Millwall and the not so happy Christmas 2015--the win at Southend made up for some

9/12/15 At home to Gillingham who are sitting pretty near the top.

26/12/15 At home to Walsall  who are sitting pretty near the top

28/12/15  Away to Southend who are in 7th spot

We sit just outside the play-offs and it's three tough games on the trot and hopefully at least seven points to set us up nicely for the new year.
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Millwall 0 Gillingham 3, League One, Game 21, 19/12/15 att: 12,032 (away 1,607)

In this league playing Gillingham is our local derby

'Oh dear, It didn't take long before we 2-0 down and reduced to ten men. We were playing like we were at the bottom of the League as in the " good old days" and we went behind in the 20th minute when Gillingham were awarded a free kick after Mark Beever's fouled. The 2nd goal was a result of a basic defending mistake when Jordan Archer and Mark Beever's both left each other to clear the ball but neither one did and it resulted in Archer feeling the need to foul the Gillingham player McDonald and a red card followed. I had my head in my hands and so did a good few others looking looking at this and this was two bob stuff. Gillingham scored from the resulting penalty and we were 2-0 down after 28 minutes. With David Forde now in between the sticks we had a bit of a mountain to climb and the end of the first half couldn't come quick enough.

Second half and we improve but nowhere near enough to get something from the game

Millwall: Archer (Forde 25m), Edwards, J.Martin, Beevers (Onyedinma 82m), Webster, Upson, Saville, Williams, Gregory Morison, O'Brien

subs not used, L.Martin, Ferguson, Thompson, Abdou, Nelson

__

Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson (Osadeba 69m), Garmstone, Egan, Hessenthaler, McDonald (Donnelly 46m), Samuel (Norris 90+6), A.Morris, Dack, Wright, Oshilaja

subs not use, G.Morris, Ehmer, Houghton, McGlashan

Goals: Samuel 20,89m   Dack 28m

__________

Millwall 0 Walsall 1, League One, Game 22, 26/12/15, att: 8,364 (248)

Walsall go top of the division after this narrow win but we should have got t least a point from this game. Walsall dominated the first half with plenty of possession football and looked pretty stroking it about amongst themselves. Some of Walsall's finishing was woeful and apart from Walsall's Sean O'Driscoll's possession football tactics we were not out bossed or out played throughout this match. We were crap in the first half of this game and looking at the starting line up with five changes after the Gillingham defeat it land Walsall taking the lead it looked like another thumping at home was on the cards.We finished the half 1-0 down after Walsall scored that only goal of the game on 29 minutes when Sid Nelson miss-read a long ball. We did have chances our selves in this first half and what seems to be a common concurrence is woeful officials that are really getting our backs up which in a strange way produces some of our most intense noise and the Lions better play. " No one likes us...............

Forever optimistic 

Once again like the Gillingham game we improved second half  and could have equalised after a few minutes when a Aiden O'Brien effort was tipped round for a corner. We had opportunities scattered across the half but just could not provide that effort, that little bit of magic that was going to the job and frustrating for all as Walsall still could have punished us more with one of their break-aways There was always a chance being just the one goal but we could not manage it.

That's two home defeats on the spin and I am well off with my 7 point prediction. Is there a chance of getting all three at Southend in a couple of days time? With Millwall there is always a chance and recovery will be a major factor after such a short space of time between games. Let's wait and see.

Millwall: Forde, Edwards, Martin (Pavey 75m), Nelson, Beevers, Abdou, Williams, Ferguson, 0'Brien, Morison, Onyedinma (Upson 68m), 

subs not used, King, Cummings, Webster, Saville, Thompson

Walsall: Etheridge, Demtriou, Taylor (Kinsella 46m), O'Conner, Downing, Chambers, Sawyers, Forde, Lalkovic (Preston 88m), Morris (Cook 71m), Evans

subs not used, Roberts, Mantom, Baxendale, Flanagan

Goal: Lalkovic 29 mins

__________

Southend 0 Millwall 4, League One, Game 23, att: 10,099 ( we take away 1,745 )

POINTS COME AT LAST

Back at a Roots Hall after a short time and we are back with our winning ways. That's six goals scored against Southend in our last two games at their place and once again we take a large away support. Aiden O'Brien is back on the score sheet with his 10th goal of the season and he's prediction of ten goals at Christmas was a little bit out but he has achieved ten before the new year which is top drawer for a bloke not long out of the Academy. Southend hadn't been beaten in eight games in the league so this 4-0 thumping of the Shrimps is even more impressive considering that the last time we won a league game was the 1-0 against Bury way back on the 28th of November.

Neil Harris changed things again in this game with Sid Nelson and Carlos Edwards rested and they were replaced by Bryon Webster and Shaun Cummings. George Saville was back in midfield joined by Ed Upson and the recently back to fitness Jimmy Abdou and Loanee Shane Ferguson dropped to back on the bench.
As soon as the whistle went we were up and at them forcing corners one after the other but we did not score our first goal to the 27th minute when young Fred Onyedinma set up Joe Martin who 15 yards out smacked a shot low to the ground that flew in off the post. The large travelling support behind the Southend goal hit the rafters and they were to be shortly on another two occasions be treated to more cheers of happiness as the Lions go in at half time 3-0 up with these two goals scored by Cummings
(off the post then off the keeper) and then Fred getting one of his own when he picked up a rebound after a shot by Steve Morison and drilled it into the Southend goal.

1700 go home happy

Southend made changes for the start of the second half and by the 9th minute had changed three players with Phil Brown looking and probably hoping for a change of fortune. The change of fortune did not happen and although Southend finally had a spell of worthwhile pressure it was Millwall who got the fourth. Steve Morison passed a peach of a ball to Aiden O'Brien and as mentioned earlier buried a slick low shot into the corner of the net at that was that. 1700 go home happy and thousands elsewhere finally have some football cheer over the Christmas period.

That's 34 points, 9th in the table, our 10th league win of the season and still only three points outside the last play-off spot

Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Martin, Beevers, Webster, Onyedinma (Ferguson 86m), Saville, Williams, Upson, Morison (Pavey 88m0, O'Brien (Thompson 80m)
subs not used, Archer, Nelson, Philpot, Abdou

Goals: Martin 27m, Cummings 35m, Onyedinma 45+1m, O'Brien 70m

Southend: Bentley, White, Coker (McLaughlin 46m), Thompson, Worral (Deegan 46m), Mooney, Payne, Atkinson, Hunt (Piggot 54m), Leonard, Barrett
subs not used, Smith, Prosser, Hurst, Rea

Millwall V Gillingham, is this the biggy?

COMING UP SHORTLY

With a weekend off due to the match at Oldham being postponed because of a water logged pitch its all to do at home this Saturday when we play Gillingham who are located as our nearest rivals in this division this season. We have no London Derby games this season and maybe playing Gillingham is the big one.
It pains me to say " the big one" because Kent's biggest club normally does not register very much on my football opponents radar but you get what your given and I am looking forward to the game. Gillingham are above us in the division and got thumped by Burton Albion 3-0 at home last weekend so as per normal they are beatable and now is the time to start our little purple patch over Christmas and see if we can mix it with the small boys at the top.

