Millwall: Links to Steven Naismith so soon after Neil Harris appointment do not sit right: View | OneFootball

Millwall continued their impressive form under Neil Harris with a hard-earned point at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

Neil Harris inspires Millwall turnaround

The Lions board made the bold decision to bring in Joe Edwards as Gary Rowett’s successor in November, as they hoped the former Chelsea youth coach could bring a progressive new style of play to The Den.

As it transpired, it was a decision that backfired, so Millwall made the call to bring back Harris on a deal until the summer of 2025 as they bid to avoid dropping to League One.

And, whilst there’s still a lot of work to do before the Londoners can celebrate safety, Harris has immediately managed to get a tune out of the group, some of whom he worked with during his first time in charge.

The win at Southampton was a real statement victory, as the players showed grit and fight to pull off a shock, and they backed that up with a 1-0 success over Watford.

It wasn’t pretty against the Hornets, as Millwall managed just two shots on target and 34% possession, but they limited the visitors to few clear chances.

At Ewood Park, it was more of the same, as Blackburn dominated the ball. Millwall had just one effort on target, which they scored from, but the hosts couldn’t really open them up.

There is a spirit and fight in the group that had been lacking under Edwards, and whilst the team could do more going forward, they’re playing in the way you’d expect from a team battling to stay up. They’re organised, disciplined, and working hard for the cause.

Playing Millwall is now going to be uncomfortable for opponents, exactly as it should be.

Steven Naismith linked with Millwall job

That demonstrates how much Harris has changed in a matter of weeks. You can question the quality, but the commitment is there, and that’s what the fans demand.

Therefore, it’s quite surprising to see that there’s already talk about Harris being replaced in the summer, with Hearts boss Steven Naismith linked with the Millwall job, as per Football Insider..

Of course, you have to take rumours with a pinch of salt, but it would be hugely disrespectful if the Millwall board were plotting behind Harris’ back at this stage of the season.

He left a safe job with Cambridge, where he had started well, because of his love for the Lions. This is Harris’ club, and in their desperate situation, he signed a relatively short-term deal to try and help them stay in the league.

Obviously, results in the next ten games will dictate whether Harris should stick around for next season, but he deserves the chance to prove he can be the man to lead the team for the years to come, and the early signs are positive.

There was some frustration with Harris at the end of his first spell in charge, but it should be remembered just how well he did.

Promotion to the Championship was the high point, but Millwall also had many memorable days in the FA Cup, and they relished their role as the underdog, with Rowett building on the good foundations Harris had left.

Naismith has proven himself to be a talented coach at Hearts, but Harris is the right fit for Millwall at the moment, and talk of replacing him, just weeks after his appointment, is unfair given the way he has united everyone and picked up results as they prepare for this almighty relegation scrap.