Jake Goodman let go by Millwall but AFC Wimbledon where he played 17 games on loan do not want to keep him.
Martyn Woolford released is in some way not what I expected. I know we had a few players to get shot of but not a had working honest pro who if he had stayed could have done a job in League One and I reckon he would have been a good pro to link up with the batch of first team youngsters. What do I know.
Season ticket sales are up on last year and where most football club supporters would be having a right old gripe about their club being relegated we are aching for the new season to start and support Neil Harris and the boys in the true Millwall way. This Millwall way as been lost for a while and it will be great to see it back.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE MEANS NO MORE LOAN SIGNINGS TO MAKE UP THE NUMBERS
Neil Harris looks within or prefers to sign the right players on long term deals. I think we all can see the benefit of that
May 19th
Tony Craig has been mentioned, would he come back? Yep! I am sure he will say where do I sign.
May 21st
There's news that David Forde is off to Derby County. I wonder if we will go? I have a feeling he won't. Time will tell but I reckon he will stay.
Carlos Edwards who's contract has expired has stayed on at the Den to finish his rehabilitation and to see if he can earn himself a new contract. I see good reasoning in that decision and I hope that the 36 year old defender can earn that new deal as I recall before he got injured last September he was playing his usual good football and had the legs of a 20 year old.
Alan Dunne and Danny Shittu both say their farewells and leave the club with fond memories.
Likewise the pair have gave me joy over the years and of course there's been periods of non-joy and misery but that's football and of course that's supporting Millwall FC
No London derbies this season unless it's a cup game
June 1st
Aiden O'Brien and Sid Nelson sign up to a three year deal and that's two of our shiniest stars in the bag showing commitment and desire. There's still a few more to commit but I know they will.
Under 18 coach Justin Skinner is given the role of Elite Development Squad Manager. I have no idea what that means but he will be working with Neil Harris and David Livermore. A few other appointments have joined the coaching team, David Connolly a former Irish international striker and West Ham player will coach the under 18's and Larry McAvoy has moved up from the under 16's to assist David Connolly.
June 5th
Here's a turn up Andrew Frampton signs up as a coach and another ex Lion returns to the fold. I remember his first season at the Den as a player and to be honest he didn't set the Den alight or done any favours for himself but year two was a different matter and he walked away with the player of the season. He sounds up for it and want to put across the ethic of working hard gets results.
I read in the South London Press that Fulham are having talks with David Forde. Lets see what happens.
June 9th
We are trying sign Jordan Archer from spurs but apparently so is everybody else. The 21 year old keeper enjoyed his time being on loan at the Den last season and this may sway him to sign for the Lions. With David Forde having the contract condition that he could leave on a free if the Wall was relegated Jordan Archer will have the chance of being the new No 1
June 1st
Aiden O'Brien and Sid Nelson sign up to a three year deal and that's two of our shiniest stars in the bag showing commitment and desire. There's still a few more to commit but I know they will.
Under 18 coach Justin Skinner is given the role of Elite Development Squad Manager. I have no idea what that means but he will be working with Neil Harris and David Livermore. A few other appointments have joined the coaching team, David Connolly a former Irish international striker and West Ham player will coach the under 18's and Larry McAvoy has moved up from the under 16's to assist David Connolly.
June 5th
Here's a turn up Andrew Frampton signs up as a coach and another ex Lion returns to the fold. I remember his first season at the Den as a player and to be honest he didn't set the Den alight or done any favours for himself but year two was a different matter and he walked away with the player of the season. He sounds up for it and want to put across the ethic of working hard gets results.
I read in the South London Press that Fulham are having talks with David Forde. Lets see what happens.
June 9th
We are trying sign Jordan Archer from spurs but apparently so is everybody else. The 21 year old keeper enjoyed his time being on loan at the Den last season and this may sway him to sign for the Lions. With David Forde having the contract condition that he could leave on a free if the Wall was relegated Jordan Archer will have the chance of being the new No 1
TICKET SALES ARE UP AND I THINK WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 2015-16 SEASON TO KICK OFF
We are attempting to sign defender Alfie Mawson from Brentford but the further two years of his contract to run but this may be stumbling block that we cannot overcome.
We have drawn Brentford in the first round of the Capital Cup. A London derby which is something we won't have in League One this new season. We play the game at the Den on the 11th of August.
June 17th
Fred Onyedinma finally signs a new deal so he is at the Den to at least 2017. Fred calls Millwall Family and he feels at home. After his successful loan deal at Wycombe last season I expect him to kick on but I must remember that he is still only 18.
June 18th
Players and supporters remember Tommy Blackmore a well known Millwall supporter who was killed near Tower Bridge last weekend after what the police call a incident (I think he went to help someone in trouble) My granddaughter new him well and joined a memorial march from Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge. RIP Tommy
Nadjim Abdou resigns for Millwall and it looks like he will pass the 300 mark of games this season. Jimmy had interest from elsewhere but one of our favourites decided to stay.and signed a new two year deal. I'm pleased with his decision because he works his socks off and is a proper Millwall player.
June 25th
Carlos Edwards returns to full training and injured Jamie Philpot and Shaun Williams are back in training but just a little bit to start with. Matthew Briggs who was not retained leaves the Lions and signs for Colchester United.
We were due to sign striker James Hanson from Bradford City for a fee of half-a-million but it didn't happen so we still need to obtain one from somewhere.
Joe Martin signs for Millwall after five years at Gillingham where he made 179 appearances.
I don't know much about this player so will be curious to see how he slots in.
July 3rd
Tony Craig re-signs for Millwall after he made it happen and I am sure he will take ownership the captains armband. This is good nws fo me and I am sure also for a good few other Wall supporters.
July 4th
The team is training again in Portugal and all though it's hot over there they are putting in the sessions. Paris Cowan-Hall did not go as he is crooked again.
Richard Chaplow joins Doncaster Rovers
July 14th
First Pre-season friendly----Bromley 2 Lions 2 att: 2500
Tony Craig scores a own goal right at the death but we should have won it. We take on Bromley FC at their place in Hayes Lane and earn a 2-2 draw. Bromley who were recently promoted to the Conference Premier or what ever it's called these days were a good test for us and their was a good few positives to take from the game.
