Josh Coburn explains Boro transfer decision and sums up 'nice feeling' on return

Coburn scored twice to cancel out Dael Fry’s opener as Millwall scored a huge win over Middlesbrough in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League. It sent Millwall above Boro with six games remaining.

It was a nice, but strange, feeling for Coburn, who joined Boro aged 16 and graduated through the academy ranks to enjoy some big moments for the club he supported as a boy.

It made the decision to leave for Millwall in the summer a difficult one. But after conversations with Kieran Scott didn’t result in the assurances he wanted over game-time, a return to the Den, where he spent last season on loan, was the obvious next step.

Coburn said: “I obviously was on loan at Millwall, I really enjoyed my time there, and the gaffer was brilliant with me, and yeah, I was playing a lot of games and that was what I wanted to do.

“That was the main thing for me and I knew if I went and played games I'd score goals. So yeah, that was basically my decision really.

“I think I've come on quite a bit. I think obviously I'm scoring more goals and I feel more confident, I feel stronger, and yeah, I've really tried to work on my game.

“And the gaffer’s really helped with my game. But yeah, I just need to try and keep going and keep trying to keep scoring.”

Bucking the trend of many players who score against former clubs, Coburn celebrated both of his at the Riverside. Asked if he felt coming into the game he had a point to prove to Boro, he played such motivations down.

“Not really,” he said. “I think I was just more concentrated on my own game. I've got nothing but respect for Middlesbrough, they helped me so much.

“ut I was just more trying to concentrate on helping the team as much as possible and, yeah, obviously trying to score goals as well. That's my job.

“I was a Middlesbrough fan as a kid, yeah. But I think obviously it's a big game, a lot of emotion, and yeah, I can't really hold that back when I score.”

On the game, and his goals, he added: “It’s a really nice feeling. I can't complain. Obviously, we knew coming into it how tough of a game it was going to be.

“I think it showed - they showed how good they were in the first half, and I think in the second half we showed our character and resilience, and yeah, buzzing to get the win.

“[First goal] I think obviously I turned around, the ball was there, and I think it’s sort of a striker’s instinct. You’ve got to be in the right position and thankfully it just crossed the line. It looked like it was in, so I’d have been a bit disappointed if it wasn't given.

“[Second goal] I feel really confident at the minute and I've just got to keep my head down and keep working hard and, yeah, keep helping the team as much as possible.

“Coming back here is a bit of a weird feeling - the first time I've been back to play against them. And obviously, you want to do as well as possible.

“But I knew coming into it, it’s all about the team and I just wanted to help the team as much as possible, and I was really happy to get the win.

“They [family] were here, they were buzzing, yeah. I think they have to support Millwall. I hope so anyway!”

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