Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion: The key points from Neil Harris' post-match press conference

Millwall manager Neil Harris defended Lions goalkeeper David Martin after his error allowed Brighton & Hove Albion to force extra-time in the Lions' FA Cup quarter-final defeat on Sunday afternoon.
Millwall manager Neil Harris (left) and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.Millwall manager Neil Harris (left) and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.
Millwall manager Neil Harris (left) and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.

Harris' side went 2-0 up though goals from Alex Pearce and Aiden O'Brien before Jurgen Locadia and Solly March struck at the death to send the game to extra-time.

For March's leveller, the Albion substitute whipped a cross into the box that Martin completely missed leading to the ball nestling into the back of the net.

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After no goals in the extra period, Millwall's Jake Cooper missed his spot-kick at sudden-death to see the Seagulls advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.

On David Martin's error for Solly March's equaliser:

"He was outstanding at Birmingham and deserved to stay in the side today.

"I picked him on merit and he's a great character. He's very popular in the changing room and he's made a slight error.

"He's obviously devastated. He's one of the best pros I've come across.

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"He's made a mistake. He's put his hands up and made mistake.

"He says he's let the boys down but he hasn't let the boys down. He's made an error of judgement.

"I was more disappointed with the first goal. The defending for the first goal wasn't good enough in the wide area and the penalty area.

"We've missed two one-on-ones before scoring the first two goals so we could have been out of sight.

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"We then had penalties and it's a lottery with penalties. In extra-time there 'keeper makes a great save and Mahlon (Romeo) should have scored the rebound but it is what it is."

On replacing stand-out players Jed Wallace, Aiden O'Brien, and Lee Gregory with minutes of the game to go:

"Hindsight is wonderful isn't it? Our opportunity to win the quarter-final was us being 2-0 up in the 89th minute.

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"Would I change anything that I did? No, not at all because the eleven players on the pitch should have been capable of seeing out a two goal lead with the amount of defensive players on the pitch and the leadership we had on the pitch.

"What you can't do is you can't legislate for human error and at the end of the day that's cost us. "

On Millwall's FA Cup run:

"Today we matched and surpassed a Brighton side that's doing really well in the Premier League. This has been a great adventure the FA Cup for us this year.

"We've had some great games, none more so than today and Everton at home."

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On the red card for Shane Ferguson in the second-half of extra-time:

"Shane Ferguson would certainly have taken a penalty. He's technically our best player.

"At the time I couldn't really see (the foul) but the fourth-official said to me it was definitely a stamp.

"If that is the case then there is no place for that on the football pitch. There's no place for that on my football pitch here at The Den and he will be punished severely.

"If it's a mistake we'll obviously appeal it and if we don't Shane will have to learn the harsh lesson."