July 18th
2nd pre-season friendly
We just about managed a goal at Kings meadow stadium as Sid Nelson saved our day with a 90th minute equaliser against League Two side Wimbledon. A proven striker is a must and hopefully we shall find one before the season starts. We have got players that can score goals but that 20-25 goals a season player is desperately needed. The type of player that we need is a Steve Morison but I think he is tied into Leeds on a 3 year deal. Would he come back? I think he would.
July 20th
It looks like that David Forde is committed to Millwall and is looking forward to the season getting under way.
July 25th 3rd pre-season game against Stevenage
We clash with Teddy Sheringham's Stevenage and come away with a 1-0 win. Another of our defenders score as Mark Beever's puts one away in the 60th minute. We took about 400 to Hertfordshire and were unlucky to see Millwall just get the one goal because we could and should of got a handful. We bossed the game with plenty of possession and encouraged by the travelling loud 400 on another day the goals will come.
Millwall: Forde (Archer 56), Cummings (Nelson 73), Webster, Craig, Beevers (J Martin 73), Cowan-Hall (Onyedinma 56), Abdou (Upson 46), Williams (Thompson 73), L Martin (Powell 56), Marquis, Gregory (Philpot 56)
subs not used. Romeo, Pavey
__________
Kris Twardek fractures his toe and could be out for a couple of months.
__________
July 28th Behind closed door game at Welling ends in a 2-2 draw
__________
1st August, the last of the pre-season friendlies
Millwall 2 CD Tondela 3 att: 2402
Tondela have rose through the Portuguese leagues and are now in the top flight.
The shortest player on the pitch heads past David Forde for Tondela's 3rd which proved to be the winner. Now that's a worry and I do hope this defence of ours gets it right when they play the first proper game of the season when we take on Shrewsbury at their place next Saturday.
Fred looked sharp and scored after a superb run and took the goal well. Lee Maetin must have a nose bleed as he put in one of his better displays and set Shaun Williams up who headed the ball past the Tondela keeper.The game got a bit tasty with some aggression on the pitch but we thrive on that sort of stuff and although a friendly dull it wasn't.
Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Webster, Craig, Beevers, Onyedinma, Upson (Powell 87), Williams, L Martin (Cowan-Hall 76), Marquis, Gregory
subs not used, Archer, Nelson, Romeo, Thompson, Pavey, Philpot
Goals for Millwall: Onyedinma 14, Williams 45
June 17th
Fred Onyedinma finally signs a new deal so he is at the Den to at least 2017. Fred calls Millwall Family and he feels at home. After his successful loan deal at Wycombe last season I expect him to kick on but I must remember that he is still only 18.
June 18th
Players and supporters remember Tommy Blackmore a well known Millwall supporter who was killed near Tower Bridge last weekend after what the police call a incident (I think he went to help someone in trouble) My granddaughter new him well and joined a memorial march from Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge. RIP Tommy
Nadjim Abdou resigns for Millwall and it looks like he will pass the 300 mark of games this season. Jimmy had interest from elsewhere but one of our favourites decided to stay.and signed a new two year deal. I'm pleased with his decision because he works his socks off and is a proper Millwall player.
June 25th
Carlos Edwards returns to full training and injured Jamie Philpot and Shaun Williams are back in training but just a little bit to start with. Matthew Briggs who was not retained leaves the Lions and signs for Colchester United.
We were due to sign striker James Hanson from Bradford City for a fee of half-a-million but it didn't happen so we still need to obtain one from somewhere.
Joe Martin signs for Millwall after five years at Gillingham where he made 179 appearances.
I don't know much about this player so will be curious to see how he slots in.
July 3rd
Tony Craig re-signs for Millwall after he made it happen and I am sure he will take ownership the captains armband. This is good nws fo me and I am sure also for a good few other Wall supporters.
July 4th
The team is training again in Portugal and all though it's hot over there they are putting in the sessions. Paris Cowan-Hall did not go as he is crooked again.
Richard Chaplow joins Doncaster Rovers
July 14th
First Pre-season friendly----Bromley 2 Lions 2 att: 2500
Tony Craig scores a own goal right at the death but we should have won it. We take on Bromley FC at their place in Hayes Lane and earn a 2-2 draw. Bromley who were recently promoted to the Conference Premier or what ever it's called these days were a good test for us and their was a good few positives to take from the game.
July 18th
2nd pre-season friendly
We just about managed a goal at Kings meadow stadium as Sid Nelson saved our day with a 90th minute equaliser against League Two side Wimbledon. A proven striker is a must and hopefully we shall find one before the season starts. We have got players that can score goals but that 20-25 goals a season player is desperately needed. The type of player that we need is a Steve Morison but I think he is tied into Leeds on a 3 year deal. Would he come back? I think he would.
July 20th
It looks like that David Forde is committed to Millwall and is looking forward to the season getting under way.
July 25th 3rd pre-season game against Stevenage
We clash with Teddy Sheringham's Stevenage and come away with a 1-0 win. Another of our defenders score as Mark Beever's puts one away in the 60th minute. We took about 400 to Hertfordshire and were unlucky to see Millwall just get the one goal because we could and should of got a handful. We bossed the game with plenty of possession and encouraged by the travelling loud 400 on another day the goals will come.
Millwall: Forde (Archer 56), Cummings (Nelson 73), Webster, Craig, Beevers (J Martin 73), Cowan-Hall (Onyedinma 56), Abdou (Upson 46), Williams (Thompson 73), L Martin (Powell 56), Marquis, Gregory (Philpot 56)
subs not used. Romeo, Pavey
__________
Kris Twardek fractures his toe and could be out for a couple of months.
__________
July 28th Behind closed door game at Welling ends in a 2-2 draw
__________
1st August, the last of the pre-season friendlies
Millwall 2 CD Tondela 3 att: 2402
Tondela have rose through the Portuguese leagues and are now in the top flight.