Top Six
1) Burton Albion 44 pts
2) Coventry City 39 pts
3) Walsall 39 pts
4) Gillingham 38 pts
5) Peterborough 34 pts
6) Wigan 34 pts
_________________

7) Bury 33 pts
8) Millwall 31 pts

We have a game in-hand over five teams above us.

Southend United 0 Millwall 2, Johnstone Paint Cup, 8/12/15, att: 5,972 we take 1,553

Semi Final-Southern Section

I never thought I would get there. I have no idea how people do this type of journey day after day.

From South London to Southend in the rush hour, I must have been nut's but the win eased the journey home. It may have only been the Johnstone Paint Trophy but with the amount of the support that also made the journey it was a big win which meant another chance of Millwall taking 40,000+ to Wembley again.

Jordan Archer gets ready for this one and appreciates the mass ranks of the travelling support behind his goal

Jordan Archer was up to his old magic not long after kick off as he superbly saved a 20 yard effort which from behind the goal looked like it was in, quality save. The pitch looked small to me which suited Southend as they looked lively and were always on to the second ball. This second ball retention seems something that we lack which means that we always seem to be chasing but it didn't stop Steve Morison picking up the ball from a cross on the far post and smacking the ball into the bottom of the right hand corner of the goal. We go in half time 1-0 up which rubbed in the face of the Southend Ultra's who had spent the first half telling us that we were not very good. What's with that drum, bang bang all through the game. 

Phil Brown ***Millwall had a strong following who made a lot of noise and I don't like people coming here and winning***

Second half and the Lions set themselves up for a ball in the box

The second half and we improved and had more action in and around Southend's box. Webster had a effort cleared off the line and free kick from Williams is cleared away by the Southend keeper. George Saville was in there as well as he shot from 20 yards out.and the ball whistles past the post.

With Roots Hall reverberating to 120 decibel Milllllllllllllllll we score our second in the 65th minute as a Shaun Williams 20 yard effort beat the out stretched hand of the keeper.. With our keeper Jordan Archer looking solid Southend were trying to get something from this game and it did not help us losing possession or giving the ball away which meant there was a few scary moments until that final whistle blew.

Southend's finest enjoy a sit on the grass and a bit of a picnic

The other Johnstone results of the night

Semi Final, Northern Section  Fleetwood 2 Morcombe 0 att: 1,715

Semi Final, Southern Section Oxford Utd 3 Yeovil 2 att: 2,582

What no Wigan?

Next it's Oxford United over two legs in the Area Final. The winner will play Barnsley or Fleetwood at Wembley sometime next year

***

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, J.Martin, Webster, Beevers, Saville, Williams, O,Brien (Nelson 90+1), Gregory, Morison (Ferguson 71m), Upson

subs not used, Forde, B.Thompson, Pavey

Goals: Morison 34m Williams 65m

Southend: Bentley, White (Rea 73m), Coker, A.Thompson, Worrall, Mooney, Payne, Atkinson, Hurst (Pigott 58m), Leonard, Barrett

subs not used, Prosser, Deegan, O'Neill

Millwall 1 Wycombe 2, FA CUP Round 2, 5/12/15, att:3,960 (658)

Losing away is one thing but getting done by a League 2 side at home is a joke
We were poor and we were average 

A fair few make up the away end
We turn up in small numbers

It's never a good omen but we lost the toss at the start of this game and attacked towards the Cold Blow Lane Stand.in the first half of this game. Should I use the term "attack? because we didn't do much of that. Over the course of the 90 minutes we were not on our game and for the first half we did not turn up, we still managed not to concede and good sides can still win games even when they are not playing well thought I.

Not on their game

We stepped it up for the 2nd half and had a mini spell of pressure on the Wycombe goal straight from kick off  but the away side broke on 50 minutes and Jordan Archer was beaten close range. This goal looked offside from the counter attack and the ref and the lino missed it, I didn't . It was not all bad and eight minutes later young (one of our own) Ben Thompson fetched it back to 1-1 and it's game on. She should go on to win this now and I was expecting a step up in play and the old Millwall at home would perhaps thump another couple at least. Somehow that did not happen and Wycombe had the dog with a bone approach and they were not going to let us have it. We could do nothing special and even the recent dynamic goalscoring  play of Aiden O'Brien was nowhere to be seen, Ben Thompson nearly scored again when he picked up a ball from Shaun but his shot missed just missed and that was a big miss. Fred Onyedinma came on and he looked like he may have been able to "do something" but a injury shortened his time on the field and he had to go off near not far off the final whistle when before we could get the substitution on Wycombe scored their second goal and it was good night Vienna. and the FA Cup.

Step up, who wants?

It's never a good omen but we lost the toss for the start of this game and attacked towards the Cold Blow Lane stand in the first half. Should I be using the term "attack? because we didn't do much of that. Over the course of the 90 minutes we were not on our game and for the first half we didn't turn up but we still managed not to concede and good sides can still win games even when they are not playing well thought I.

Just a few thousand had to suffer this

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Nelson, Webster, J. Martin, O'Brien (L. Martin 84), Thompson, Williams, Upson (Onyedinma 69(Pavey 90+4), Gregory, Morison,
subs not used, Forde, Cummings, Abdou, Wood

Goal: Thompson 58m
___

Wycombe Wanderers: Ingram, Jombeti, Stewart, Pierre, Hayes, Bloomfield, Wood, Amadi-Holloway(Thompson 74), Harriman, O'Nien, McCarthy
subs not used, Lynch, McGrinn, Sellars, Kretzschmar, Rowe, Ugwu

Goals: Hayes 50m, Harrison 90+4

Burton Albion 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 20, 1/12/15, att: 2,888 (490)

The weather was good for this yet another northern trip. Incredible away support yet again for a Tuesday night

A SPOT IN THE TOP SIX WAS THERE TO PLAY FOR
AND BURTON GO TOP (what are we doing wrong?)

With just two minutes in we get clobbered by some toe-rag tackles, but as usual we get nothing.
Sid Nelson started this one which is something that he hasn't done for awhile and over the course of the game done ok but did make mistakes. We dominated the first half and with Burton having just one up front our back line were coping well. We were having chances and looked strong and a nine minute free kick by Shaun Williams was cleared by the home side and picked up by Shaun Cummings who returned it back and Aiden O'Brien fired in a shot but unfortunately straight at the keeper. Steve Morison shortly afterwards zipped through two defenders but his effort landed on the roof of the net and it was still 0-0. A deliberate hand ball is usually a booking and maybe a sending off but by no stretched of the imagination can a loose ball that bounces off a players arm be classed as deliberate but this was and Aiden O'Brien got booked for it after he had put the ball in the back of the net. Stitch up.

