‘It is the worst I have seen us play’ — Tuttle

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DAVID Tuttle branded Millwall's display against Brighton as dire and the worst he had seen since taking over the reins, writes Ian Luckin.

Despite maintaining Millwall will avoid the drop, Tuttle admitted if his team is relegated he would deserve the sack.

Having beaten play-off giants Watford the weekend before, confidence was sky-high in and the around the ground at 3pm.

However, defensive nightmares left Millwall floundering by two goals at 3.10pm and triggered a harrowingly shocking performance.

At the final whistle Lions fans left the players and management in no doubt just how bad they were.

Tuttle said: "It is the worst performance since I have been here.

"I cannot put my finger on why we were poor. I could have made changes from the team which beat Watford but we decided to keep the same side which put in such a great performance and then we go out and perform like that. We were dire."

He added: "I never blame anybody, it is a team effort, down to the management and staff and the team. Just have got to pick ourselves up and be together when we go to Derby."

Fans reacted at half time and full time, shouting their displeasure in no uncertain terms.

Tuttle (pictured) said: "The fans pay very good money and I would probably be the same if I had paid the money and see that kind of performance.

"Personally I am gutted, I want to do well for the club, I want to do well for myself. I have got to do the same as the players, brush myself down and get on with it."

He added: "If we're relegated I would love to carry on. It may sound silly now but I have enjoyed being a manager.

"When I took over everyone thought we were down anyway, I have always believed we would stay up. So if we're relegated I feel I would have done a bad job. I want to stay in management but I would deserve the sack if we get relegated."

Brighton boss Mark McGhee was understandably delighted with three points as it brings them to within a draw of Millwall.

However, having spent almost three seasons as Millwall boss presiding over promotion from Division Two, the victory was bittersweet.

He said: "We'll both go down fighting but there is every chance we will go down.

"It would be a great shame. Not so long ago Milwall were in the play-offs, Europe and a cup final. It seems ludicrous they should be in this situation."

Despite the result the biggest home gate of the season, including 1,200 vocal Brighton fans, were treated to an exciting end-to-end match.

Millwall almost drew first blood with Karl Asaba's 20-yard drive which cleared the crossbar.

Then on five minutes Andy Marshall dropped Gifton Noel-Williams' deep cross and it fell to Paul Reid who made no mistake from eight yards.

Colin Kazim-Richards almost double Brighton's lead but Marshall pushed his shot wide.

From the corner, Paul McShane was given the freedom of the six yard box to stoop and head low past Marshall.

Millwall, playing a shaky 3-5-2 formation, responded with crosses which were too strong or did not get past the first defender.

However, on 25 minutes Barry Hayles, Jamie Vincent and Zak Whitbread combined well to deliver a stinging cross which just eluded Asaba's out-stretched boot in the six yard box.

Brighton almost had Marshall to thank for a third goal after the flapped at Reid's drive and was undoubtedly relieved to see the shot bobble wide.

For 10 minutes Millwall were playing against 10 men after Brighton's Gary Hart took a blow in the face from Matt Lawrence and required lengthy treatment on the sideline.

However, he did not return as the physio could not stem the blood flow sufficiently to satisfy the fourth official.

Ben May and Marvin Williams replaced Vincent and Asaba during half time and Tuttle shifted to 3-4-3.

But it was Brighton who came closest to scoring when Joe Gatting's close range shot was excellently saved by Marshall.

On 53 minutes Williams almost punished some hesitancy in the Brighton defence, nipping in to stab a back pass beyond the keeper, but wide of the post.

Cameron then saw his volley tipped over the Brighton crossbar as Millwall began to assert some pressure on the visitors.

Despite the renewed effort, frustration was setting in and Kazim-Richards' show-boating earned him a clattering challenge off Cameron, who was subsequently booked, and a kick-out by Whitbread, who earned a stern talking to.

Millwall became increasingly desperate with Hayles being booked for dissent.

In the end Brighton enjoyed the last effort on goal when, following a wonderful period of slick passing and clever play, Reid found himself baring down on Marshall, however, the keeper saved the powerful shot.

To make matters worse, Ben May was forced off late in the game with a head injury while Robinson picked up his 10th yellow card of the season and an automatic two match ban.

MATCH FACTS: MILLWALL: Marshall, 6; Lawrence, 5; Vincent, 5 (May, 45, 6 (Braniff, 86)); Elliott, 5; Robinson, 5; Dunne, 5; Livermore, 5; Whitbread, 6; Asaba, 5 (Williams, 45, 7); Hayles, 5; Cameron, 5.

SUBS NOT USED: Doyle; Craig.

ATT: 13,209.