The shortest player on the pitch heads past David Forde for Tondela's 3rd which proved to be the winner. Now that's a worry and I do hope this defence of ours gets it right when they play the first proper game of the season when we take on Shrewsbury at their place next Saturday.
Fred looked sharp and scored after a superb run and took the goal well. Lee Maetin must have a nose bleed as he put in one of his better displays and set Shaun Williams up who headed the ball past the Tondela keeper.The game got a bit tasty with some aggression on the pitch but we thrive on that sort of stuff and although a friendly dull it wasn't.
We play in white for this one
subs not used, Archer, Nelson, Romeo, Thompson, Pavey, Philpot
Goals for Millwall: Onyedinma 14, Williams 45
_________
5th August Steve Morrison does re-join the Lions and hopefully he can add to the 40 goals he scored for us between 2009-and 2011. I know he's not everybody's cup of tea but he is a very good footballer and we could do a lot worse. He will score goals and at this level I expect him to score lots. Anywhere between 15-20 this season would do me and I presume it will do for everybody else including the manager.
__________
Shrewsbury 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 1, 8/8/15. ATT: 6,671 (1500)
ALMOST IN WALES
We take 1500 away and we are up and running. Shrewsbury who are fresh up from League Two and have a very good home record at their new ground looked a good test for us and I was not confident that we could win this game. I would have been happy with a draw so to take all three points is stamping our mark on the division. I didn't know before the game that we had not won a game coming from behind in the last two years and I suppose as soon as Shrewsbury scored it would have been "that's that then" I am glad I didn't know.
When Shrewsbury scored in the 55th minute it was just the reminder the Lions needed that games don't earn you anything unless you put the sweat and effort in and they came back and won this game and Steve Morrison who signed yet again for Millwall a few days ago scored one and was awarded a penalty which Lee Gregory took and buried in the 67th minute gave us the win and the three points. A big shout from me to mention young Fred Onyedinma who had a game that must be classed as one of his best as he was beating Shrewsbury players with ease, he run some of them ragged.. Is this all a sign of things to come? I hope so.
Millwall; Forde, Cummings, Beevers, Craig, Webster, Williams, Upson, Martin (Ferguson 73), Gregory (Marquis 84), Morison, Onyedinma
subs not used, Archer, Cowan-Hall, Nelson, Powell, Philpot
Goals: Morison 59, Gregory pen 67
Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Tootle, Sadler, Grandison, Goldson, M Woods (Brown 67), Alpa Akpro (Whalley 74), Ogogo, R Woods, Collins (McAlinden 78), Barnett
subs not used, Burton, Lawrence, Ellis, Vernon
Goal: Collins 55
Here is a few more teams we are playing this season........Burton Albion, Bury, Barnsley and the only F in the division, Fleetwood Town. Can't wait
___________
No London Derby in the league this season but we draw Barnet in the Capital One Cup.
I will quickly forget this game if we beat Coventry on Saturday
Millwall 1 Barnet 2, aet. 11/8/15, Capital One Cup, Round One att 4,454
I thought we had seen the last of that
After the excellent 2-1 win at Shrewsbury Saturday it's Tuesday night and we take on newly promoted Barnet who are back in the Football League. We were very flat and didn't create much, Steve Morison missed a penalty. We were severely lacking in any kind of midfield dominance and possession that gave support to the strikers. It was good to see Fred and Paris Cowan-Hall running the wings but we still kept sending in diagonal balls that did not come to much. Hopefully this display was part of this game and not a prelude to how this season will pan out.
That's two in two for Steve Morison, a little bit of joy
Goals
Morison 76
Akinde 11(pen) Yiadom 102
_________
Millwall 0 Coventry 4 League One Game 2, 15/8/15, att:11,197, (1,547)
This is misery, beat at home against Barnet and now a 4-0 beating at home against Coventry. I had hoped we would have survived in the Championship, on this form we will be lucky to survive in League One.
I cannot be bothered to spend time on this, so here is the team that performed so badly.
Forde, Cummings, Beevers (Ferguson 46), Craig, Webster, Martin 9Thompson 46), Upson (Cowan-Hall 77), Williams, Gregory, Morison, Onyedinma
Coventry's goals, 6, 19, 24, 80 We missed a penalty (Lee Gregory) after only 3 minutes
___________
I'm sticking this on the here, may as well make a bunch of it.
18/8/15, Millwall 2 Barnsley 3, League Game 3, att: 7,656 (304) Tuesday night
A big drop in the crowd
We concede right at the death and blow three points...soul destroying.
Neil Harris made three changes from the team that failed against Coventry. We got at them from the off and Fred Onyedinma scored and gave us a 27th minute lead. We then proceeded to go 2-1 down, we tried for the equaliser and it paid off as Fred got his 2nd and a point was ours. Oh no it wasn't and the happy time didn't last long, Barnsley scored 90+2 and the rest of the weak bloody miserable.
Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Nelson, Craig, Ferguson (L.Martin 89), Fred Onyedinma, Abdou, Williams (Thompson 61), Abdou, Upson (O'Brien 61), Gregory, Morison
subs not used, Archer, Webster, Cowan-Hall, Marquis
Barnsley: Davies, Bree (Wabara 58), Roberts, Manson, Nyatanga, Scowen, Pearson (Rothwell 84), Hourihane, Watkins, Winnall, Crowley
subs not used, Townsend, Smith, R. Williams, Digby, Wilkinson
__________
That's an improvement
22/8/15, Scunthorpe 0 Millwall 0, League Game 4, att:3,382 (387), position 15
NOT YOUR NORMAL 0-0 DRAW BORE
Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Craig, Beevers, Nelson (Webster 61), Abdou, Williams, Thompson, Morison , Gregory , Onyedinma
subs not used, Forde, Cowan-Hall, Upson, Martin, Marquis
Scunthorpe: Anyon, Laird, McAllister, Madden, van Veen (McSheffrey 57), Henderson (Hopper 59), Bishop, Adelakun (Wootton 67), King, Goode, Clarke
subs not used. Daniels, Wiseman, Mirfin, Dawson
__________
29/8/15, Millwall 0 Chesterfield 2, League One, Game 5, att: 8,374
WE AIN'T HAPPY
If this keeps up nobody will be coming, maybe that's not true as there will always be me but I may have to force myself. Dismal really and that's the third home loss on the bounce. Where's our fortress gone? Is it us? Is it them? Them being the players or more to the point the senior players who are not putting in a good enough shift. I will put my neck out and say it's 'time that is the factor. We are just not used to winning at home. A strange statement as we are well known historically of playing in a fortress and oppositions did not enjoy making the visit but now it's a easy three points for them. The stuffing and belief has been knocked out of us after 3 or 4 years of dross. It will take time to get this belief back on both sides of the fence. I reckon we will do al-right against Crewe. There is a international break coming up and it will give us time to regroup and hopefully kick on from there.