Burton go on to score two goals which rocked us and half time couldn't come quick enough.I have no idea if it was Burton's manager Jimmy Floyd Hasslebank's magic but they scored two goals close to half time with a Steve Morison fierce effort in between them that was saved at full stretch by the Burton keeper. Jordan Archer was at his best and made sure Burton did not go in at half time with three goals to their tally as he some how made a double save that people will be talking about for years to come.

 Half time and we go in gutted.

It's all to do

We gave it all in the 2nd half and Aiden O'Brien and Mark Beever's had early chances and if Steve Morison had got to a ball that dropped tantalising close to him we could have pulled a goal back earlier in the game than we actually did. We put Burton under a lot of pressure and with 15 minutes to go Joe Martin tucked one home after a goal mouth scramble and we were back in it. The 490 travelling Wall were making themselves heard and screamed for a penalty when Aiden O'Brien appeared to be fouled to the ground. Young Fred Onyedinma nearly started Christmas early when he executed a overhead kick that stopped the heart for a second as it narrowly just missed wide of the upright.That was that.
To finish the game off Mark Beever's got sent for nothing and he won't be playing in the Wycombe FA Cup game come this Saturday.

I hope losing away does not become a regular occurrence as you don't win titles by getting done on the road.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings(Upson 90m), J.Martin, Nelson, Beevers, Ferguson(Gregory 46m), Williams, Saville(Thompson 46m), Onyedinma, O'Brien, Morison
subs not used, Forde, Wood, L.Martin, Edwards

Goal: J.Martin 75m

Burton Albion: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Flanagan, McCrory, Duffy, Naylor, Butcher, O'Conner, El Khayati (Atkins 90+2), Beavon (Thiele 49m),
subs not used, Mathews, Reilly, Joachim, Binnon-Williams, Palmer

Goals: McCrory 35m,  El Khayati 42m

Millwall 1 Bury 0, League One Game 19, 28/11/15, Att: 8,311, away 456

31 POINTS AND BACK TO WINNING WAYS

We still struggle to score when it comes to a one on one with the keeper and Lee Gregory was guilty of this again which made this game a lot tighter when it come to the final 20 minutes of the 2nd half.
Shaun Williams scored one of his specials which he does from time to time which gave us the lead on 14 minutes and with a cold wind swirling around the ground both ourselves and Bury tried to score or score again but it wasn't to be and the single goal takes us just outside the play-off's with a two point gap.

Shaun Williams wearing the skippers armband gets mobbed after scoring a 25 yard low to the floor cracker

I am trying in my mind to describe this game and it's tricky. I know one thing it was not, it was not a classic. A scruffy battle of a game springs to mind. It felt like that we didn't somehow know how to play against Bury and couldn't dominate the game and keep them quiet. Bury were always a threat and kept us on our toes right through to the final whistle. Jordan Archer pulled off a super double save in the first couple of minutes and I was amazed how he done it, he is so agile its unreal. Quality Keeper. Their keeper was busy and as mentioned he come out for one on one's and was strong. Fred Onyedinma tested him and so did Lee Gregory as mentioned earlier and on other occasions

Cold Blow Lane Stand looking thin on the ground

Steve Morison was on the bench for this one and according to Neil Harris he should have been at home as he was unwell but he insisted that he was ok and come on in the 61st minute but could not add to the his goal tally. I cannot recall the last time we played this lot but it seems a long time ago so I wasn't sure what to expect and I know we would have them well scouted but they seem to have a style of play that makes them a bit of a hand full so it was three points well earn't
.
A short time later, I just looked it up. The last time we played them was 6/3/2001 and we lost 2-1.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Ferguson (Chesmain 83), Beevers, Webster, Williams, Saville, Onyedinma (Morison 61), Gregory, O'Brien Upson (Thompson 81),
subs not used, Forde, L.Martin, Nelson, Pavey

Goal: Williams 14 min

Bury: Bachmann, Riley (Pope 66), Hussey, Clarke, Etuhu, Clarke, Major, Jones (Rose 37), Soares, Cameron, Dodoo,  (Pugh 69),
subs not ued, Ruddy, Nardiello, Eagles, Brown

Our last 10 League Games  DLWDWWDWLW  out of 30 pts up for grabs we take 1

Fleetwood 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 18, 24/11/15, att: 3,326 (490 travel)

We were unchanged for this one

I'll quickly forget about this one, me thinks. We didn't turn up for this one and we got beat by a average lower league side who like to big themselves up playing in Arsenal shirts and calling their ground Highbury. They ain't no Arsenal but they know how to turn up on a crap midweek winters night in Lancashire and play to the conditions, I can't knock them for that and they earn't the three points as Jordan Archer kept their goal count to just two. I cannot forget the 490 who made the trip to our first visit to Fleetwood and they deserve a win this Saturday.

We concede cheaply

Us? in the end we could have sneaked a point from this game if we had not conceded late on but "could have" is a bit like if, as in, if only. We missed a couple of decent chances, I waffle on, Bury at home Saturday as I mentioned before and a chance to get back to winning ways. I like that feeling, I was getting used to it after 3 years of dross.

Millwall: Jordan Archer, Cummings, Webster, Beevers, J.Martin, O'Brien, Savill (Onyedinma 80m), Williams, Ferguson (Upson 63m), Gregory, Morison
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Romeo, Thompson, L.Martin

Goal: Webster 90 (that's 2 in two)

Fleetwood Town: Maxwell. McLaughlin(Grant 85m), Pond, Davis, Bell Ryann, Jonsson, Sarcevic, Fosu (Forbes 77m), Ball (Proctor 83m), Henen
subs not used, Hunter, Haughton, Gogic, Teixeira

Goals: Jonsson 65, Grant 89

Millwall 4 Colchester United 1, League One, Game 17, 21,11,15, att:8,739 ''that's 12 goals in the last 3 games

*Shane Ferguson bangs in a couple in with all the attributes of a striker, cool, calm and a tidy finish. I didn't know he could do that*.

Colchester's travelling 442

 As near as you going to get for a local Derby in this league

Back in block 8 for this one and it was freezing but no gloves worn by me or any of the players or both sides. That's the way to do it.
We are scoring freely and it's usually by our deadly trio of Messrs O'Brien, Gregory and Morison. Almost a change of goalscorers for this one which proves that we have goals all over the pitch as we have already seen what Shaun Williams, Fred Onyedinma and Mark Beever's can do. As I said earlier Shane Ferguson can finish and even the improved Bryon Webster is on the money. At this moment in time I cannot see why we wan't top this division come judgement day.

