A reassuring half-time team talk from Neil Harris spurred Millwall to victory over Stevenage in the Carabao Cup first-round.

The Lions were off the pace for most of the first-half, and could have been a goal down if it wasn't for Tom King’s heroics.

But two goals from Den debutant Tom Elliott secured, what was in the end, a comfortable win.

Millwall manager Harris said: “There was no ranting or raving, I just reminded them how good they were. I thought we didn't take care of the ball in the first-half and gave it away far too easily.

“Stevenage were excellent and pressed us really well in the first-half. I was impressed.

“I just said to the guys, ‘come on trust yourselves and trust your mate on the ball and play with more freedom’. The second-half, not all of it, was really good.

“There some good performances. A few people had a point to prove not playing the other day against Nottingham Forest.”

MORE: Player ratings from Millwall’s Carabao Cup first-round win over Stevenage

Elliott, 26, opened his Millwall account with two emphatic headers.

The big striker joined the Lions earlier this summer, and has a battle on his hands to oust prolific duo Lee Gregory and Steve Morison from the starting eleven. 

But Harris was impressed with Elliott’s display against Stevenage.

He added: “He scored two really good goals.

“If you play with Tom or Steve Morison in the team, you've got to service your strikers.

“There were two great deliveries for Tom. He was at the back stick and he’s got the ability with his size and aggression to be able to score goals like that.”