Thursday 23 April 2015 19:02, UK
Millwall caretaker manager Neil Harris felt the "lack of killer instinct" was a key reason for his side's 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers which leaves their Sky Bet Championship survival hopes hanging by a thread.
Despite bossing much of the game and going close through Martyn Woolford's shot that was blocked on the line, and Paris Cowan-Hall's gilt-edged chance when clean through, Millwall were undone by a superb Rudy Gestede volley and a late counter-attack strike by Jordan Rhodes.
The result, which stretches Millwall's winless away run to seven, leaves Harris' side four points adrift of Rotherham, who may yet be punished for fielding an ineligible player.
And Harris was in no doubt that goals have been the problem for Millwall, with Gestede (20) and Rhodes (19) scoring more times than the visitors' squad has managed altogether in the league this season.
He said: "Frustrated, definitely. Their two goalscorers have scored more goals than my whole squad so I think it's clear to see why they've won that game 2-0.
"We talk about the positives, how good we were, how many chances we created, but ultimately to win games of football you have to score goals.
"I thought the whole team was outstanding, the subs were outstanding. Disappointed for the back four and the keeper. I thought we were excellent but ultimately we didn't take the chances.
"Spirit, we've got plenty of that, togetherness and desire, and ability in the squad but it doesn't change the result.
"The fact we haven 't scored enough goals this season clearly shows where we are in the league. Defensively we've been terrific in the last few weeks but it's sort of where we are at the moment because taking chances is costing us.
"It's highlighted in the last few weeks definitely, when we've been solid and reliable, but we haven't had the killer instinct in front of goal."
For Blackburn, this was a much-needed win after four games without victory in all competitions and manager Gary Bowyer praised his clinical strike duo.
He said: "I've been saying all along, we've got a hell of a lot to play for still. We want to finish as high as we can and individuals have got personal targets to reach and hit and you saw two of them get on the scoresheet tonight who are trying to get better every day.
"I think the first one, Craig Conway was magnificent all night in his performance and attitude and he's put another telling cross in and after the deflection, the big man's got on the end of it and it's a fantastic finish from the angle it was at. And he's turned provider with a fantastic through-ball for Jordan and he finishes so coolly, he's taken it early and passed it past (David) Forde. It was a fantastic finish.
"We could have had more, Tom Cairney's been wasteful in front of goal. He should have done better and we should have been cuter setting one or two up but overall we're pleased with the clinical finishing of the front two again."
