Alan Sheehan | We did enough to get something from the game

Alan Sheehan felt Swansea City had been unfortunate to leave The Den without at least a point to show for their efforts after a dominant second-half display was not enough to avoid a 1-0 defeat.

It was Swansea’s first defeat in seven games, and brought their five-match winless run to an end.

But they could so easily have picked up at least a point, as they recovered after a first 45 minutes where the hosts had the better of the contest and led through George Saville’s strike, while Lawrence Vigouroux made a couple of key saves and the woodwork prevented Femi Azeez doubling the hosts’ lead.

Jisung Eom was denied by George Evans when through on goal, with the Millwall keeper also saving Zan Vipotnik’s bullet header from a Josh Tymon cross, and parrying Ronald’s fierce drive.

Vipotnik also nodded agonisingly wide, and then miscued a volley having done well to turn back to control a low Ronald cross.

And Sheehan believes his side would have fully merited a positive result on the strength of that second 45 minutes.

“In the first half we probably did not control the madness as well as we could,” said the caretaker head coach, who also confirmed that defender Harry Darling had been a late withdrawal from his team.

“They score from a second or third-phase play where a ricochet lands for them and they score, without us having really conceded many clear chances.

“But we did not have control of the game, and in the second half we were a lot, lot better and showed a lot of character. 

“We played a lot more like us, Jisung and Vipi have had numerous chances, and you have just been waiting for the net to ripple.

“It did not fall for us, but we kept on going to the end. Their goalkeeper ends up being man of the match and our fans clapped us off which tells you they liked a lot of what they saw other than the result.

“We are disappointed, because I think we have done enough to get something out of this game.

“But consistency is key, if you keep putting in performances then more often than not you will get your rewards. We have had an excellent run and I am proud of the players for that.”

Sheehan also thanked the 1,300-strong away following who cheered his side in south-east London, as well as all those who have backed Swansea on their travels across the whole campaign.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the efforts the fans go to in backing the team, and I really mean that,” he added.

“They come to the games and they stay to the very end, they sing their songs about all the players, they are proud of them and they know that they are giving everything for them.

“You see the run we have been on, and the second half today, they can see the effort and character we are showing to keep going to the very end.

“It was just that last bit of killer instinct that was missing today.”