‘Vitally important': Millwall boss Alex Neil targets key Portsmouth battle ahead of showdown
Pompey face play-off hopefuls Millwall at The Den on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Neil is adamant Millwall have to win the midfield battle if they want to come out on top against Pompey on Saturday.
And the Lions boss has identified what he expects from the Blues following their impressive 3-1 triumph over Charlton Athletic in midweek.
John Mousinho’s men make their second trip to south London in four days this weekend as they visit play-off chasing Millwall.
Pompey go into the fixture having claimed a brilliant victory against the Addicks on Tuesday, which continues their upturn in form and performances over the past two months.
And with the Blues having lost just two of their previous seven league matches, Neil is expecting a tough test against Mousinho’s men despite occupying a play-off position.
Millwall boss Alex Neil on ‘vitally important’ Pompey battle
And the Lions boss has identified the key battles his side have to win at The Den if they want to see off Pompey.
Speaking to Southwark News, he said: ‘They’ve got a really good balance between if you don’t send enough men through, they’ll play from the back, and I think they can do that.
‘They’ve got some good ball players in the back line. If you do send too many players through, they’ll turn the ball, and the keeper kicks the ball a mile.
‘The middle of the pitch against Portsmouth becomes massive because their back line’s really deep, and then because the keeper kicks it so long, your back line ends up quite deep. So I think picking up second balls, transitions, is going to be vitally important.
‘You need to win that midfield battle. It’s going to be vitally important that we manage to get on top in there. It allows us to supply our front players with the ball. If we can do that, it gives us a good opportunity.’
Millwall boss surveys Pompey’s triumph over Charlton Athletic
And Neil gave his honest assessment of the contest and was impressed by the Blues’ showing at The Valley.
The Millwall boss added: ‘I thought Charlton started quite bright. Harry Clarke could have scored after the first minute or so. The first goal changed the game, and I thought at that point, Portsmouth took control up to half-time.
‘Charlton made three changes, changed their shape, and then they had some momentum in the game.
‘A couple of good goals from distance. The right-back scored two, and then they got a penalty. I thought the first one looked as if it was deflected, but I’ve seen it back, it just goes straight in. So the goalkeeper will be disappointed in that one.
‘Then the second one was a penalty, which again was difficult to see, being so far away. But I think the lad’s hands were up, and they’re a bit unfortunate in that sense.
‘But moments change games, don’t they? I know it’s an old cliché, but goals certainly change games. If you score a goal, it puts you in a real advantage going into the rest of the match. If you concede a goal, you need to naturally make yourself a little bit more vulnerable by going for the next one.
‘It was a highly competitive game. I thought both teams were at it, and you could see how much it means. There is going to be a little bit of apprehension for different teams as the season develops because of what’s at stake for everybody for a variety of different reasons.’