Millwall defender Shaun Hutchinson: We’re a bit gutted to drop two points against Preston North End

Shaun Hutchinson admitted that Millwall’s players were left deflated by being pegged back late on in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Preston North End.

The Lions had defended well until Callum Robinson’s 80th-minute equaliser.

Hutchinson said: “There are mixed feelings. We’re a bit gutted we couldn’t see out a 1-0 with 10 minutes to go. You fancy us in that situation [leading late on] to see it out. But at the same time I don’t think we were at our best.

“Credit to Preston, they had a gameplan and they played it very well. They made it very tough for us.”

The Lions’ home record is top-six but their away results are rock bottom out of the 24 clubs in the Championship.

Hutchinson said: “We’re very front foot – we bounce off a lively crowd. At home we feel we can get after the ball a bit more while away you try to be a bit more solid. We’re not as attacking as we are at home.

“Defensively we’re probably solid home and away. But going forward away from home has been a bit of a problem.

“You wouldn’t want to take away from our defensive unit because we are hard to beat.

“I’m not sure it is down to confidence because it’s not something we really talk about. It is brought up in the press and occasionally by the manager.

“Last season in League One we were going to hard places and getting wins. It’s just one of those things, before the end of the season we’ll definitely pick up a few wins.”

Hutchinson is in his second season with the Lions and recently signed a new contract until the summer of 2020.

“It’s where I wanted to be. Millwall tend to go up and down but there’s definitely something different with the squad the gaffer has built. Even if we do finish where we are now, I’m confident the gaffer has got it in him to regroup, build and really go again.

“Our league position is a bit false. We should be a bit higher with the performances we have put in.

“I feel I’ve got my confidence back and I’m playing some of the best stuff I’ve been playing.”