As for the game we lost 2-0 and once again conceded right at the death.
Up the Wall
Millwall: Archer, Cummings (Marquis 86), Craig, Beevers, Nelson, Powell (Cowan Hall 76), Thompson, Abdou, Morison, Gregory (O,Brien 46), Onyedinma
subs not used, Forde, Williams, Upson, Webster
Chesterfield: Lee, Jones, Hird, Morsy, Evatt, Gardner (Raglan 87), Martinez, Ebank-Blake (Gnanduillet 72), O'Shea, O'Neil, Ariyibi (Dieseruvwe 72),
subs not used, Cairns, Humphreys, Raglan, Harrison, Banks
Goals: O'Shea 17, 90
Big cup clash coming up next and it's at the Den
__________
I
1/9/2015 Johnstone Paint Trophy
Millwall 1 Peterborough 0 att:2050 (away 222)
It will take more than a coat of paint
JOHNSTONE PAINT TROPHY
1st ROUND
ROCKING ALL OVER THE WORLD
We win a game at home which is the first for yonks, but one win does not make a revival.We I don't want to be picky but we never really bossed the game and this will need to be improved before we can kick on and at least finish mid-table in this division. Perhaps it's a Barry Kitchener, Terry Hurlock or Rhino type of attitude that's missing.
All my pre-season excitement of doing something this season with Neil Harris and his trimmed down young squad was drained out of me by three successive home defeats but although this win is not something that should be shouted from the roof tops it is perhaps at least the opening of the tin of paint and a dip of the paint brush within.. We must kick on from here and win again and put some some gloss on it. Carlos Edwards was back in the side re-employed after his long long spell out with injury and all though he looked rusty he worked his way into the game and finished strong as he still had the energy to be in a attack position with just a few minutes to go and sent a ball in which Shaun Williams using his head sent the ball into the back of the net and the 2000 into orbit and the game was ours. I wonder who we will get in the next round.
Peterborough defend with eleven in the box
Millwall: Archer, Beevers, Edwards, Nelson, Craig, Williams, Upson, O'Brien, Onyedinma, Thompson, Marquis,
__________
12/9/15 Crewe 1 Millwall 3, League One, Game 6, att: 4,239 (we take 600)
__________
12/9/15 Crewe 1 Millwall 3, League One, Game 6, att: 4,239 (we take 600)
That's two wins on the bounce ( I am including the paint trophy )
After our mini-break due to international games we go to rock bottom Crewe and get our second away win of the season by courtesy of a terrific hat trick scored by Aiden O'Brien.
His first was drilled in on 22 minutes shortly after Steve Morison had his shot blocked by the Crewe keeper. Fourteen minutes later Crewe equalised when a deflection left Jordan Archer stranded and the ball took up its familiar role of being in the back of the Millwall net. The first half finished all square and I reckon the 2nd half was about to be the most important 45 minutes of the season so far. I say that as more of a sense than a fact but following on from the Johnstone Paint Cup win against Peterborough the winning way had to continue, if it did not continue then nothing would have seemed to have improved and being stuck on the bottom would have produced the gloom that would have helped to keep us there.
Aiden O'Brien chalks up his first professional hat trick
Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Nelson (Webster 50), Beevers, Craig, Onyedinma (Ferguson 69), Abdou, Williams, Upson, O'Brien, (Gregory 84), Morison
subs not used, Forde, Cowan-Hall, Marquis, Thompson
Goals: O'Brien 21, 64, 74
Crewe: Garratt, Turlon, Davis, Nugent, Kinsley, Atkinson, Fox (Wilson 65), King, Inman, Dalla Volle (Cooper 80), Colclough,
subs not used, Richards, Guthrie, Ray, Haber, Baillie
Goal: Dalla Valle 36
__________
15/9/15 Port Vale 0 Millwall 2, League One, Game 7, att: 4,447 (210)
From the off we were up and at them
That's played 7
W3 D1 L3=10 pts
Vale supporters reckon we were the best team they have played this season and they were lucky not to have been three goals down in the first 15 minutes, I make them right.
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.
THE HOME QUESTION
Southend United this Saturday and can we finally bring a closure to the "we can't win at home syndrome" I think we will but none of us should come to the Den with a miserable face.
Neil Harris wants and needs our support, so let's give it to him and I reckon we as a club could go anywhere.
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
19/9/15, Millwall 0 Southend 2, League One, Game 8, att: 10,228 A tribute to Albert McKenzie VC
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 GameThat'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
Last four games in all competitions W W W L It's not all bad
_________
__________
Our good luck charm Harvey does the job as we win at home for the first time in the League this season
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
Last four games in all competitions W W W L It's not all bad
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20/9/15 Junior Lions Fun Day SOME LIGHT RELIEF
I went with some family members
26/9/15, Millwall 3 Rochdale 1, League One, Game 9, att: 8,023 (383) , Harvey Brown melts are hearts.
4-1-4 and 13 points
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
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Wigan 2 Millwall 2, League One, Game 10, att:7,991 (238)
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
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Wigan 2 Millwall 2, League One, Game 10, att: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
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The Peterborough Game is coming up
I reckon that Millwall are starting to look like title contenders. Some might say that I maybe a trifle early with my thoughts of success but I feel something in the air. Hopefully it's not rain because for the last few years there's been so much disappointment that any hope of looking up the table as been a long way off. I am starting to get a bit of crick in my neck having to strain it to look up to half way and this is something that we haven't had to do for a long time, I am starting to get used to it and I want it to continue. I will be bold and say we will be up there or there about come Christmas and it should continue at Peterborough tomorrow.
