Mixed emotions for Millwall boss after West Ham deny his team a famous win

A lack of experienced options from the bench ultimately cost Millwall a famous win against bitter foes West Ham in the Docklands derby, Alex Neil has said.

The Lions manager says the surrendering of a 2-0 lead to the Hammers in Saturday lunchtime's thrilling 2-2 draw came down to increasing fatigue and an inability to be able to call upon some key injured players to freshen up the play and help protect the lead.

There was no Josh Coburn, Casper de Norre, Mihailo Ivanovic or Romain Esse he help repel the West Ham fightback by getting them back up the pitch and the storm his side created in the first half could not be sustained.

"I just think we ran out of steam," Neil said. "I think there was a lack of freshness and options if you like. We couldn't sustain the momentum that we got.

"I thought we were causing them all sorts of problems first half but once we hit 60-65 minutes, we were really tired and they switched to a 3-5-2 and we found it really difficult to get out. We ended up sinking and sinking.

"The frustrating thing for me is that the goals come from 30 yards, but t's funny how football works. I think if we score the second goal late on we come away absolutely buzzing but overall, I couldn't ask any more of the lads.

"The overriding emotion is frustration for the players and the fans that you haven't got what potentially you could have had.

"I thought the atmosphere was electric. This game's a real rarity and as a player and a manager, it's a privilege to be part of it. It's a match that doesn't happen that often.

"It felt a bit like the Old Firm in Scotland where it's not just about football - it's a bout the dockers and is entrenched in society and that's why everyone's so passionate about it.

"It's probably the best atmosphere since I've been at Millwall."

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: "The first half the game didn't start well for us. We lost the ball, we didn't deal with the physicality of Millwall. It was disappointing. We knew what we were going to find and didn't do well.

"But much improved in the second half and the way the game went is a positive. It's not what we wanted, but the way the boys reacted to that bad first half was positive.

"It's another lesson. The international break will be very important for us to put some things right - because we're going to find many, many teams that use their physicality in the game.

"It's not perfect but the challenge was to step up in the second half and show a bit more. Individually, there was a lot of improvement in our players."

The West Ham boss added about the hostility inside the stadium: "I had the chance to play here before and I knew and our players knew that it's a tough place to come. We did better in the second half dealing with that situation."