Millwall boss Ian Holloway revealed his disappointment with his side after the Lions slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Lions started well in a solid first half performance but their good work was undone by a goal in stoppage time from David McGoldrick.

And a decisive second by Daryl Murphy on 63 minutes condemned Millwall to their first away reverse of the season, but their second defeat in three games.

“It didn’t like look like our team,” Holloway said.

“But you have to give credit to Mick’s team and how difficult it is to break them down.

“We had a lot of the ball, we tried to move things.

“Maybe we weren’t fluent enough, maybe we didn’t have enough movement or know what I want well enough.”

But Holloway felt the outcome could have been different had Jermaine Easter managed to capitalise on some first half chances which fell the striker’s way.

“We created two great opportunities,” the boss added.

“At Fulham we created one and we took it.

“That gave us a great result and it got everyone all excited, and today we didn’t take our chances.

“They counter attacked us and we weren’t as gung-ho as I normally go, but I knew about Mick’s tactics against me before.

“To leave the two up and not drop one off - and when they get the ball, obviously pulling Murphy over onto Dunne who is a little bit short - I felt we were coping with those things.

“One ball over the top, one flick and they joined in the attack quicker.

“How dare they outrun you? How dare you get out run by any other person who wears a different colour shirt? That’s how simple it is.”

Today was the first of three games in the space of a week, with another away trip coming up at Reading on Tuesday before high-flying Notts Forest arrive at The Den next weekend.

And Ollie admitted his side were already playing catch up after setting them a target from the trio of fixtures today’s defeat means they can no longer achieve.

“I’m going to be one point short of what I wanted, I asked them for seven out of nine and we’ve got to win these other two and I’ll still only get six.

“They’ve let me down - not badly though.

“The best team won today, Ipswich stuck to their task better than us.

“Who was going to get the third goal in the game? It certainly wasn't us.”

Since Holloway’s arrival the Millwall players have grown in belief, although the boss felt some of them started to lose that belief in the second period at Portman Road.

But Ollie was upbeat as he challenged his team to “get going” again against Reading on Tuesday evening. 

He said: “To be honest when a goal goes in it’s like you get shot - and it looked a fatal wound and I’m surprised at that. 

“When you need people to stand up and get going and get that confidence, the break didn’t help.

“Ever since I’ve been here we’ve grown in a self belief that they understand what I want, and even though you do get beaten you never show that, you keep going. 

“The second goal was vital, it come from a useless set piece from our point of view.

“Someone has a free foot on it and we needed that, but did we look like getting it? No. That’s what upsets me.”

Holloway added: “We have to get strong, we have a long way to go.

“Everyone was excited, now they’re not.

“Dust yourself down and let’s get going, let’s have a go.

“I expected the people I brought on to make a difference and they almost did, and some of the ones out there lost some energy, belief and organisation.

“We didn't close down well enough and we just have to remember that I’m trying to teach them new things on how to move and play and work round people.”

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