between playing, and they couldn’t get the ball back, and us pressing when they didn’t have the ball.”

Millwall broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when Mark Sykes’ ball across was met by Josh Coburn whose shot was pushed out by Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic for Arconte to tuck in the rebound.

The hosts’ lead was deservedly doubled in the 58th minute when Zak Sturge’s ball into the box was headed back by Jake Cooper for Arconte to steer in a volley.

The Canaries’ comeback hopes effectively ended when centre-back Jose Cordoba was sent off for a second yellow card five minutes later for bundling over Arconte.

An excellent afternoon for Millwall was rounded off by Luke Cundle sliding in a third to round off a slick counter-attack with six minutes left.

Norwich boss Philippe Clement, whose side have lost their first two league fixtures, said: “In the first half we were bullied.

“We didn’t win duels, second balls, also when they pressed us, we were not brave enough on the ball, so there was not much (positive) in our first half.

“It could have been more than 1-0 (at half-time), we need to be honest about that.

“I expected a reaction, we talked about a reaction and in the second half it was there. We were braver on the ball, we created things again and you find you can get back in the game.

“Then you get the second goal, you get the red card and that makes things more complicated for us.

“In the end, we lost the game because Millwall deserved to win, but I’m disappointed that we didn’t show our best face and what we should do.

“Maybe there’s been too much positivity around the team before this season and around their qualities.”