December 7 2002

Trevor Francis

Trevor Francis highlighted the Eagles' progress since the shocking defeat to Millwall last season.

Francis said: "We knew it was going to be a difficult game. Millwall played against a side that was very different from the side they played 12 months ago.

"The improvement was there for everybody to see, showing we have changed things and we are not a soft touch any more."

"We protected our keeper very well and the three at the back played well. I thought the goal by Danny Granville was very special, it was a good response from his sending-off in midweek.

"Tommy Black has been good in training all week, we practised penalties yesterday and he didn't miss one. But on this ocasssion the keeper must take credit. Tommy is our third penalty taker behind Freedman and Johnson."

"I'm hoping to get our key players out of the treatment room to assemble an attack to get into the top six."