JOE Edwards believes that the key difference between Millwall and Leicester City was the performance in the two boxes during the Lions’ 3-2 FA Cup defeat at The Den.
Millwall gave a good account of themselves but went 2-0 down by half-time after goals by Cesare Casadei and Ricardo Pereira.
Duncan Watmore dragged Millwall back into proceedings when he scored from a corner but five minutes later Thomas Cannon struck to make it 3-1.
Zian Flemming triggered some late excitement when he struck with five minutes to go and briefly summoned hope of a late comeback.
Speaking after the game, Edwards said: “I was pleased today with how much we created from our possession. We spoke a lot about that how we want to have more of the ball but the big thing is about that is we do when we’ve got it. And I thought the standout positive for us today was we played a lot from our goalkeeper, playing short into our defenders. The outcome of it was we were playing through Leicester and getting into their final third a lot.
“We’ve had other games where we’ve started to look like a team with a clear idea in possession but not really created much. So to have that many shots is a positive but the flip-side of that is we make a couple of minor errors in and around our own box and, combined with the high level of quality they’ve got, and before you know it you’re 2-0 down and scratching your head asking why. But those are the margins.
“I thought we were the better team between the two boxes but in both boxes they dominated. They were clinical in ours and we weren’t quite in theirs. But a lot of positives in the performance.”
Asked about the quality of Championship leaders Leicester, Edwards said:”You know what you’re up against. Even when you see the team come out and you see what is, for them, a number of changes from the team that regularly plays in the Championship week in, week out. You see the line-up on paper and there’s still some high quality players in there. I felt we dominated the game and you could see they made changes and we looked like more of a comfortable team in what we were doing in the game.
“But if you look at our error for the Pereira goal – you can scrutinise us and critique us but they’re only fine margins – and when a player of his level can just cut through you and finish like that, it can be the difference. We had more than enough opportunities of our own in their box but we weren’t quite the same and goals decide games.”
Despite the defeat, Millwall players were given a decent reception by fans after the full-time whistle.
Edwards said: “We spoke after the last game and I don’t think many teams have scored two against them and by the end of it we’re pushing for the third. At 2-1 it looked like we were maybe going to level it, we looked the more likely team to score so the third goal was the killer blow.
“But like all of the performances recently, I think the fans can see a team that are fully-committed in giving everything and putting a shift in without the ball which you have to do against Leicester.
“The way we pressed them at times… at times although it can look quite passive because of the way they position themselves and you have to be smart with it. It does require a lot of work to block all the spaces they occupy and I thought we did it really well.
“There weren’t many times when they played out from the keeper through us and created big chances. So the fans are seeing the team put a shift in and be brave on the ball and in recent weeks we’ve got our rewards. Today we didn’t but if we can replicate that level of performance more often than not at The Den and just improve on those finer little details around the boxes then there’s a lot to be positive, I think.”