Jimmy Abdou injured, goes off early. Birthday boy Ben Thompson tales his place.
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
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We keep rolling on, this clash of the lower leagues. A slightly re-arranged Lions take to the field with Jimmy Abdou and Ed Upson missing from the middle, 28 day emergency loan signing George Saville started and so did Lee Martin. Shaun Cummings started instead of Carlos Edwards and absent Bryon Webster was replaced by J.Martin. Jack Powell started in midfield and with all these defence and midfield changes we didn't really get going first half but we had 3 or 4 decent chances. Their keeper saved a few from Steve Morison and Aiden O'Brien hit the woodwork and although I thought we didn't sparkle we wasn't much troubled in defence.
Second half started like the first but it kicked into life when we unleashed our substitutions, Fred Onyedinma(60 mins) and Ben Thompson(60) and that done the trick we went into another gear and and had a bit more zip in around the Northampton defence. Steve Morison was kept out once again as the keeper saved but it wasn't long till we were 1-0 up. Aiden O'Brien picked up the ball and run in from the left, shook off two defenders and beat the keeper with a well drilled shot. A couple of minutes later Steve Morison still looking sharp and putting in a good shift picked up the ball from Lee Gregory and returned it back to him to chest in from a few yards out. Easy goal really.
3/9/15 League One, Game 11, Peterborough 5 Millwall 3 att: 6,402 (1400 away)
Probably a great game if you are a neutral
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
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Millwall 2 Northampton 0, Johnstone Paint Trophy Game 2, 6/10/15 att:2,254 (away 212
I SUPPOSE SOME OF US BETTER TURN UP
We keep rolling on, this clash of the lower leagues. A slightly re-arranged Lions take to the field with Jimmy Abdou and Ed Upson missing from the middle, 28 day emergency loan signing George Saville started and so did Lee Martin. Shaun Cummings started instead of Carlos Edwards and absent Bryon Webster was replaced by J.Martin. Jack Powell started in midfield and with all these defence and midfield changes we didn't really get going first half but we had 3 or 4 decent chances. Their keeper saved a few from Steve Morison and Aiden O'Brien hit the woodwork and although I thought we didn't sparkle we wasn't much troubled in defence.
WHAT IS IT WITH THIS WEARING PINK?
The Johnstone Paint Trophy don't draw them in, "perhaps' they may turn up if we make the Wembley Final
Second half started like the first but it kicked into life when we unleashed our substitutions, Fred Onyedinma(60 mins) and Ben Thompson(60) and that done the trick we went into another gear and and had a bit more zip in around the Northampton defence. Steve Morison was kept out once again as the keeper saved but it wasn't long till we were 1-0 up. Aiden O'Brien picked up the ball and run in from the left, shook off two defenders and beat the keeper with a well drilled shot. A couple of minutes later Steve Morison still looking sharp and putting in a good shift picked up the ball from Lee Gregory and returned it back to him to chest in from a few yards out. Easy goal really.
In the end a professional job and we appreciate it
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
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13/10/15 Yet another long way to go but this time not up north
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.
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13/10/15 Yet another long way to go but this time not up north
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 Swindon 0, League One, Game 12, 17/10/15, att 8,524 (away 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.
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
The Lions press in front of the Cold Blow Lane end but could not add to their first half two goal tally
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,
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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: 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.
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Blackpool 1 Millwall 1, League One, Game 13, 20/10/15, Tuesday Night, att:6,225
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 whistle
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.
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
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Sheffield United 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 14, att: 19,617 (we take about 900+)
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"
This is how Deadbeat described our travelling support:
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Blackpool 1 Millwall 1, League One, Game 13, 20/10/15, Tuesday Night, att:6,225
TUESDAY NIGHT 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 whistle
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), Morisonsubs 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
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Sheffield United 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 14, att: 19,617 (we take about 900+)
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
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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
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
__________
I cannot remember ever playing this side before. I am sure they will enjoy their "day out" in S.E. London. They like to bill themselves as 'The football team of the Fylde Coast and they are called the Coasters. They are a few miles in land from Blackpool based in a one horse village called Warton on the A584 and play in the Vanarama National League North. They have crowds from 350, 500 and 800+ it all depends on who they are playing. The 800+ was against FC United Of Manchester.
They sit top of their division after playing 13 games with 29 points and W9 D2 L2. That's not bad is it. The four sides below them are Solihull Moors, Nuneaton, Harrogate Town and Stockport.
FC United Of Manchester sit along way behind them in the same league with 14 points.
Their manager Dave Challinor is delighted with the trip to Millwall and he is generous as he calls us a proper football club and a great football club and we have a great pitch. He seems to know us.
Click on link >> www.afcfylde.co.uk/fa-cup-coasters-draw-millwall
__________
Millwall 2 Doncaster 0, League One, Game 15, 27/10/15 att:8,249 (away 185)
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
Millwall v AFC Fylde. They come to visit in the 1st round proper of the FA Cup
WELCOME TO LONDON
I cannot remember ever playing this side before. I am sure they will enjoy their "day out" in S.E. London. They like to bill themselves as 'The football team of the Fylde Coast and they are called the Coasters. They are a few miles in land from Blackpool based in a one horse village called Warton on the A584 and play in the Vanarama National League North. They have crowds from 350, 500 and 800+ it all depends on who they are playing. The 800+ was against FC United Of Manchester.
They sit top of their division after playing 13 games with 29 points and W9 D2 L2. That's not bad is it. The four sides below them are Solihull Moors, Nuneaton, Harrogate Town and Stockport.
FC United Of Manchester sit along way behind them in the same league with 14 points.
Their manager Dave Challinor is delighted with the trip to Millwall and he is generous as he calls us a proper football club and a great football club and we have a great pitch. He seems to know us.
