Alex Neil happy with display at Saints despite Millwall slipping out of top six

Millwall manager Alex Neil was delighted with his depleted side’s goalless draw at Southampton despite watching them drop out of the Sky Bet Championship’s top six.

In a game of few chances, Thierno Ballo spurned a late opportunity to turn one point into three for a Millwall side missing striker Mihailo Ivanovic due to injury.

Neil said: “I thought it was a great performance.

“We changed our shape again for a couple of reasons. Obviously Mihailo was missing to lead the line.

“Also we didn’t have a recognised midfielder in the line-up as I wanted to put an extra man behind the ball, but also still be aggressive in terms of trying to get the ball back.

“I thought we had the better chances, including two big ones in the second half.

“To take five points from three games against Ipswich, Bristol City and Southampton is very satisfying, especially with our injuries.”

The best chance of an uneventful clash came in the 78th minute.

Femi Azeez drilled a low cross into the penalty area but Ballo’s casual effort from four yards out was turned behind by Gavin Bazunu.

Saints also came close to nicking the win in stoppage time as Finn Azaz had a shot blocked and Jack Stephens headed wide from a corner.

Neil said: “I just thought he’d put it past the post and I’m thinking, ‘how can you miss from there?’.

“But then, when I see that back on the replay, the keeper obviously gets across and spreads himself.

“It’s one of them ones where the better contact, you make, the better it is for the keeper.”

Saints are seven points adrift of the play-offs places heading into their weekend trip to Middlesbrough.

Boss Tonda Eckert admitted he had mixed feelings about the result, which extended their winless run to five matches.

Eckert said: “I have mixed emotions. I think there are many positives to take away from today, and on the other hand, we had the chances to win the game towards the end and we we didn’t manage to put the ball in the back of the net.

“Gavin made a very important and excellent save. It’s a little bit too easy how we get into that situation because it comes from from our throw-in and then two passes later the ball is in our box.

“We have a big game now for us at Boro. It’s not going to be an easy one, but it just depends on us, so we need to make sure that we go strong.

“It will be a big, big challenge. We know that they have quality, but we do as well, and we just need to make sure that we finish this block off well,

“When you have those four games in such a short spell, then you need to make sure that the energy is as high as possible for the games, and I was very happy with the boys that were on the pitch.”