Millwall 2 Burton Albion 0, League One, Game 39, 28/3/16,att: 8012, (244)

We get back to our winning ways with a superb gutsy 2-0 win over the leagues top side. The defeat at wind battered Bradford seems a distant pass and it sets us up nicely for the away trip to Colchester this Saturday coming. Colchester have won their last two games and although they are in the relegation mire I am sure their two wins will give them momentum and I presume belief. Should be a game

On The Telly-Live On Sky

Nigel Clough said they were good for the first ten minutes. I added, "but then it went down hill from there.

WE KEEP BURTON AT BAY

Once we got going I thought Burton were lightweight especially in the midfield compared to us and we were competitive all over the pitch winning more or less every header from attack to defence and causing Burton to concede possession back to us. We had more drive, more  passion, more zip and more nous to overcome a side who can't seem to win in front of the Sky cameras. Summing up I would say "we was all over them,

Lee Gregory was on fire, he set up Aiden O'Brien to score on twelve minutes and scored one of his own six minutes later. He was picking balls up coming over the top with good control, lay off's and touches and as Burton was playing high up the pitch this was a frequent occurrence. There was a big shout for a penalty when Lee Gregory was tripped/tugged but took a while to go down. It looked to me that he tried to stay up which was probably a mistake.

The back four and Jordan Archer mopped everything up that come there way and once again Mahlon Romeo was doing his usual work and Joe Martin had one of his best games. Mark Beevers and Byron Webster deserve a mention because these two are earning their corn.  A great night and a great result. A loud crowd but the only negative was the size of the crowd but being on Sky and a night game and back to work the next day after a holiday period there may have been some who couldn't make it. Burton fetched down 244 so I could imagine that they had the same excuses.

Barry Kitchener Stand looking bare

 We match Burton's back row of four with four of our own

A FEW MORE PERFORMANCES LIKE THAT AND WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE

Burton stay top by one point and we move back up to 5th place with 65 pts and 7 games to go. It' still all to play for

Millwall: Archer, Romeo, J.Martin, Beevers, Webster, Williams, Thompson, Taylor, Gregory (Philpot 88), Morison (Onyedinma 90+4), O'Brien (Upson 70)
subs not used, Girling, Edwards, Nelson, Farrell

Goals: O'Brien 12m   Gregory 18m

Burton: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Beavon (Bennett 62m), Akins, Butcher, McCrory, Naylor (Walker 46m), Duffy (Harness 86m), Flanagan, Choudhury
subs not used, Bywater, Cansdell-Sherriff, Reilly, Weir

Bradford City 1 Millwall 0, League One, Game 38, 26/3/16, att:18, 538 (500)

WE MAKE FOUR CHANGES FOR THIS GAME

A lousy day weather wise and also a lousy day score wise. I cannot gripe and moan because that was our first away defeat in eight games and it would not have been but with just eleven minutes of normal time left on the clock we were slow to pick up a quick throw-in from Bradford and a quick ball crossed into the Lions box saw Bradford head home.
We started this game with a few changes due to international call ups and we were missing Shane Ferguson and Jimmy Abdou from our midfield and David Forde was missing from the subs bench. Lee Gregory and Chris Taylor did not start and sat on the bench. I know that Gregory has been carrying a injury for awhile and as we have a game against Burton Albion in two days time I can understand why he did not start but I am not absolutely sure why Taylor did not start but I think I heard or read some where that he is carrying a knock. The four players that started instead were Ed Upson, Shaun Williams, Fred Onyedinma and Aiden O'Brien and on paper a four man replacement team that should not be far off the quality than the players they replaced. We started on the front foot from the off and a decent penalty shout after a couple of minutes when Fred was impeded in the box.  Not long after that Bradford come close but not close enough. The rest of the first half was both teams trading action around each others goal but the swirling wind and rain sodden pitch produced not ideal conditions for a slick pretty game and a few clumsy tackles and yellow cards were picked up by both teams. The yellow card given to Joe Martin was a absolute joke.

The second half and Jordan Archer saves well from a close up shot but it was off-side so no worries.
ChrisTaylor come on early in the second half replacing Ed Upson and Lee Gregory replaced O'Brien.
Bradford were making changes also and although the wind and rain and the heavy pitch was dictating the game both teams were making chances and were going for it. Bradford banged it in with twelve minutes to go and after that we had a golden chance when Steve Morison shot a cracker towards goal but the Bradford keeper Williams flew across the goal and somehow finger tipped the ball away. We tried hard to get the equaliser and even Jamie Philpot come on but it wasn't to be and it's Burton Albion at the Den Bank Holiday Monday evening and a chance to get back to our winning ways. Fierce winds are forecast for Monday in London but it should ease off  late afternoon so hopefully no issues with the game.