Click on link >> www.afcfylde.co.uk/fa-cup-coasters-draw-millwall
__________
Millwall 2 Doncaster 0, League One, Game 15, 27/10/15 att:8,249 (away 185)
WE CONTINUE TO CLIMB THE TABLE AND NOW SIT IN 8TH SPOT WITH 24 POINTS
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
__________
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" fans.
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 3 AFC Fylde 1 FA Cup First Round Proper, 7/11/15, att: 3,445 (away 164)
These two below played the next night
Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Oxford Utd 2
Southend Utd 1 Bristol Rovers 0
Bring on Bradford City this weekend
__________
Millwall 0 Bradford City 0, League One, Game 16, 31/10/15, att: 9,367
25 Points
Dockers enjoying the sunshine as the away end looks on
A Defensive Stalemate
Before the kick off I had psyched this game up in my head to be something big and wonderful but in reality it was nothing like that. There was positive outcomes from this game such as a clean sheet and the single point that took us to 7th in the league table and of course we didn't get beat which is always a happy thing.
STUCK IN THE MIDFIELD MIRE
I am struggling to think of something to describe this game so I will just settle with, there was commitment shown but nothing much happening around our goal and also the Bradford goal or perhaps say "it was a game of two-half's" the first half was a non-event and the second half we improved and Shaun Williams had a decent effort saved. The away end had not much to cheer also.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" fans.
***
Millwall: Archer, Edwards, Craig (Webster 56), Beevers, J.Martin, 0'Brien, Williams, Saville, Ferguson (Onyedinma 62), Gregory (Pavey 90), Morisonsubs 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 3 AFC Fylde 1 FA Cup First Round Proper, 7/11/15, att: 3,445 (away 164)
FA CUP AND WE ARE UP AND RUNNING
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
_____
Plymouth Argyle 3 Millwall 5, Johnstone Paint Trophy, Game 3, 10/11/15, Tuesday night, att: 5,869 (295 made the trip)
There was eight goals in this game and Lee Gregory scores three or was it four
That's the fourth cup game this season and we have won the lot, if I forget to mention the League cup defeat against Barnet.
This trophy is a bit of fun and we are making it ours. We take 300 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 sense 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.
There was a bit of "afters" after this game when some Plymouth support come on the pitch and made a half hearted attempt to get at the travelling Wall. We stood and watched.
12 got ground banning orders a few days later
There was a bit of "afters" after this game when some Plymouth support come on the pitch and made a half hearted attempt to get at the travelling Wall. We stood and watched.
12 got ground banning orders a few days later
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
No game this Saturday for us 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 game
No league game this Saturday as yet another international break
No game this Saturday for us 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 game
_____
Millwall 4 Colchester United 1, League One, Game 17, 21/11/15, att: 8,739 (442)
*THAT'S NINE GAMES UNDEFEATED IN ALL COMPETITIONS*
28 POINTS AND 8th IN THE TABLE
2 POINTS OFF THE PLAY OFF'S WITH A GAME IN HAND
***
Lee Gregory is scoring again, Colchester are sent home with nought and it's a cold, cold day.
After the international break we started where we left off and carried on banging in goals. Lee Gregory was up to his usual mischief of terrorising opposition goal keepers as he picked up the ball, run and fired in a cracker. It looked like he was going to get a second as he shot from a tight angle but the ball hit the near post. Our strike force of Steve Morison, Aiden O'Brien and Lee Gregory have been banging them in and usually it is them that are racking up the goals so a bit of a surprise for me to see Shane Ferguson finishing like a quality striker and getting a couple of goals in this game. He is terrific and fits the shirt perfectly, it's a shame he's not ours but on loan.
Lee Gregory scores his 10th of the season
Our not so good friend Marvin Sordell is closely marked by Mark Beever's who has him in his pocket
We did concede after a defensive cock-up when we were 2-0 up when Joe Martin sort of passed the ball to Colchester and they scored to cut the deficit. That was as close as the Essex side got to us in this game and we extended our lead in the 62nd minute when Shane Ferguson got his second. Defender Byron Webster was lurking around the Colchester box in the 81st minute which even at 3-1 up we were not sitting deep and we got our 4th when his shot took a slight deflection and we had now scored 12 goals in our last 3 games, happy days. That was a comfortable win and Colchester have now conceding the most goals in the Football League.
*The Millwall revival continues*
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
__
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.
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.
_____
Fleetwood 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 18, 24/11/15, att: 3,326 ( we take 490)
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.
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
LONDON LIVE
We needed a 4-0 win to push Sheffield United off the 7th spot place but that did not happen as we could not add to the 3-0 half time lead.
Lee Martin signs on loan to Northampton Town
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
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 1 Bury 0, League One, Game 19, 28/11/15 att: 8,311 (456)
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.
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
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 the 30 pts up for grabs we take 18
_____
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
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 with 3 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.
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 Wycombe Wanderers 2, FA CUP round 2, 5/12/15, att: 3,960 (658)
I reckon he has earn't this new contract and hopefully he can star* for the 2016 part of the season. He has ten goals to his name so far and there's plenty of games left to get some more.
_____
Millwall 0 Oxford United 2, Johnstone Paint Trophy, A rare Thursday night game, 14/1/15, att: 7,275 (1,222)
Where's the ability to dictate the play and where's the midfield?
Shane Ferguson has extended his loan at the den till the 23rd of January and starts this game
We were up and at them from the first whistle and bothered their keeper with a couple of flurries around their goal and then we started to labour against a well drilled Oxford side. We did get the ball from time to time and threatened to threaten but it was either the wrong pass, a heavy touch, a wayward shot or a lost ball but we still had moments and then we cocked it up.
Millwall 1 Bury 0, League One, Game 19, 28/11/15 att: 8,311 (456)
31 POINTS
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
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 the 30 pts up for grabs we take 18
_____
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
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 with 3 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.
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
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Millwall 1 Wycombe Wanderers 2, FA CUP round 2, 5/12/15, att: 3,960 (658)
Getting beat at home by a League Two side is not what I expected, last season maybe
I know you can't win them all but we should be winning this
A fair few make up the away end
We turn up in small numbers
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.