Nicely poised with 28 points and just outside the play-off's. Lee Gregory has now gone 10 goals for the season in all comps. and we are undefeated in nine games. Things are looking rosey and I wonder where we will be come Christmas.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings, J.Martin, Beevers, Webster, Williams, Saville, Ferguson(Onyedinma 71), Gregory (L.Martin 83), Morison, O'Brien (Upson 79),

subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Thompson, Romeo

Goals: Gregory 13,  Ferguson 38, 62, Webster 81

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Colchester United: Jones, Edwards, Elokobi, Gilbey, Moncur, Massey, Olufemi, Eastman, Bonne, Harriot, Sordell (Porter 46)

subs not used, Parish, Wright, Lapslie, Sembie-Ferris, Curtus, James

Goal: Porter 55

*****

24.11/15 Paris Cowan-Hall joins Bristol Rovers on a one month emergency loan. He's had a few injuries and has not hardly played in the first team so I am sure getting proper match fit should kick start his playing ability, hopefully.

27/11/15  Jack Powell joins Braintree Town on loan until the new year. Seems a bit of drop to me but perhaps he will appreciate more playing for Millwall and the bright lights that can bring.

Plymouth Argyle 3 Millwall 5, League Trophy, Game 3, 10/11/15, Tuesday night, att:5,869 (wa take 295)

The Johnstone Paint Trophy

Lee Gregory scores 3 or was it 4

This trophy is a bit of fun and we are making it ours. 300 made the long Tuesday night journey down to League 2 front runners Plymouth on a Tuesday night and this five goal tally was a good reward. We seem to have approached this game with a bit of a carefree attitude as its a break from the "serious games" and it produced goals not just for us but the opposition as well. In our first two wins in this competition we kept clean sheets but I sensed a "go for it type of attitude as in 'if the opposition score two we will score three"  Plymouth are on top of  League 2 and must have thought they were in with a chance but once again our strike force was on their game as Lee Gregory got four and Aiden O'Brien got one to finish them off. Plymouth scored some crackers and looked useful so even more so for us it was a good win. There is a international break this weekend and we could afford to bust a gut in this one as plenty of time to recover and it paid off.

I know that our 43rd minute goal is officially credited to Mark Beevers but Lee Gregory and Neil Harris are adamant that Gregory scored it,  so I will record it as such.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards (Nelson 34), Webster, Beevers, J.Martin, Onyedinma(Thompson 88), Saville, Williams, O'Brien(Upson 83), Morison, Gregory

subs not used, Pavey, Girling

Goals: Gregory 21, 43, 49, 58 pen, O'Brien 66

Plymouth: McCormick, Mellor, Nelson, Hartley(Purrington 83), Sawyer, Threlkeld, McHugh, Tanner(Brunt 62), Carey, Wylde(Simpson 69),Jervi

subs not used, Cox, Bittner

Goals: Jervis, 34, 85 Carey 56

_____

Other results in this cup tonight

Wigan 4 Blackpool 0

Barnsley 2 York 1

Fleetwood 0 Sheff Utd 0

Fleetwood win 4-1 on penalties

Rochdale 0 Morcambe 1

Gillingham 1 Yeovil 1

Yeovil win 5-4 on penalties

These two below played the next night

Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Oxford Utd 2
Southend Utd 1 Bristol Rovers 0

The draw for the next games is this Saturday coming
No league game this Saturday as yet another international break



14/11/15
Just seen the draw and it's away to Southend. They have beat us the last two times we played them but we have improved since then so should be a interesting tie

George Saville stays to the end of the year

 Cheers Kenny

Loan signing George Saville stays with the Lions for another 2 months, he seems to like it here

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett is letting him stay and he must be pleased that he is getting game time and developing into a player he can use in the future. He may also be doing us a favour but surely not because after all professional football is a cut throat business and nobody does any favours, do they?

AFC FLYDE (who are they?) COMING TO THE DEN, FA CUP 1ST ROUND PROPER

LET EM COME

We have drawn non-league AFC Fylde in the FA Cup. I had to look this lot up and apparently they have a few bob and are sitting on top of the Vanarama National North League after only been beat this season a couple of times. They have just beaten Stalybridge 5-0 in front of a crowd of 472 which makes it nine wins on the bounce and one of their supporters stated on their forum that if they continue this form they can beat us...Dream On Sunshine

Up near Tower Bridge .. AFC Fylde London trip hotel
***

The Game 
7/11/15
Millwall 3 Fylde 1 att: 3,445 (164)

FA CUP AND WE ARE UP AND RUNNING, AS I SAID "DREAM ON SUNSHINE"

Skipper Tony Craig out injured and Steve Morison wears the armband

Pre-match thoughts, interesting. Never played these before etc. We should do them but then it is the FA Cup ,anything can happen. I am a little bit worried regarding how many of our important players are not playing due to injuries and also loan players who are not because their own clubs do not want them cup tied , but I am sure we still have enough to "do them".

164 of them turned up for the biggest game in their history

The dedicated 164

David Forde started and he done ok overall but he still managed to have one of his scary moments when he come for a ball that wasn't really his and you heard a few groans. 

A break in the play

The deadly trio conspire

The first half finished 0-0 and although it was a half that did not have us on the edge of our seat. Fylde are a decent side and played a steady game and were a threat but we handled them ok. We was lacking a cutting edge a fizz all over the park and the subbing of non-effective Paris Cowan-Hall who was making his full home debut and bringing on League 1 player of the month Aiden O'Brien done the job. He contributed to upping the tempo and it didn't take to long before he buried our first when he picked up the ball and run in towards the Fylde goal and oozing quality he beat the keeper low to his right. It wasn't long after that and Lee Gregory was giving it ago and scoring when he picked up a ball from Shaun Williams and then went inside and outside of the player at right back and clinically stroked home our second of the game. 2-0 and cruising, or so I thought. AFC Fylde had a goal in them and we being Millwall let them score it as they cut in from the left and after Bryon Webster halted the move their player Whittle managed to shoot towards the fire post and the ball was in.

Aiden O'Brien was there again being busy and this time feeding Steve Morison who moved in towards goal and with the class of a proven striker masterfully side footed the ball past the Fylde keeper. Game over, I wonder who we got in the next round?

A sparse Cold Blow Lane, all in all a poor home attendance

Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Webster, Beevers, J.Martin, Cowan-Hall(O'Brien 45), Thompson, Williams (Powell 90), Onyedinma, Morison (Pavey 90), Gregory

subs not used L.Martin, Arrcher, Romeo, Wood

Goals: O'Brien 54, Gregory 60, Morison 88

AFC Fylde: Urwin, Hughes, Hanningan, Collins, Whittle, Charles, Wilson(Finley 77), Baker, Hughes(Liloyd-McGoldrick 83), Rowe, Blinkhorn

subs not used, Hinchliffe, Sumner, Barnes, Hardy, Langley

Goal: Whittle 62

The ref was driving me nuts, defo anti-Milwall

_________

The next day

The 2nd round draw and we pull Wycombe Wanderers at our place, that's winnable

Millwall 0 Bradford 0, League One, Game 16, 31/10/15, att: 9,367 (away was about 850-900)

A point in the bag and our unbeaten run continues, as for the game itself I think I will apply some physics.

