Millwall boss makes 'fortunate' Derby County claim after defender suffers cut

Millwall boss Alex Neil does not believe Joe Bryan has suffered any structural damage to his foot and claimed Derby County defender Ryan Nyambe was fortunate not to have been sent off.

Left-back Bryan had to be helped from the pitch during the second half after a tackle from the Rams defender for which Nyambe was booked.

But speaking after the game which Millwall won 1-0, Neil felt it was a challenge that could have warranted a red card.

“I think he’s just cut the bridge of his foot,” Neil said. “I don’t think there’s any structural damage which is pleasing. It’s not a good challenge. I’ve seen it back. It’s a poor challenge from the lad.

"I don’t think he means it. The referee obviously doesn’t see it properly, because if he does I think he probably sends him off. It wasn’t a good challenge but it is what it is.”

Bryan's injury was the only setback for Millwall who took all three points from Pride Park courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from substitute Josh Coburn.

The on-loan Middlesbrough forward had earlier seen a penalty saved by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, but made up for that miss when he pounced at the back post.

And Neil felt Millwall were good value for the win which left Derby four points adrift of safety at the foot of the Championship.

“I thought it was no more than what we deserved in the game,” Neil told MillwallTV.

“I thought we had good opportunities in the game, and I thought in the first half, we had two or three good chances.

“Japhet [Tanganga] should have had a penalty. We got into good positions but just lacked that final ball. We had a shot in the second half.

“The keeper made a good save with his feet, we missed a penalty, so we did enough to win the game.

“When you miss those opportunities, you are worried that the goal won’t come. I felt all the subs that came on made us stronger, they gave us energy, and they got after the ball more.

“You could say we played midweek, we travelled midweek and travelled again today, so you could say we’ve done a lot more than Derby in that sense, I thought that we were the team that at the end were pushing to get the goal, we deserved it, delighted for the lads.”

Was Nyambe fortunate to avoid a red card? Have your say HERE

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