Millwall head coach Alex Neil believes the attacking changes he has made to his squad are showing signs of success after a lively display brought a 2-1 victory over London rivals QPR.
Match-winner Luke Cundle struck on his debut at The Den to help the Lions record their third straight win.
Aaron Connolly had earlier opened his Millwall account with a first-minute strike, and although that was quickly cancelled out by Alfie Lloyd, Cundle’s header after 25 minutes lifted the Lions four points off a play-off place.
And Neil is pleased by how well his new-look squad have clicked.
He said: “He [Cundle] has had one day. He met them yesterday for not even half a training session but good players can play anywhere.
“Obviously, Aaron Connolly has come in and today’s his first goal. He’s played the last couple of games but I think we’ve looked threatening in the last couple of games as well.
“But I think it’s a combination of everything – there’s competition for places, we’ve brought in some good quality at the top end of the pitch that can play in tight spaces, link play and do all the bits around the edge of the box.
“We’ve also got the guys who’ve performed brilliantly in the last couple of games that haven’t been brought in during the last few days.
“I’m not going to give credit to one group of players and not the other, it’s a collective and I think we’re playing pretty well at the moment.”
QPR had pressed hard for a second equaliser in the final 20 minutes but good saves from home goalkeeper Lukas Jensen denied Morgan Fox and Yang Min-hyeok.
Hoops assistant manager Xavi Calm, in charge in the absence of boss Marti Cifuentes, said: “We have the feeling that we deserved more, at least one point.
“In the second half we pushed all-in, 100 per cent, with set-pieces, crosses, everything and we have this feeling [of deserving more], but it is what it is.
“We didn’t expect to start the game conceding a goal in minute one. We usually defend this type of actions better and today we have not done it, but we have reacted in a top way, I would say, scoring an amazing goal.
“The reaction was brilliant because it’s not easy after conceding a goal in minute one.
“We have done that but then the second Millwall goal, again it’s a sloppy goal, I would say. But all the credit to the lads because at half-time we have spoken about trying to win the second half.
“We have done very well but the small margins today were not for us.”