Like repels like

If anybody has ever played with magnets you will know what the above means. We seemed to be equal in our approach to this game which resulted in both sides being repelled when they approached each others goal. It all resulted in very few chances for either side and perhaps a tactical change was needed, it may have happened but if it did I did not see or notice it. We did have a go and had a very good chance in the second half when some good inter-change play resulted in a nifty Shaun Williams shot was superbly tipped over by the Bradford keeper.

Man marking

That's just two defeats in the last thirteen and it was good to hear the Den start to have that "edge" again and after this game the point seems to be worth more than it did when we were earning it.

A little bit of trivia :

We had the second biggest gate in the division with a crowd of  9,367. The biggest gate was at Coventry City which was 11,853, not surprising considering that Coventry spent nine seasons in the Premier League and 25 years before that in the old Division One, I presume they have still kept hold of a "few" supporters.

Making up the numbers

***

Millwall:  Archer, Edwards, Craig (Webster 56), Beevers, J.Martin, 0'Brien, Williams, Saville, Ferguson (Onyedinma 62), Gregory (Pavey 90), Morison

subs not used, Forde,  Cummings,  L.Martin,   Powell

Bradford:  Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, McMahon, Liddle, Evans, Reid (Marshall 72), Hanson, Cole (B. Clarke)

subs not used, N. Clarke, Knott, Leigh, Cracknell, James

___

Tony Craig was injured in the 53rd minute after he chucked himself in to block a Bradford shot and

was replaced by Bryon Webster.

Millwall 2 Doncaster 0. League One, Game 15, 27/10/15, att:8,294 (away 195)

Winning at home is becoming a habit as we climb the table with 24 points and are now just goal difference keeps us out of the play off spots

I thought we were going to thump this lot 5-0 but the 2-0 is dandy. That's another home win and we are a gnats whisker away from the play offs, but it's only game 15 so a long way to go yet. We were up and running early and  enjoyed a Steve Morison double to take a two goal lead after eight minutes on the clock and I would have put large on us banging in a few more but it wasn't to be as we missed some sitters and we lacked that edge  and the will to comprehensively beat this lot.  Our midfield seemed to be lacking especially when Doncaster were attacking and we gave them to much room by sitting deep and inviting them on. Talking of Doncaster they play the pulling shirt and tugging arms routine and the referee was as useless as was the lino's in spotting these spoiling tactics. Doncaster threatened mainly down their left-hand side and we need to deal with this better as Doncaster did threaten the Lions goal at times and if their finishing was somewhat better who knows, the score may have been a tad closer

Tuesday Night Crowd, Oh Stevie Stevie

At times we played like the away side as we sat deep and aloud the opposition to come on to us and then we counter attacked with numerous long balls that our front runners chased down and did produce chances but  could not improve on the the earlier two goals. Can I criticise allowing Doncaster to have a lot of possession  after we took a 2-0 lead? I think I can. The team were in command with just 8 minutes gone and they were 2-0 up, perhaps they thought they had done enough, after all they had recently played two tough away games and 'why waste energy" I would have liked them to have gone for the throat and won by a greater margin but three points is three points so not much grumble from me.

After reading Neil Harris the next day he admitted that we took our foot of the pedal after the two goals and he would have liked that Steve Morison scored another goal and took the match-ball home with in.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, J.Martin, Craig, Beevers, Saville, Thompson, Ferguson (Webster 90+2)

O'Brien (L.Martin 86), Gregory (Onyedinma 69), Morison,

subs not used, Forde, Cummings, Powell, Pavey

Goals: Morison 5 and 8 mins

Doncaster: Stuckmann, Lund(Williams 77), Evina, McCullough, Butler, Wellens(Forrester 53), Tyson, Tylor-Sinclair, Coppinger, Stewart (N'Guessan 56), Middleton

subs not used, Marosi, Gobern, Keegan, Whitehouse

Bring on Bradford City this weekend

Sheffield United 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 14, att:19,617 (900 travel)

21 points and we sit in 10th spot

Nigel Adkins blames their defeat on bad refereeing, what planet is this man on?

The Lions continue their good away form by beating the Blades on their own turf. I was hoping for a sneaky win at Sheffield today but I don't think it was sneaky. We dominated the stats regarding shots on and off target and our possession was more a less the same as the hosts. Our away form has been good this season and apart from the 5-3 defeat at Peterborough we have been decent on the road and after the 1-1 draw  at Blackpool where we were yet again up north, another northern away this time to Yorkshire has produced a result in our favour. I have been waiting for this team and Neil Harris to burst into life and I think they have but not just today, it's been gradual, kinda sneaky, the pundits haven't noticed. I say that because the South London Press headlines after this game " Millwall beat Sheffield United with surprise win" It didn't surprise me and I am sure it didn't surprise a good few others.

Aiden O'Brien two goals 30' and 80th minute

*What a goal scorer* He is also a very good team player and even more so the players he is playing with have the same attitude of good team spirit and don't mind passing the ball or setting somebody else up. A team that is developing with every training session and every game and I think like others have said "we have got our Millwall  back"

S24SU

The website S24SU.com has a Sheffield United supporter summary of the game and although I don't agree with everything that the Author 'Deadbeat said about the Lions (why would I?) overall a fair summary and he took the defeat on the chin.

This is how Deadbeat described our travelling support:

They were the noisiest bunch down here for some time and completely out sung the United fans all game who were very quiet and only got excited when the goal went in.

***

Back to the game

We were up for this game and had a determined edge to a play through out and it was this that contributed to our 4th away win of the season. I was thinking that we might be a bit "leggy" considering we had a usual away trip to the far north Tuesday night where we drew 1-1 with Blackpool.  Neil Harris made three changes for this game because of Shaun Williams injury, Carlos Edwards suspension after his red card and Fred Onyedinma starting ahead of Shane Ferguson and the changes didn't appear to disrupt our play as Fred after just three minutes powered in a shot that went wide of the upright. A couple of minutes later Mark Beevers was still getting himself into goal scoring positions and one of his "legendary" headers whistled just wide of the upright.

Sheffield United hit the post after seven minutes but did not have a shot on target till the 70th minute and that was when they scored their game. Sheffield were trying to rough us up with dangerous tactics as they catching Steve Morison and Lee Gregory with elbow/arms off the ball. In-between our early play and Sheffield United's goal we grew in confidence and it was within this period we scored our first when Aiden O'Brien got on the end of cross from Cummings and somehow scored when his looping header beat their keeper Mark Howard.

We dominated the shots off and shots on target stats and that was proven when after Sheffield scored in the 70th minute to equalise we still had it within us to score again and Aiden O'Brien made it 2-1 in the 80th minute when he picked up a ball from sub Shane Ferguson and with the help of their keeper sent the travelling 900 into orbit and a happy journey home.

