‘Poor goal across backline’ – Millwall head coach on Tanganga ‘error’ that led to Preston equaliser

Millwall head coach Joe Edwards has given his verdict on the goal they conceded in today’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End – and described it as a “poor goal across the backline”.

Japhet Tanganga had the most passes (78) and touches of any player (94) on the pitch but it was the Tottenham loanee’s misplaced pass that set Preston on the attack and the move was finished smartly by Brad Potts to cancel out Zian Flemming’s opener.

“It’s a poor goal across the backline,” said Edwards. “It starts with Japh. He had loads of the ball and moments where he was composed. You can see the quality he possesses and the level he has played at.

“But, for sure, the pass is an error. But when Japh has that ball, as our right-sided centre-back, between Wes and Coops we should have been opening up more – they shouldn’t have been so close together.

“Joe is opening out to open the pitch up, which is easy to analyse now and say: ‘Joe Bryan is miles away’. But when we were playing well against Leicester and Middlesbrough that is where our wing-backs were. Joe is getting ready to go, thinking we are getting ready to build an attack.

“When Japh makes that error it means Wes and Coops get caught too close together. We have a massive gap between Coops and Joe. It is those details after the event that we can all sit and analyse it – when it happens that quickly you can get punished.”