Neil hopes to give youngsters more chances in EFL Cup

Millwall head coach Alex Neil says he hopes to give his young players more game time in the next round of the Carabao Cup after praising their performances in Tuesday's win over Coventry City.

The Lions beat Coventry 2-1 at The Den with Massimo Luongo and 22-year-old Kamarl Grant's first goals for the club, before Haji Wright grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spot for the visitors.

Jack Howland and Daniel Kelly, both 19, started for Millwall, with Howland making his debut for the club, before Ajay Matthews, 19, and 17-year-old Sheldon Kendall came off the bench in the second half.

"Every substitution we made was pre-planned before the game. We wanted to get some of the young lads on, we wanted to know what they can do and give them an opportunity to sample first-team football against Championship opposition," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"They certainly didn't let us down. I thought that their effort, their endeavour, their resolve and the performance was terrific.

"And towards the end, we were getting younger with the substitutions; they were getting older and more experienced with a certain substitution. So from our perspective, we're delighted with how our young guys performed this evening."

Neil said last week Grant, who spent last season on loan at Bromley, would spend at least the first half of this season playing with the first team.

He has now played in both rounds of Millwall's EFL Cup campaign this season.

"I thought his performance deserved it. That's only his second performance at the club. He's been here for a while and to score a goal will be special for him, so that's really pleasing," Neil said.

Millwall will learn their third-round opponents on Wednesday when the draw is made following the Grimsby v Manchester United tie and Neil said he was hoping to give the young players another run-out against lower league opposition, unless they draw a big Premier League side.

"What I would like is if we got a team below us in the leagues, at home. I'd like to give some of the younger boys another game and get them out there," he said.

"Or a big one, and the fans can get right behind it and [we can] test ourselves."