Millwall: Archer, Romeo, J.Martin, Beevers, Webster, Upson(Taylor 50), Williams, Thompson, O'Brien (Gregory 65), Morison, Onyedinma (Philpot 82),
subs not used, Girling, Nelson, Edwards, Farrell

Bradford: Williams  Darby, N.Clarke, Burke, Meridith, McMahon, Thorpe, Knott (Reid 90+2), B.Clarke (Davies 73), Proctor (Hanson 73),
subs not used, Cracknell, Anderson, Routis, Thomas

Goal: Davies 79

Millwall 1 Sheffield United 0, League One, Game 37, 19/3/16, att:11,175 (away 1,167)

Promotion Challenge: we had chances for more but the one will do

Back at home and we are playing Game No 1 of the last ten games of the season and its hard graft for the three points and well appreciated by us. Ten thousand Lion supporters turned up for this game and the Den was getting near to the noise we used create before the three years of misery and stuck in the doldrums. Neil Harris and his players are putting in a shift for every game and although we were not slick and fancy for this game we made up for it in commitment, intelligence and a dogged resistance to see this game out. Well  done Wall and a double well done to Chris Taylor who making his debut for a 2nd time for the Lions lashed the ball home with less than 2 minutes on the clock and a perfect start. We guarded that lead for the rest of the game and nobody was going to take it from us. Other scores above us did not go our way on the day and we still sit in 5th spot with a 4 point cushion.

For my full report please go this post, >>http://7windmills.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/millwall-1-sheffield-united-0- which is another one of my Millwall blogs,. There is links back here.

Swindon 2 Millwall 2, League Game 36, 12/3/16, att: 8,623 (we take 1,247)

Who lives near a place like this?  If I didn't know any better I would say the referee

Homer referee Kevin Wright hands Swindon a dodgy penalty and a chance to get back into a game that up to that point they were never in it. That was one of the most softest penalty decisions I think I have ever seen and throughout the game he favoured Swindon and I think the stats prove that. We were the better side, we were more clinical, more strong and had plenty of desire to win not just this game but a couple of games but we didn't have the ref in our pocket. Stitched up or what?.

Lee Gregory and Steve Morison both score early

It did not take us long to bang in a couple as Neil Harris's Lions thundered into a two goal lead. There must more to follow as the early play showed the team were up for this one and wanted to put in a good shift in front of the travelling 1200. Playing like we did there is nobody we couldn't beat in this league and to see the Lions get mugged later in the game proves that a bit more guile and a bit more savey needs to be learnt and learnt fast if we want automatic promotion out of this league. The way that the home side got back in this game mugged us and it gave them a shot of energy to go for another goal or given the chance another penalty and the ref would have fell for that as well. We had 27+ minutes to hold on to the 2-1 lead but for them to score in the 94th minute and level it to 2-2 was hard to take.That performance was close to old school Millwall and I was proud to watch them.

The gathering

Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Edwards (Upson 84), Beevers, Webster, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson, Gregory (O'Brien 77), Morison, Wallace,
subs not used, Forde, Willaims, Onyedinma, Nelson, Philpot

Goals: Gregory 7m,  Morison 14m

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Swindon: Vigouroux, N.Thompson, Ormonde-Ottewill (Brophy 63), Robert (Rogers 46), Tumbull, Ajose, Doughty, L.Thompson, Obika, Barry, Rossi-Branco (Sendles-Wright 79)
subs not used, Henry, Traore, Brophy, Hylton, Landolu

Goals: Ajose (dubious penalty 63), Doughty 90+4
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Millwall 3 Blackpool 0, League One, Game 35, 5/3/16, att: 9,753 (245)

LET EM ALL COME DOWN TO THE DEN

Much troubled Blackpool come to visit

None of the four teams above us won this weekend so we close the gap

Blackpool were not much of a threat as we continue to add points to our tally and close on the automatic promotion spots. As we know we could not score against Wigan on Tuesday night but today it seemed simple as Lee Gregory, Steve Morison and Jed Wallace with his first for the Lions sent Blackpool back home with the threat of relegation firmly hanging around their necks. While I sympathise with the Blackpool supporters regarding how their club is owned and run there is no charity in football when it comes to results and certainly no charity from me as we earn another three points and I and many others enjoy the weekend.

