Middlesbrough boss pays Millwall compliment ahead of Den fixture tomorrow

By Richard Cawley

Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka has handed a compliment to Millwall – by talking about trying to compete with the South London club.

Forest travel to The Den tomorrow and are 12 points behind their hosts, despite enjoying a major spending advantage.

And yet Karanka, appointed in January, has challenged his side to show they are at the same level as the Lions, who still have a chance of reaching the Championship play-offs and are one of the division’s form teams.

“It is another chance to show that we can compete with these teams – and not in the same conditions,” said Karanka, who won automatic promotion with Middlesbrough in 2016.

“They have been working together for eight or nine months and we have been working together for less than two months.”

Harris said: “I think he is alluding to our organisation and shape – our individual components fitting into a team. That’s what makes a good Millwall side.

“You take the praise to the group when it is offered from someone who has been successful in the modern game. We really have to make sure our standards continue to rise. People are being complimentary because we are doing well – but we can be better.

“We have done excellently so far, but there is more to come.”