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
12/1/2016Millwall: 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
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Southend United 0 Millwall 2, Johnstone Paint Thingy, Tuesday Night, 8/12/15, att: 5,972, (1,551)
19/12/15 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)
'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 Beevers fouled. The 2nd goal was a result of a basic defending mistake when Jordan Archer and Mark Beevers 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.
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Southend 0 Millwall 4, League One, Game 23, att: 10,099 ( we take away 1,745 )
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.
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
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Barnsley 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 24, 2/1/16, att: 8,700 (385)
Oldham 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 25, 9/1/16, att: 3,558 (362)
Played 25, Won 11, Draws 4, Lost 10, GD 3, Points 37= 3 points off the play off's
Homer referee, awarded four free kicks to us and fourteen to Oldham. Par for the course really
We sign on loan midfielder Jed Wallace from Wolves and thank you Kenny. We were after this player in the summer but didn't get him. We have him for a month and he started this game with Aiden O'Brien on the bench. Jed has pace and it didn't take long for us to get on the score sheet as he zipped in a cross which Lee Gregory picked up and buried after three minutes gone. Wallace was quick all over the pitch and it looks like he don't mind tracking back when duty calls.
Shane Ferguson played well but has played his last game for us as his loan period has come to a end. We have put in a bid for him as he has done well so we will be waiting on Newcastle United to let us know.
Oldham did have spells and they equalised in the 59th minute after they were awarded a dodgy free kick which David Forde had no chance with. Forde was kept on his toes later through the half when Oldham pushing for the winner or at least another goal tested him on two occasions and a cross come shot was superbly turned away for a corner and also a thunder of a shot from the Oldham player Winchester had Forde horizontal and yet again he superbly saved. He is certainly working hard to keep his place between the sticks. We have not had much luck from our away trips up north recently so it was a happy journey home when with just five minutes left on the clock Shane Ferguson crossed a peach of a ball which Steve Morison buried by getting in low with his head.
Footnote: John Marquis back in the fold after his loan spell at Leyton Orient came on for the last three minutes when he replaced Steve Morison. Not sure what was the point of that.
Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Martin, Beever's, Webster, Wallace (O'Brien 64m), Williams, Abdou, Ferguson, Gregory (Onyedinma 76m), Morison (Marquis 87m)
subs not used, Archer, Upson, Thompson, Nelson
Goals: Gregory 2mins, Morison 85mins
Oldham: Coleman, Dieng, Kelly, Jones, Poleon (Forte 64m), Cassidy, Winchester, Murphy, B.Wilson (Fuller 87m), Lafferty (J.Wilson 87m), Dummingan
subs not used, Cornell, Brown, Mills, Bove
Goal: Jones 59mins
13/1/16 I have just heard that Oldham manager David Dunn has been sacked. Yet another one bites the dust after a defeat by Millwall. The unpleasant side of the game but that's football.
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Southend United 0 Millwall 2, Johnstone Paint Thingy, Tuesday Night, 8/12/15, att: 5,972, (1,551)
SEMI FINAL-SOUTHERN SECTION
Another Wembley appearance is looming closer as we finished off Southend roared on by a massive Tuesday night travelling support of over 1500.
Travelling Wall, as far as the eyes can see
Jordan Archer was up to his old magic not long after kick off as he superbly saved a 20 yard effort, quality. 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***
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 Miillllllllllll 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 by 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
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Millwall and the not so happy Christmas 2015--but it finished on a high_____
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)
'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 Beevers fouled. The 2nd goal was a result of a basic defending mistake when Jordan Archer and Mark Beevers 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
_____
Barnsley 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 24, 2/1/16, att: 8,700 (385)
2016
It's up north again and another iffy performance.
The last six league games WLLLWL "JUST TREADING WATER"
We managed to secure a couple of corners in the first few minutes but it didn't take long before Barnsley scored. Mark Beever's with a last ditch tackle gave Barnsley a corner who played it short before crossing it in to the penalty box and it was headed in near the back stick. It was nearly half time before we caused a scare in the Barnsley box when Mark Beever's leapt like a salmon and the keeper gathered at the second attempt. This little bit of Millwall excitement was not enough to hold off the "groans" from the travelling Wall support when the half-time whistle blew.
The new year and it's the same old......
We changed a couple of players at half time with Lee Gregory and Shane Ferguson coming on and Fred Onyedinma and Ed Upson going off. This change did not stop Barnsley from still threatening the Lions goal and they were enjoying possession but Millwall now played with a bit of back bone and Steve Morison nearly scored but his effort was stopped on the goal line. With David Forde still keeping his place in goal he was keeping Barnsley from scoring again and it may have been the case that it inspired the team to produce a equaliser on 61 minutes when Steve Morison picked up the ball when a Joe Martin effort bounced to him after hitting the post and he banged the ball in. It only lasted six minutes before Barnsley scored again and once again we go home with nought. On this showing we haven't improved and we need to to do a lot more if we want something from this season apart from just getting by.
Millwall: Forde, Edwards(Abdou 68m), Martin, Beevers, Webster, Upson (Ferguson 46m), Williams, Saville, Onyedinma (Gregory 46m), O.'Brien, Morison
subs not used, Archer, Nelson, Thompson, Philpot
Goal: Morison 61m
_____
Barnsley: Davies, Wabara, Long, Mawson, White (Bree 87m), Watkins (Smith 87m), Pearson, Isgrove, Hurihane, Hammill, Winnall
subs not used, Townsend, Williams, White, Roberts, Templeton
Goals: Winnall 12m, Hammill 67m
_____
_____
Played 25, Won 11, Draws 4, Lost 10, GD 3, Points 37= 3 points off the play off's
We sign on loan midfielder Jed Wallace from Wolves and thank you Kenny. We were after this player in the summer but didn't get him. We have him for a month and he started this game with Aiden O'Brien on the bench. Jed has pace and it didn't take long for us to get on the score sheet as he zipped in a cross which Lee Gregory picked up and buried after three minutes gone. Wallace was quick all over the pitch and it looks like he don't mind tracking back when duty calls.
