LIONS captain Danny Shittu has expressed his pride at how the players bounced back after a difficult week for the club.
Millwall beat third-placed Watford 1-0 last night thanks to a late Shaun Batt winner, three crucial points which gives the club some breathing space in the relegation scrap.
Shittu admitted the Hornets were the better team over the 90 minutes but the Nigerian international had nothing but praise for the way his battling team-mates hung in there.
“I’m really proud of the boys today,” he said.
“To have lost to Sheffield Wednesday and then at the weekend, we knew we had to pull a result out today.
“Our main focus is staying in this league and for us to have dug out and kept a clean sheet is massive.
“We were fortunate to not be behind at half-time but really pleased to get that win.
“Going through the game we thought it would be a draw.
“As a defender you get a bit nervous then, but we got the goal and we’re really buzzing about that.”
The Millwall captain was also full of praise for manager Kenny Jackett, who made some key tactical substitutions which ultimately helped the Lions take the sting out of the Hornets.
Shittu feels with Jackett in charge, Millwall can beat anyone in the Championship if they defend like they play like they know they can.
“He was all smiles in the changing room and it shows after the all the hard work he has put in this season,” the defender said.
“We know he hasn’t had millions and millions to spend like a lot of other clubs in this league, so for us to beat a team like Watford meant a lot.
“Once we get things right on the pitch, I feel we can beat any team in this league and we showed that in the second half today.
“That’s what we do - we can get a goal out of nothing and then keep a clean sheet.”
After the ugly scenes at Wembley on Saturday during Millwall’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Wigan, Shittu was pleased to be able to get back on the pitch.
The 32-year-old was disappointed to hear what had gone on in the Millwall end during the Wigan game, but knows the club have done their best to irradiate events like the one which overshadowed the big Wembley day out.
Shittu said: “To have lost on Saturday was hard enough, but to hear about the other things that were going on, we were disappointed about that.
“We are all ambassadors of this club, not just the players but the fans too, and what they do is just as important as what we do.
“This club has worked so hard and I’m really proud to represent the club because I know the potential here.
“We will do what we have to do to put the club back in a good light.”
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