Millwall: Archer, Cunnings, J.Martin, Craig, Beevers, Saville, Thompson, O'Brien(L.Martin 86), Onyedinma(Webster 90+1),Morison, Gregory (Ferguson 72),
subs not used, Forde, Powell, Romeo, Pavey

Goals: O'Brien 30, 80 mins

__________

Sheffield United: Howard, Freeman (Flynn 85), Basham, Sharp, Done(Baxter 46), Collins, Campbell-Ryce(Sammon 66), Adams, Wallace, McGahey, Hammond
subs not used, Coutts, Woolford, Long, Kennedy

Goal: Baxter 70mins

Blackpool 1 Millwall 1, League One, Game 13, Tuesday Night, 20-10-15, att: 6,225 (300 ish)

TUESDAY NIGHT AND A LONG NORTHERN TRIP

Yet another northern trip on a Tuesday night and there is another one to follow Saturday when we take on Sheffield United at their place.

We could have won this game and I thought that's what we were going to do being 1-0 up with just ten minutes left on the clock. Carlos Edwards that has done fantastic being back in the side since his year long absence due to injury and It pains me to say that he ended up on the wrong side of the attacking player in our box and his messy lunge resulted in a penalty and a red card. They scored and we went home with a point. would I have took a point before the game? I don't think so. I would have done earlier on in the season but I think we are now better than that and considering where Blackpool sit in the league a win was possible and a three point haul to take back to London was within our grasp, but saying that, Blackpool have improved lately so a point may have more value than I seem to think.

We seemed to have had this game wrapped up with just just 8 minutes to go but we succumb to Carlos Edwards "tackle' and the Blackpool player Redshaw puts the resulting penalty away.

From the off
Millwall's starting eleven was the same that lined up against Swindon and we started where we left off pressing the opposition and it nearly paid off as Steve Morison came close as he headed over the bar after picking out a cross by Shane Ferguson. We were enjoying possession and creating chances and in the 35th minute Mark Beevers scored his 4th of the season after Steve Morison hit the bar.

Shaun Williams ended up going off in the 50th minute after he is clumped in the back and young Ben Thompson takes his place and from the off he has a shot blocked inside the area.

Blackpool made a double change in the 70th minute as they tried to improve their play and hopefully produce a goal but we were still pressing them and creating chances around the Blackpool goal..
From one of these Millwall attacks Blackpool countered and Carlos Edwards who was found on the wrong side of he Blackpool attacker gave away the penalty and picked up his red car. Jordan Archer had no luck saving the penalty and the game ended 1-1.

***

Millwall:  Archer, Edwards, Craig, Beevers, J.Martin, O'Brien, Saville, Williams (Thompson 50), Ferguson(Cummings 83), Gregory(Onyedinma 63), Morison

subs not used, Forde, Webster, L.Martin, Pavey

Goal: Beevers 35 min
_________

Blackpool: Doyle, White, Aldred, Robertson, Ferguson, Cameron(Osayi-Samuel 46), Norris, Potts, McAlister(Rivers 68), Redshaw, Cullen(Thomas 68),
subs not used, Letheren, Dunne, Cubero, Herron

Goal: Redshaw 82(pen)

footnote: We get given 5 yellow cards and 1 red and Blackpool get none

Millwall 2 Swindon 0, League One, Game 12, 17/10/15, att: 8,524 (561)

That was a 2-0 annihilation 

The above description of this game came from a Millwall Club Tweet after I do believe they heard it said by a Lions supporter on the way out and I think it sums this game up.  Swindon were poor and have a rack full of injuries, we have a few injuries as well but we have quality and although we should have scored more this was a quality display that showed me that we have enough in this squad and in the manager to take this division. That's three home wins on the bounce if the Johnstone Paint Trophy game against Northampton is included and we are doing reasonably ok on the road so hopefully a win at Blackpool Tuesday night will help take us to a place where we can challenge and make our mark on this league.

The Lions press in front of the Cold Blow Lane end  but could not add to their first half two goal tally

Can we play you every week was heard as the Lions should and could have had 5-6 or even 7 goals. I have no idea how Steve Morison didn't score and he should have had a hat-trick. Lee Gregory could have also had three but he had to make make do with just the one which he scored in the 19th minute after picking up the ball after a top notch pass from Aiden O'Brien. The Swindon on-loan keeper seemed to save everything by accident but he had no chance with Aiden O'Brien's thunder bolt of a shot which smashed into the net in the 26th minute that gave us the 2-0 lead. I really thought we would add to this tally and especially in the 2nd half kicking towards Cold Blow Lane but it wasn't to be but we had so many chances I lost count. If I said 20 good chances throughout the game I would not be exaggerating. George Saville once again did not disappoint and he certainly puts in a shift, hopefully we can extend his loan period. A debut for young striker Alfie Pavey is worth a mention as he came on in the 91st minute, not long enough to see how good he can be at this level but long enough to see he could be.


Millwall: Archer, Edwards, J.Martin, Craig, Beevers, Williams, Saville, Ferguson(Onyedinma 66), Gregory(L.Martin 79), Morison (Pavey 90+1), O'Brien

subs not used, Forde, Cummings, Webster, Thompson

Goals: Gregory 19, O'Brien 26,
__________

Swindon: Vigouroux, Ormonde-Ottewill, Traore, Ajose, Bangoura,(Stewart 64), Brophy (Malmy 46), Gladwin, Barry, Rossi-Branco, Ojamaa (Randell 53), El-Abd

subs not used, Belford, Marshall, Landolo, Young

Swindon Manager Mark Cooper sacked after this game. I have lost count of how many managers are sacked after being beat by Millwall and this is another one added to the long list.

Millwall lose three players and it's Plymouth away in the Paint Cup

PILGRIMS

We draw Plymouth Argyle in the next round of the Johnstone Paint Trophy. That's a journey. I presume our toughest game so far in this competition but we can beat them.


John Marquis is off yet again, this time to Leyton Orient. A 93 day emergency loan spell was agreed before the weekend and off he went to team up with Alan Dunne. It all didn't go well as Dunne was sent off and Orient lost 3-1 to Mighty Crawley. I don't know why we re-signed him.

***

I was sorry to hear that pocket dynamo Jimmy Abdou has had to go under the knife for surgery on a dislocated collar bone, sounds painful. I wish him all the best and hopefully it all goes well and he returns to the starting eleven which is predicted sometime after Christmas.

***

Ed Upson has done his knee and won't be back to the end of November or there about.

Millwall 2 Northampton O, Tuesday Night. Johnstone Paint Cup, 6/10/15 att:2,254 (212)

That's two home wins on the bounce, I could get used to that.

