Neil Harris admits he has a real job on his hands to end Millwall’s abysmal home record.

Today’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Chesterfield made it four straight defeats at The Den from as many games this season.

The woeful home form might well stretch back to the final year of Kenny Jackett’s reign, but that will mean little to the current Millwall boss who acknowledges he has his work cut out trying to prevent it becoming a mental block for his squad.

Harris said: “It is difficult because we haven’t won at home yet.

“We want to do that because you want to play in front of your fans and you want this to be a fortress.

“It is not quite right so I have to search for the right formula of players and formation to try and get the best out of the team.”

He added: “I think some of the senior players haven’t necessarily performed outstandingly well at home and have had the feelings of the fans made known to them.

“We freshened it out with the young lads but with the young lads mistakes come and a lack of knowhow sometimes.

“It is getting the balance right for me but with the home record of course we want to win home games.”

Jay O’Shea fired Chesterfield in front with a stunning volley from outside of the box on 17 minutes.

Harris had few complaints to be trailing at the break but felt luck didn’t shine on his side, notably when Jimmy Abdou was denied by Spireites keeper Tommy Lee and then when O’Shea’s defelcted effort made it 2-0 on the stroke of full-time.

The Lions manager said: “It was an excellent strike for their first, a 25-yard shot from an angle on the volley is a good goal at any level.

“First half I thought we started OK and then their midfield dominated us possession wise. We adjusted after 35 minutes in the midfield and we got a foothold back in the game.”

Harris added: “We came in at half-time, made the change going forward just to give us that little bit more of a link in the play and in the second half we were the much better team.

“What sums it up for me is Jimmy Abdou’s deflected shot is saved by the keeper going the wrong way and at the other end their deflected shot ends up in the back of the net.”

The second half improvement did, however, at least give Harris a glimmer of hope, even if the final outcome today was an all to familiar one.

He said: “We know we didn’t play well in the first half.

“We said to the players at half-time to go out, express yourselves and enjoy it.

“With young lads in the team they are going to make mistakes and get things slightly wrong.

“I hope we don’t get punished every time we make a mistake as a group but if we can build momentum, which we did, then the fans will get behind us.

“If we can keep creating chances the goals will come.

“Unfortunately the chances did come but the goals didn’t come.

“Ultimately we’ve gone another game without a home win, which is a disappointment.”