REACTION: Travis and Eustace Reflect on a Narrow Defeat at Millwall

John Eustace says his side ‘showed heart’ but needed to be more clinical to avoid falling to a narrow defeat against high-flying Millwall on Tuesday night.

Josh Coburn gave the hosts the lead at the end of a competitive first half in South-East London, and they managed to hold on against a flurry of chances for Derby in the second period.

Patrick Agyemang, Sam Szmodics and Carlton Morris all went near, but couldn’t convert as Millwall took the three points.

Eustace spoke with RamsTVafter the game.

On Emotions After the 1-0 Loss

We are disappointed to lose the game. In the second half, I thought we were excellent; we managed to create two or three golden chances. On another day, we could have been more clinical and scored. So, we've got to take a lot of positives from coming to a team in the third in the league doing very well, and the way we performed here in the second half was very good.

On the Only Goal in the Contest

Goals change games. We're very disappointed to concede in the way we did. We knew Millwall's threat at the first, second and third phases of corners and free-kicks. So, we didn't defend all the phases we needed to, and we were punished.

But again, we showed great heart in that second half. I thought the changes were really positive, you know. So yeah, disappointed to come away with it.

We've got to keep believing and keep telling ourselves that we're a top team at this level, and I think we've shown that in the last two away games with Hull and Millwall that we can compete with the best.We've just got to make sure we turn those defeats into wins.

On Taking Confidence from the Match

Yes, we can (take confidence from the performance), but we lost - and it's all about wins at this stage. It's not about performances. What I will say is that the lads have given their all.

We want to be a team that wins games, not one that performs well and doesn’t win.

In the first half, we have to defend the box better from set pieces and from crosses and in the second, we need to be more clinical. We're still a work in progress, but we're not far away from being a really good team.

Captain Lewis Travis also spoke with RamsTV following the match-up with Millwall and reiterate the need to be effective in the final third.

On a Close-run Contest

There was nothing in it in the first half; it was a cagey game. We've got to defend the set-piece better. Then, after the break, I thought we were the more dominant team. We've had three or four golden opportunities there; we've just got to be more clinical.

On Conceding Just Before the Break

I think that's concentration, especially when you come up against a team like Millwall in a place like this. They're doing really well at the minute. You've got to stay concentrated for 90 minutes of the game.

We came out fighting in the second half, we had three golden opportunities, and we needed to put one away. We probably could have ended up winning the game, so it was just a tough one to take today.

On Facing In-Form Opposition

Listen, we all believe in ourselves in there, and we can go toe-to-toe with absolutely anyone in our league. We showed today, especially in the second half, that we can dominate teams like that.

So, we can take confidence away from that. But it's that point of the season where you need the points on the board. And I think that's why we're all so gutted today.