Neil Harris expressed that Millwall were ‘fortunate’ to be tested by Real Sociedad before their league opener against Preston next week.

The Lions drew 3-3 with the La Liga side who managed to get the double over Real Madrid last season and the Lions boss explained that he was delighted with how preseason went for his side.

“We were just talking in the office, when you look at pre-season as a whole it’s been quite good.” Harris said.

“A fantastic trip to Portugal. We played Fleetwood who are going to be a good League One side this year.

“We played Gillingham and Southend in two local derbies and both teams were right at it against us, they really pushed us. Then we played Braga and Real Sociedad, two top European sides. As pre-seasons go for us it’s about the best I could have hoped for.

“To get a test like that, we’re really fortunate. What a good side they are. I said to the players beforehand it was going to be like playing Everton. They’re a team that are top eight or nine in one of the best leagues in the world.

“They’ve won La Ligas, won cups, they’re a top side and are going to have good players. I sat and watched the game today to enjoy it and watch my team play, to take it in rather than to coach from the side or shout and get at the players.

“It was a huge learning curve today, there will be some really good video footage from that for us to show the players to make us even better next week.

In addition to being pleased with his side’s overall performance Harris also singled out new signing Connor Mahoney’s individual performance amongst others against Real Sociedad.

“There were some really good individual performances. We used the ball well first half and got the ball forward at the right times. When we got the ball forward we caused them problems.

“I don’t want to put Connor under too much pressure but he’s got that ability [to score the quality of goal he did].

“He’s got that cleverness when to run and when to pass or dribble. It’s natural. I’m hoping that’s a sign of things to come, that that’s the standard and he’ll be at that level and even better this season.

“If you have Matt Smith in your team at times you need people who can put the ball in the box. We’ve got players with excellent delivery in Connor, Shane [Ferguson] and Jiri [Skalak], who I was really pleased with when he came on.

“What it will do is make Jed Wallace a better player, where he lacks in end product at times he’ll have to improve. He’ll know who’s in the box and what deliveries he’s got to put in.

Wallace scored from 12-yards out after Shaun Williams scuffed his chance from the spot earlier on in the match and Harris explained that the conversation is yet to be hand on the squads designated penalty taker.

“I haven’t given it any thought really. If the goalkeeper goes the other way it’s a great penalty. If they go the right way they tend to save them.

It’s not something that we’ve discussed, but it’s something that we will discuss this week. You do want a regular penalty-taker, and you want the ball to go in the net. If he scores the first one he probably scores the second as well and comes off with two goals. I was pleased for Jed to get on the scoresheet.

If we’re going to play like we did today in that first half and win the penalties like we did then we certainly have to be clinical with them.