Not much going on outside as yet another Johnston Paint skinny crowd

It may just be the Johnstone Paint Cup thingy but seeing how we in a eleven day break due to internationals I think this game and this win keeps us ticking over nicely. We have a few injuries so the team was somewhat different from the 5-3 defeat against Peterborough Saturday with Jimmy Abdou and Ed Upson missing from the middle and Carlos Edwards rested Shaun Cummings dropped into the left back position with Jack Powell and Lee Martin starting in midfield. Byron Webster didn't start and Joe Martin making his debut did.
I will take positives from this game even though hardly anybody turned up and I am sure so would manager Neil Harris. A game with less pressure than the league but I reckon still a must win game gave Neil Harris a chance to have a look at a few others maybe experiment a bit and he must have learnt something regarding the midfield and who he wants in there.  28 day emergency signing George Saville from Wolves done well and there is a option that he may stay so have to watch that one.

0-0 half time

A double substitution fiveteen minutes into the 2nd half saw Fred Onyedima coming on with Ben Thompson and Jack Powell and Lee Martin going off. This seem to liven things up.
Northampton are a decent side who are doing all right in League 2 and have a goal keeper who managed to keep out Steve Morison who was firing them in in both half's but this shot stopper kept him out.  He couldn't keep Aiden O'Brien out after he cut in from the left and breezed past two defender before firing in low and hard to the keepers right. Two minutes later Steve Morison still looking for action around the Cobbler's goal fired one in from near the by-line and Lee Gregory chested in from a few yards out 2-0 to the Lions and a well deserved win.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings, J.Martin, Beevers, Craig, Powell (Thompson 60mins), Saville, L.Martin(Onyedima 60mins), Gregory, Morison, O'Brien

subs not used, Girling, Marquis, Nelson

Goals: O'Brien 71 mins,  Gregory 73 mins

Northampton: Clarke, Taylor(Hoskins 66 mins), Cresswell, D'Ath, Buchanan, Watson, Calvert-Lewin, O'Toole, Hackett(Adams 66 mins), Furlong, Brisley

subs not used, Smith, Diamond, Lelan

Peterborough 5 Millwall 3 League One, Game 11, 3/9/15 att:6,402 (1400 away)

Probably a great game if you are a neutral

Jimmy Abdou injured, goes off early.  Birthday boy Ben Thompson tales his place.

Can we carry on with our unbeaten run away from home this season?

Well it didn't continue because we conceded five but our defence scored all three of our goals, what does that tell you?  'maybe they all wasn't defending or only defending in parts.

Lions goal scorers: Webster 52, Craig 55, Beevers 74

Peterborough's first goal was off-side, that's the first thing that springs to mind, I am convinced of that.
Our defenders are scoring goals but we have goal scorers up front who do not score, we concede five goals and our defenders score all three in this game? I know they were coming up for corners etc. but the first and foremost role is to help keep a clean sheet and that did not happen and did not come close to happening. Peterborough were whacking them in and I don't know if its the game plan but a good few times going away is about grinding out results and perhaps nicking something, We need to tighten up and wise up or winter is going to be a right old slog.

Peterborough scored their first goal after conning the ref by falling and rolling around and a few minutes later they banged in their second. We finished the half 2-0 down and it was all to play for in the second half.

Sometimes in football good things happen and bang we were level within ten minutes after Bryon Webster 52m and Tony Craig 55m powered their goals in. I believed at this point we would now push on and get something from the game. That belief partially disappeared after about twelve minutes after Boro took the lead again and we had it all to do. The belief completely disappeared four minutes later as we were now being beaten 4-2 and that was that, or was it. Step up Mark Beevers who has knack of scoring and did not disappoint with his effort which made me believe, you never know we may still get something. Peterboro score again and that was that. We still had chances and we come close to scoring again but it wasn't to be.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Craig, Beevers, Webster, Williams, Abdou(Thompson 4)(Gregory 75), Upson(Ferguson 6) Morison, O'Brien, Onyedinma

subs not used, Forde, J.Martin, L.Martin, Marquis

Goal scorers: Webster 52, Craig 55, Beevers 74

Peterborough: Alnwick(Henry 30), Smith, Zakuani, Taylor(Collison 820 Bostwick, Maddison, Santos, Washington, Angol, Coulibaly(Forrester 46), Elder

subs not used, Davey, Fox, Anderson, Lopes

Goal Scorers: Angol 15, Taylor 18, 81, Forrester 68, Washington 72

Millwall Ten Game Round Up Or School Report

Must try harder

I am sure that's not correct.  I do not think for one second that the team and Neil Harris are not putting in the shifts on the pitch on match days or on the training ground in the week. They are grafting hard and although they have like us experienced moral sapping defeats and basic hard luck they have kept plugging away and had some excellent away wins and at long last recently experienced their first league home win. A recent away draw at big spending Wigan following on from the first home win has set us up nicely for a decent run or seeing it's Millwall probably something that's going to fetch us back down to earth. There will be gloom before the seasons out as this young team and Neil Harris will make mistakes but it's how you cope with these lows be it the team, be it Neil Harris or be it ourselves. We must no dwell and mope on the bad days but take the positives and move on. We will do enough this season and a bit more if we have that attitude and of course that old chestnut, belief.

Belief must be in a equal share

Wigan 2 Millwall 2, League One, Game 10, 7,991, (238)

YET AGAIN AND WE ARE BACK UP NORTH AND 238 MAKE THE JOURNEY

That's played 10, won 4, lost 4 and drawn 2     Goals for 14, goals against 16 

 14 points

We sit in 12th place and 3 points off the play-offs

I don't want to criticise this performance but we blew this. To come back from 1-0 down to a 2-1 lead with just four minutes to go of extra time was the dogs and it looked like the three points was coming our way, due to Neil Harris's game plan.

Wigan hadn't lost at home this season and we hadn't lost away so who would break in this clash of ex Championship struggler's. The first half was not much to write about apart from Wigan come at the Lions from the off and won a string of corners but they got nothing from them as the Lions starting to settle and in the 21st minute Millwall had their best chance as a Lee Gregory shot grazed the right hand upright. A short time later Aiden O'Brien missed with a header from a Carlos Edwards cross.