Plenty of pressure

With just eight minutes in it did not take Lee Gregory long to bang in another goal and bring his goal tally to 21 in all competitions. He has certainly clicked in to gear this season and without doubt he has won his spurs as a League One striker. Joe Martin was suspended for this game and Carlos Edwards who was back in the side aimed a long throw towards Gregory who breezed by two defenders and buried the ball with his head.
Tuesday night it was difficult to score with so many chances but today it was so simple. Funny game football.

Mahlon Romeo has been a breath of fresh air since he put on the shirt and there was some excellent play between him and Jed Wallace which nearly resulted in Lee Gregory getting his second but not this time as the ball went wide of the post. Carlos Edwards who working well was clattered to the ground on 23 minutes and Jed Wallace banged in the resulting 25 yard free kick beating the Blackpool wall with ease. We dominated the first half and could have a few more.

Mahlon Romeo from defence to attack

I like the craft and graft of young Ben Thompson and he nearly scored with just over ten minutes into the second half but maybe next game. Carlos Edwards was fouled again and had to leave the field hurt so hopefully not to serious as we could do with him for the run in to the end of the season. Blackpool did seem to be a bit more organised for the 2nd half and although we were having chances we did not add our third goal till the 87th minute when we were awarded a penalty (yes! a penalty) for hand-ball in front of the Cold Blow Lane Stand and Steve Morison buried it.
Next game is down or is it up the M4 and away to Swindon.

Top Seven

1 Burton 68pts
2 Wigan 64pts
3 Gillingham 59pts
4 Walsall 59pts
5 Millwall 58pts
6 Barnsley 55pts
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7 Coventry 52pts


Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Edwards (Upson 65), Beevers, Webster, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson, Gregory (O'Brien 78), Morison (Philpot 87), Wallace,
suns not used, Forde, Williams, Onyedinma, Nelson

Goals: Gregory 8m, Wallace 24m, Morison pen 87m
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Blackpool: Doyle, White, McAlister, Robertson (Boyce 44), Potts, Redshaw, Herron (Cullen 63), Aldred, Philliskirk, Aimson, Ikpeazu (Paterson 83),
subs not used, Lyness, Jones, Smith, Yeates

Taking from my other Millwall blog 7windmills.blogspot.com <

Millwall 0 Wigan Athletic 0, League One, Game 34, 1/3/16, att:7,981 (281)

The most one sided game that I think I have ever seen

Wigan sit above us in second spot and are much fancied

Every player was having a pop but if it wasn't saved it "flew wide"

Walking down Ilderton Road after the game I overheard a bloke talking to his mate saying that we had enough chances to have won five games. I make him right because every player was having a pop at the Wigan Goal. Even before Wigan went down to ten men in the 37th minute we were ripping into them and thoughts were that it would not be long before we took the lead. It didn't happen and ten man Wigan nicked a point.
Some of our finishing was 'it flew wide and I cannot believe how many times balls into the Wigan box were wasted because nobody could get on the end of one, frustrating or what?  That's my moan done because we did play well and it was at such a high tempo that the opposition did not threaten and if they had a game plan I am sure it went out the window as they hung on to this game helped by their 40 year old keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen who played a blinder. He was the major factor in that we did not score when we had one of our numerous shots on target, ask Jimmy Abdou or any other player because they all had a go apart from Jordan Archer who was a bystander for most of the night.
We should have had a penalty when Lee Gregory was brought down in the box but as per the ref waved play on. I am not even sure we would have scored from a penalty as it was one of those nights. We are still in play-off's and how can we not win our way out of this division playing like we did tonight, goals will happen and there's no side we couldn't beat playing like that.
Nearly forgot, second placed promotion chasing Wigan fetched 281, I think that's about half a coach load.

THE ATTACKERS

Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin (O'Brien 79), Webster, Beevers, Abdou, Thompson (Williams 64), Ferguson, Gregory, Morison, Wallace
subs not used, Forde, Edwards, Onyedinma, Nelson, Philpot

THE DEFENDERS

Wigan: Jaaskelainen, Perkins, Power, McCann, Morsy, Grigg (Wildschut 79), Morgan, McAleny (Davies 65), Colclough (Barnett 46), Pearce, Wabara
subs not used, Nicholls, Flores, Chow, Yuckic

Taken from my other Millwall blog 7windmills.blogspot.com <