Davies Commends Leicester's Pressing Game In Millwall Success

- Assistant manager Chris Davies reflects on Leicester City's 2-0 win at Millwall in the Carabao Cup
- Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho netted for the Foxes at The Den
- Davies described how City were instructed to press higher up the pitch in the second half
- He also commended the defensive effort which was required to see out the result in the capital

With the scores locked in stalemate at the interval, the Foxes pushed upwards in the second half, and they were rewarded just five minutes in as Ademola Lookman seized on a loose ball to convert his first goal for the Club on his full debut at The Den.

Later on, a rocket from Kelechi Iheanacho doubled City's advantage and secured a place in the fourth round of a competition Leicester have won three times. A tie against fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion awaits at King Power Stadium later this month.

"We've just said in there to the players that it was a really difficult game at times, in terms of the way Millwall were playing at the end of the game," Davies told LCFC TV at full-time. "We had to defend well, but it's an important win for us. We felt we had good control of the game for large periods.

"We managed the ball well, managed the game well, and obviously when we did have chances, we were clinical. We just spoke at half-time about pushing the team 10 yards higher up the pitch. We had good control without good creation in the first half period.

"After that, in the second half, we came out and we were a little bit higher. It allowed us to press more, push Millwall back towards their box and create more pressure. The first goal comes from a moment of pressing. We recover the ball and we score from there.

"Then, we generally had more territory and more danger in our possession."

Davies was particularly pleased to see Lookman mark another impressive appearance for the Foxes with a maiden goal for the Club and he paid tribute to the on-loan winger's application in training. 

"He's been outstanding in training, with his attitude, day-to-day around the place," Davies added. "He's been a joy to work with in the first few weeks and his quality has been very high. He impacted the game a lot when he came on at the weekend against Brighton.

"Today, he had to work hard, he had a good battle with the right wing-back in the first half. He stayed at it and, in the end, he gets his goal with a really instinctive finish because he follows in a rebound.

"It's something which is hard to teach a player to do, just to sense that moment to go and finish, so it's a very good day for him."

Iheanacho's strike was a stunning end to an intriguing match-up in south-east London and Davies was enthused by the whole move which enabled the Nigeria international to get his shot away.

"It was good power from him and I think the power is what beat the 'keeper in the end because he didn't actually dive," he explained. "That was a longer counter-attack, a good ball from Wilfred Ndidi, a great run, and Patson Daka makes a good supporting run, which leaves one vs. one.

"He managed to get inside on his left foot and he's got a lot of quality from that position."

City had to remain resolute at the end as Millwall pressed for an equaliser, before Iheanacho secured the victory, and Davies was particularly impressed by their defensive qualities.

"At the very end, in the last 20 minutes, they brought on two strikers," he continued. "It becomes basically a 4-2-4 with lots of long balls and, at that moment, the manager puts on Jannik Vestergaard to give us a little bit of aerial presence.

"They make you defend. It's very difficult to stop those long balls with the personnel they have. They can create danger from any ball into your box, but we defended very well in that period.

"I don't think they had a shot on target and that's a highlight for us because, to win games of football consistently, you need to do both sides of the game well. Be good offensively and be defensively solid as well. From that side of things, it was really pleasing.

"Jonny [Evans] was excellent tonight as well. It was great to see him play 90 minutes, looking good, looking comfortable, and that's a real plus for us."