The Lions have lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions and have picked up just one point out of the last 21 available
MILLWALL head coach Joe Edwards said he won’t let his group “sulk” or become “divided” despite the Lions’ miserable run of results.
Seven defeats in eight games in all competitions following the 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday yesterday has left Millwall’s season spiralling out of control and has seen the club dragged into a relegation battle.
They are now just one point off the bottom three and face promotion-chasing Southampton next.
Asked about he and his squad learning amid the difficult form, Edwards said: “It’s important. That word of ‘learning’ is an interesting one.
“I’ve already experienced a relegation fight in a different division so I know the kind of emotion and challenges it brings but, having said that, every season and every squad and every story is a completely different scenario.
“I talk about sticking together a lot and showing this togetherness because it is important. One thing I do know is no group of players and staff has ever got themselves out of difficult situations by sulking or becoming divided so that’s the first priority and I’ll always absolutely stand by this group because they’re a group of players that I have a lot of respect for.
“But I clearly need to do as best a job as I can to keep it simple and keep a lot of clarity in what we’re trying to do and eke out better levels of performances.”
The Millwall boss also looked ahead to the match against Southampton next week where he insisted his side could get something out of the game despite their form.
He said: “It’s an incredibly tough game. One thing I will say is – and not to declare an official relegation fight – but we’re clearly down that part of the league and we’re creeping towards that part of the season where it’s important to put points on the board.
“And having been there and lived it before, there’s no point in really getting drawn into playing the fixtures prediction game and saying ‘we should win this one, we won’t win that one…” you never know.
“We’ll go to Southampton with absolute belief and who knows, a game like [yesterday] which is a ‘should win’ in many people’s eyes, maybe the pressure got to us a bit and it ends up being a difficult day. That could be the turning point, that’s what football is about. We’re not going there to roll over and wait for the next game.
“We have to try and find some belief through what is a really, really tough period but football serves those up. Football serves up some of the most enjoyable days of your life but also some tough periods and the only way is back in on Monday, stick together and stand up to what is a really tough challenge on Saturday and beyond.”
