Ian Holloway has criticised Millwall supporters who taunted Leeds United fans with chants about Jimmy Savile in today’s meeting between the two sides at The Den.

The Lions won the game 2-0 thanks to goals either side of the break by Mark Beevers and Shaun Williams (penalty).

Boss Holloway praised his side’s efforts but felt the songs aimed at the large travelling contingent from some home fans had taken the gloss off what should have been a day of celebration.

He said: “I didn’t like the banter to be honest, I don’t think that is respectful, I really don’t.

“I respect every Leeds player, person and supporter all my life because I’m a football person myself.

“I don’t think (Savile chants) are right because that is disrespecting anybody he hasn’t treated with the utmost respect.

“I don’t care where he is from or what he does – what he did is an absolute disgrace.

“Let’s stop and think about what he has actually done, yeah?

“That’s the most important thing and we don’t see that. ‘Oh, it is a bit of banter’. It isn’t funny, is it? I don’t think so.

“Nobody likes a laugh more than me but I’m respectful  - and that’s what I’m trying to show to Leeds United.”

Holloway added: “They are a great club, they come here, they’ve got so many fans and I want to be treated the same as anybody else.

“I’m really proud of my people in this ground because that’s a wonderful day for us (on the pitch) – if your team played well and we managed to win and that’s what it should be.

“If I had a chance I’d have a beer with one or two of them (Leeds fans) if I could but they’ll be going back home.

“And that’s how football should be ‘well done’ – respectful.

“I’m happy I’ve said that and I’d have been that to them if they’d have won.

“I think that is what it is about.”

Holloway was pressed by one journalist why he had raised the Savile chants, prompting this response from The Den chief.

“I’m just giving you an example.

“It is really, really important if football supporters think they can go into a ground and sing songs about someone who has had a crash and aren’t here anymore, how disrespectful  is that?

“It goes over what football is about and to me that is obscene.

“That brings football into disrepute.

“I don’t and I’ve been fined by the FA God knows how many times. I try and get people to be respectful and that’s all I want to say.

“I’ve said it before the game ‘please come to the game, please enjoy yourself, go home safely and here we go let’s have a look at how good our team is’.

“Surely that’s the way forward.”

Holloway also contrasted the way Millwall supporters were treated when they visit Elland Road with how Leeds fans are welcomed in large numbers to The Den.

“Overall I’m really pleased for everybody at the club,” he said.

“I thought it was a proud day for us to welcome Leeds – that’s what we’ve done.

“We’ve welcomed them to our club, we’ve treated them with the utmost respect, we haven’t herded them in a little service station just outside of London and made them get a ticket to get in that little herd up.

“We can deal with it, the West Yorkshire Police can’t obviously because they don’t show us the same respect as we show them. “

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