Philpot on target for U21s in derby draw
Jamie Philpot scored his sixth goal of the season for Millwall U21s as Neil Harris' young Lions came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with their Brentford counterparts in Tuesday afternoon's Professional Development League 2 game.Philpot grabbed a deserved leveller for The Lions, who made it three games unbeaten with this hard-fought derby draw played in difficult conditions at Brentford's training ground.
"We were good value for the draw," said U21s coach Chopper. "The conditions were pretty awful and with the exception of Nicky Bailey and Justin Hoyte, we had a very young side playing including six scholars and another four on the bench.
"It was a real bonus for the lads to have Nicky's influence there, talking them through in midfield and it was nice for young keeper Harry Girling, who is a first year scholar, to have Justin Hoyte in front of him passing on his experience and talking him through the game too.
"Harry has matured well this year in the U18s and played very well every time he has been selected for the U21s. There was a very strong wind out there and he did extremely well with his kicking in adverse conditions.
"Overall, if I am honest, it wasn't the greatest of performances as the wind made it difficult to pass the ball; Brentford probably managed that a bit better in the first half and we couldn't really have any complaints that they went in a goal ahead at the break.
"But our boys took on board everything that was said to them at half-time, which is always really pleasing, showed a great attitude and in the end we had the chances to win the game."
"We were good value for the draw," said U21s coach Chopper. "The conditions were pretty awful and with the exception of Nicky Bailey and Justin Hoyte, we had a very young side playing including six scholars and another four on the bench.
"It was a real bonus for the lads to have Nicky's influence there, talking them through in midfield and it was nice for young keeper Harry Girling, who is a first year scholar, to have Justin Hoyte in front of him passing on his experience and talking him through the game too.
"Harry has matured well this year in the U18s and played very well every time he has been selected for the U21s. There was a very strong wind out there and he did extremely well with his kicking in adverse conditions.
"Overall, if I am honest, it wasn't the greatest of performances as the wind made it difficult to pass the ball; Brentford probably managed that a bit better in the first half and we couldn't really have any complaints that they went in a goal ahead at the break.
"But our boys took on board everything that was said to them at half-time, which is always really pleasing, showed a great attitude and in the end we had the chances to win the game."
Philpot made sure that The Lions secured the draw that their controlled second-half display deserved, picking up a superb threaded through ball from Callum Webb and producing a composed, clinical finish that gave The Bees' keeper no chance.
The final word belonged to Chopper, adding: "Ebere Eze and Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, who are both 16-years-old, came on as substitutes in the second-half and were excellent. They made good decisions and their overall play was very impressive.
"We face Brentford again next Tuesday so we will be looking at the lessons we can learn from this game, have a look at the video, talk things through and look forward to playing them at The Den which is a big bonus for the young lads."
Team: Girling, Hoyte, Parr, Wood, Kitt, Bailey (Eze, 60mins), Webb, Farrell, Casey (Skinner, 71mins), Rylah, Philpot. Subs not used: Siafa, Mundle-Smith, Barton.
The final word belonged to Chopper, adding: "Ebere Eze and Alex Mulrooney-Skinner, who are both 16-years-old, came on as substitutes in the second-half and were excellent. They made good decisions and their overall play was very impressive.
"We face Brentford again next Tuesday so we will be looking at the lessons we can learn from this game, have a look at the video, talk things through and look forward to playing them at The Den which is a big bonus for the young lads."
Team: Girling, Hoyte, Parr, Wood, Kitt, Bailey (Eze, 60mins), Webb, Farrell, Casey (Skinner, 71mins), Rylah, Philpot. Subs not used: Siafa, Mundle-Smith, Barton.