Honest Ben Chrisene on Norwich City's brutal Millwall loss | Eastern Daily Press

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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Ben Chrisene felt Norwich City were served a tough Championship lesson in their 3-0 thumping by Millwall.

The Canaries were under par in all departments, with Chrisene and boss Philippe Clement both feeling they were bullied by the hosts, who could have won by a bigger margin at The Den on Saturday lunchtime.

It was an uncharacteristically poor display from City under Clement, who suffered successive defeats for the first time since taking charge in November. After a summer of optimism and heightened expectation, Norwich were brought sharply back down to earth in south London.

Chrisene felt the Canaries had been outfought by Millwall and exposed by the division’s more unforgiving qualities.

"It's hard to sum up so soon after the game. I think it's evidence for all of us, the manager and the fans, to show that we just got outworked today. I think it was as simple as that," Chrisene reflected pitchside at The Den.

"We know we're a better team than that, I think, in my eyes and in the manager's eyes. It's just about that brutal side of the Championship where you've got to learn to fight, and that's the main thing. If we learn that side of our game and implement that, then we'll be an unbelievable team.

"It's today, for example, that you just show that you haven't got the grit and determination that you need sometimes in the Championship. We'll learn from this."

Norwich City were beaten 3-0 by Millwall at the Den on Saturday lunchtime. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

The defeat has come as a shock to supporters given Norwich’s strong finish to last season, when Clement oversaw a surge up the table.

Chrisene hopes the setback can prove a painful but necessary reminder of the standard required in the Championship. Norwich must now respond quickly, with a cup trip to Cardiff followed by Burnley’s visit to Carrow Road.

"It is a little bit of a shock. I think being amongst the team now for a couple of years, I know we've got that in us. It's just starting the game," he said.