Millwall boss Neil Harris has praised Paul Warne and Derby County ahead of this weekend’s clash.
Derby County are set to face off against Millwall this weekend on the road, and Paul Warne and his side will be hoping to notch their first away points on the board of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
In truth, Warne’s side have simply not shown enough character and spark on their travels, with their attacking output seemingly being non-existent at times, something that is a stark contrast to the brilliant football they play at Pride Park.
The Rams will be hoping to put an end to their away day issues that have troubled them so far since their return to the Championship, and games against both Millwall and Oxford United seem like big opportunities for that.
Millwall boss Neil Harris certainly isn’t expecting an easy and deflated Derby County side to travel to The Den, and he has been very complimentary of the side that currently sit in 12th position.
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Derby County strengths listed by Millwall boss Neil Harris
Millwall have had a somewhat troublesome start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign, and this is something that Derby County should undoubtedly take advantage of this weekend.
Millwall coach Harris didn’t sound like he was set to face a side that hadn’t picked up a single point on their travels as he highlighted Derby County’s strengths.
Per Southwark News, Harris said: “They’re a physical side. We have to defend our penalty box well. They ask a lot of questions of your backline and ask a lot of questions at set plays.
“They’re a very dominant set play team, very aggressive. I saw a lot of them last year in League One and I’ve seen a lot of them this year already. They get a lot of first contact in both boxes.
“We’re going to have to defend our box very well. The shape they play, they adjusted in the last away game at Sunderland but still made it about their full-backs and their wide players. So there’s going to be a key battle in the wide areas.
“We’ve had time to look at Derby, study Derby and we know what’s coming with how they set up and how they play.
“We’re aware of their strengths, but also very much looking forward to imposing ourselves on them.”
Derby County must play to their strengths on their travels
It is strange to see such a stark contrast between Derby County’s fortunes when either at home or away, and that is something that Warne must simply be right, starting with the upcoming games against both Millwall and Oxford United.
Harris has rightfully highlighted the ‘physical side’ of Derby County’s game, as well as the fact that they are ‘a very dominant set play team, [and] very aggressive’, and that certainly has been the case at Pride Park.
If they can replicate that on their travels then Warne’s side will most certainly be a force to be reckoned with, and games against the likes of Millwall will be a real opportunity to get more points on the board, but until then, the Derby County boss must really see to the issues within his squad and why they struggle to perform on their travels.