Que the 2nd half and Neil Harris's game plan

Four goals were scored in this half and it was Wigan who scored the first with less than ten second half minutes on the clock Shaun Williams lost the ball and moments later it ended up in the Millwall net. Wigan could have shortly scored again but Jordan Archer saved well. Neil Harris reckoned it was time for a change and he took off  Ferguson and Ed Upson and fetched on Fred Onyedinma and Steve Morison and what a inspired move that turned out to be. After just a few minutes hard working Jimmy Abdou and midfielder Shaun Williams combined and set Fred on his way to fire the ball home and we were back on level terms. There be dancing in my house tonight as shortly afterwards our regular goal scoring central defender Mark Beever's powered one in and we were 2-1 up and another three away points was on the cards. As per normal there was rack of extra time minutes which in this game was six and just at the start of it  Lee Gregory was injured when we had possession and Wigan failed to give the ball back and crossed into our box.  Jordan Archer appeared to be impeded and the ball ended up in the goal even though we had three Millwall defenders on the line.I would have been happy to take a point before the game but I feel that we lost three.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Craig, Beevers, Webster, Williams, Abdou, Ferguson (Morison 63), O'Brien (Thompson 82), Gregory, Upson (Onyedinma 63),

Subs not used, Forde, Marquis, L.Martin, J.Martin

Goals: Onyedinma 69, Beevers 74

Wigan: O'Donnell, James (Odelusi 84), Perkins, Daniels, Power (Grigg 77), McCann, Jacobs, Chow, Murray (Junior 46), Barnett, Hiwula,

subs not used, Jaaskelainen, Kellett, Morgan, Hendry

Goals: Jacobs 53, Grigg 90+2

________

Millwall 3 Rochdale 1, League One, Game 9, 26/9/15 att: 8,023 (away 383),

COME ON YOU LIONS
Rocking all over the world

That's 13 points and our first League One home win of the season, HOORAY

Jimmy Abdou scores early and we never looked back, well may be slightly when Rochdale equalised on 43 minutes but a minute later Shaun Williams danced around a few Rochdale defenders and buried it to take us in at half-time 2-1 up. The Lions worked hard the 2nd half and didn't give Rochdale any time on the ball and our hard worked paid off when Aiden O'Brien received a ball from Fred Onyedinma and then went on to split the Rochdale defence with a through ball to Steve Morison who took two touches and beat the keeper with a clinical finish. Our win at home drought has finally come to a end. We must kick on from here and once again turn the Den into our fortress and away teams dread thier visit to SE16. COYL

A league home win at last and hopefully we are up and running, more of the same please. Aiden O'Brien assisted in all three of our goals and was given man of the match.


Little Harvey was our mascot for this game and Aiden O'Brien Tweeted he was our lucky charm
4-1-4 is our record after nine games and yet another away trip up north Tuesday night to see if we can beat Wigan. Read about Harvey this amazing six year old.

Click on link  millwallfc.co.uk//news/article/millwall-support-harvey-brownx

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104559

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Craig, Beevers, Webster, Ferguson (L.Martin 80), Williams, Abdou, Morison, O'Brien (Marquis 76), Onyedinma (Upson 61),

subs not used, Forde, J.Martin, Gregory, Thompson

Goals: Abdou 4, Williams 44), Morison 60

Rochdale: Lillis, McNulty, Lancashire, Vincenti, Lund, Allen, Rose (McDermott 69), Cannon, Kennedy, Bunney (Andrew 46), Henderson (Alessandra 68),

subs not used, Diba Musangu, Rafferty, Eastham, Camps

Goal: Vincenti 43

Millwall 0 Southend 2, League One, Game 8, 19/9/15, att:10,228 A tribute to Albert McKenzie VC

Yet another game lost at home

A guard of Honour from HMS Collingwood to celebrate the life of Albert McKenzie VC who won the Victoria Cross in the first world war after a Royal Naval raid on Zebruggee. Please Google Albert's name for further details and read about this amazing young man from the Old Kent Road and also his memorial details.

***

The Game
That's another home defeat and it's took the shine off of the recent away wins. Burton Albion are top of the league with 18 points and we are stuck on 10. I really thought that we was going to win this one especially after the six points in four days but we looked not so sharp and leggy and thinking about it now most of our games are "up north" as we have no London Derby's so two games in four days at Crewe and Port vale was along time being on the road.

Blue skies, fluffy white clouds and I felt a buzz about the place that this could be it, our first home win this season in the league. What a plonker I was.

Beevers and Webster come up for this one but our well marked attack line comes up short

And to rub it in this is Southend's first away win of the season

My assessment of our performance was we done a lot of running and plenty of effort and although the Southend Keeper Dan Bentley kept out three or four decent chances we didn't look sharp overall..

We improved when Paris Cowan-Hall and Shane Ferguson came on which gave us better width and with also Lee Gregory buzzing around the box we looked busier but we still didn't put one away.

ps....I wasn't impressed with the ref.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Webster, Beevers (Ferguson 69), Craig, Onyedinma (Cowan-Hall),  Abdou, Williams, Upsoon (Gregory 51), O''Brien, Morison

subs, Forde, J.Martin, Marquis, Thompson

Southend: Bently, O'Neil, Bolger, Barrett (Rea 54), Prosser, Worrall, Leonard, Deegan, Timlin, Mooney (Weston 84), Piggott (Williams 94)

subs, Wordsworth, Payne, Atkinson, Smith, 

Goals: Mooney 37, Barrett 49

Port Vale 0 Millwall 2, League One, Game 7, 15/9//15, att: 4,477 (210)

Southend at the Den Saturday

We must all go Saturday and roar these Lions onto another victory. We are becoming a force to be reckoned with and even the Port Vale supporters agree.

They say stuff like this, the best side I've seen this season, they were very good, strong, quick and organised. Others said, the better side won, they were 'ard and skillful,

I think there is no need to go to the Den with negative vibes as it will pass to the team and spoil their performances. We must continue the momentum and create that crackle in the air that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, let the players sense it and I am sure they will continue their winning ways and I know they along with Neil Harris have it in them to take us to the top.

The Game

Aiden O'Brien hit a left footed shot just a few minutes into the game which was going in to the top left corner before it was saved. We came again and Aiden O'Brien had another shot saved after another couple of minutes but this time in the bottom right corner. Shortly afterwards Ed Upson, Steve Morison and Aiden O'Brien yet again all come close.

This team is looking good and after two consecutive wins on the road the Lions move just one point outside the play off spots. I know it's early but not much to shout about recently so I can't hold it back. We are starting to look a class act and Neil Harris is doing what ever it he is doing and it is bringing in the results.

We dominated the first half with still more shots coming in on the Port Vale goal, Steve Morison was working well with O'Brien and it was amazing that we went in at half-time stuck at 0-0. With the 200 making their selves heard Millwall started the second half  with the hope of putting one in the back of the net. We did not have to wait as Mark Beevers scored in the 57th minute with his head and the travelling support punched the sky with sheer delight. Port Vale picked their game up once they went behind but we stood firm. We still had more chances and right at the death Lee Gregory was awarded a penalty as the Vale keeper lunged and fetched him down. Gregory scored and that was that.

Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Williams, Webster, Craig, Onyedinma (Ferguson 76), Beevers, Upson, Abdou, Morison (Gregory 67), O'Brien (Marquis 83)

subs not used, Forde, J.Martin, Cowan-Hall, Thompson

Goals: Beevers 58, Gregory 90 pen

Port Vale: Ainwick, Purkiss, Streete (Inniss 45), Duffy, Dickinson, Moore, Grant, Dodds (Leitch-Smith 63), Andoh, Ikeazu, Foley (McCourt 83)

subs not used, Birchall, Johnson, Daniel, Lloyd