Millwall's defensive unit has improved both as a collective and individually since Alex Pearce's permanent signing according to Mahlon Romeo.

The 23-year-old right back produced one of his best performances in a Millwall shirt against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, as the Lions had to play 48 minutes with ten men and he had the task of taming an in-form Kadeem Harris down the flank.

The 1-0 result was the Lions’ consecutive clean sheet at home already this season, something which they failed to achieve last term - indicating that hard work has gone in on the training ground over the summer.

“I have said in the past that we always do our analysis and leave no stone unturned,” Romeo said.

“I knew what I was coming up against, I know what Kadeem [Harris] is like as a player – I have been watching him for a while.

“My job was to just make his [afternoon] as difficult as possible. I knew he was going to stay out wide and get the ball regardless so he was going to have chances to take me on one-v-one.

“[We played] 43, plus the second half with ten men. We know what we were going to come up against at half-time, and to be honest, we were all raring to go, we ready for the challenge, we were hungry for it.

“This season for sure, it is definitely a different feel around the club - training wise, the camaraderie. It is a different feeling to how it was last season.

“The work we have been doing as defenders, going off and doing our own analysis everything has clearly been helping.

“But to be fair, I think having Pearcy [Alex Pearce] in there as a voice in and around the changing room has helped massively.”

Alex Pearce signed for the Lions permanently this summer following an impressive loan spell last season, and following the departure of club captain Steve Morison, the ex-Derby defender was handed the armband.

“One time when I got beaten today, and Kaz [Kadeem Harris] was able to put a decent cross in – he had time. Pearcy was saying to me, ‘come on Mah, get a bit tighter’ and the next time I had it in my head.

“Naturally I would have it, but to have someone else telling you as a team it helps you get going.”

Millwall travel to Fulham on Wednesday evening, a team which undoubtedly boasts the best wingers in the league with the likes of Anthony Knockaert, Ivan Cavalerio in their ranks – but Romeo insisted he is relishing the test himself against such quality.

“They are names that a lot of people will know – especially in football,” Romeo said of Fulham’s wingers.

“It is another challenge, it is in a way going to be a different mindset but we just have to go there and try and get the job done.

“One thing that is important that the gaffer said to us, when we win we don’t get too high and when we lose we don’t get too low. I think that is something that will be very important to us this season.”