Shane Ferguson played well but has played his last game for us as his loan period has come to a end. We have put in a bid for him as he has done well so we will be waiting on Newcastle United to let us know.
Oldham did have spells and they equalised in the 59th minute after they were awarded a dodgy free kick which David Forde had no chance with. Forde was kept on his toes later through the half when Oldham pushing for the winner or at least another goal tested him on two occasions and a cross come shot was superbly turned away for a corner and also a thunder of a shot from the Oldham player Winchester had Forde horizontal and yet again he superbly saved. He is certainly working hard to keep his place between the sticks. We have not had much luck from our away trips up north recently so it was a happy journey home when with just five minutes left on the clock Shane Ferguson crossed a peach of a ball which Steve Morison buried by getting in low with his head.
Footnote: John Marquis back in the fold after his loan spell at Leyton Orient came on for the last three minutes when he replaced Steve Morison. Not sure what was the point of that.
Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Martin, Beever's, Webster, Wallace (O'Brien 64m), Williams, Abdou, Ferguson, Gregory (Onyedinma 76m), Morison (Marquis 87m)
subs not used, Archer, Upson, Thompson, Nelson
Goals: Gregory 2mins, Morison 85mins
Oldham: Coleman, Dieng, Kelly, Jones, Poleon (Forte 64m), Cassidy, Winchester, Murphy, B.Wilson (Fuller 87m), Lafferty (J.Wilson 87m), Dummingan
subs not used, Cornell, Brown, Mills, Bove
Goal: Jones 59mins
13/1/16 I have just heard that Oldham manager David Dunn has been sacked. Yet another one bites the dust after a defeat by Millwall. The unpleasant side of the game but that's football.
_____
AIDEN O'BRIEN
ACADEMY GOLD
I reckon he has earn't this new contract and hopefully he can star* for the 2016 part of the season. He has ten goals to his name so far and there's plenty of games left to get some more.
_____
Millwall 0 Oxford United 2, Johnstone Paint Trophy, A rare Thursday night game, 14/1/15, att: 7,275 (1,222)
Johnstone Paint Trophy Area Semi-Final 1st Leg
Shane Ferguson has extended his loan at the den till the 23rd of January and starts this game
We were up and at them from the first whistle and bothered their keeper with a couple of flurries around their goal and then we started to labour against a well drilled Oxford side. We did get the ball from time to time and threatened to threaten but it was either the wrong pass, a heavy touch, a wayward shot or a lost ball but we still had moments and then we cocked it up.
Live on sky and we must have looked poor
Roofe who scored a couple against Swansea in the FA Cup hit a daisy cutter that didn't look like a shot but ended up beating David Forde at the foot of his right-hand post with 15 minutes gone. Farcical really and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of us. As you imagine David Forde was not Mr Popular for the rest of the game and he got stick, We conceded the second goal on 42 minutes when a Oxford shot hit the bar after Forde got a touch to it and then it all seemed to go in slow motion with no reaction from anybody in a Millwall shirt Roofe once again scored as he was alive to the loose ball and headed home.
Plenty of second half action around the Oxford goal but no Lions comeback
We looked a bit more up for it second half which is a common theme this season and me being the forever optimistic I thought if we got a goal back early we can get something from this game. We set about having a go and we proceeded to bombard the Oxford half with long balls. We did have some decent wide play on the left which normally related to us winning one of those long balls and Steve Morison was normally involved but nothing was achieved from full backs running and dribbling with the ball and the midfield was non effective apart from loan signing Jed Wallace who had a sparkle about his play, I did not see that from anybody else. Flat and clueless on the night and there was nothing there whatsoever to keep you warm on this very cold night. As I said earlier we were more up for it second half and Mark Beever's should have done better with a header and Steve Morison had a header cleared off the goal line and a shot saved down to the keepers left.. My teeth are still chattering and I cannot bring myself to watch the Sky recording of this game, one shot of depression is enough.
We still have to play them at their place so there's a chance as our away record is not to bad.
Port Vale on Sunday at the Den. Back to the league and hopefully back to winning ways.
I presume Jordan Archer will be back for this one.
Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Martin (O'Brien 64), Beevers, Webster, Williams (Upson 78m), Abdou, Ferguson, Gregory (Onyedinma 85m ), Morison, Wallace
subs not used, Archer, Nelson,
Oxford United: Buchel, Baldock, Roofe (Hylton 87m), Mullins, Wright, Sercumbe, Hoban (O'Dowda 77m), McDonald, Lundstram, Maguire, Evans,
subs not used, Slocombe, Ruffels, Dunkley
Scorer: Roofe 15, 42m
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Millwall 3 Port Vale 1, League One, Game 26, 17-1-15, att: 7,773 (287), A Sunday Special but a few stay away.
Millwall 3 Port Vale 1, League One, Game 26, 17-1-15, att: 7,773 (287), A Sunday Special but a few stay away.
That goes a long way of easing the pain from the Thursday Night Paint Cup defeat
LONDON LIVE
London Live makes an appearance. Shown Monday night on the Jason Grundy Kicks Off Show
Gregory bangs in the penalty and his 13th goal of the season and his second of the game which helps us secure our first home win in all competitions since beating Bury 1-0 on November the 28th.
I sensed that the team really wanted to win this game after the failure of Thursday night and with Jordan Archer back in goal they set about the task. Aiden O'Brien also started this one and with Shane Ferguson starting on the left of the defence we quickly started banging on the Port Vale door. Steve Morison went close with just a few minutes on the clock and O'Brien was slinging crosses into the Vale box. Jed Wallace sent in a peach of a ball and Lee Gregory on 14 minutes showed me a part of his game that I haven't seen before as he rose and stretched and sent in a looping header that left their keeper for dead as it sailed into the net. Make no mistake this was not a run of the mill headed goal, he had a lot to do.
2nd half, tussle in the corner and every ball needs to be won
He scored another one 20 minutes later when he was bought down in the box. As the picture above shows he beat the keeper who went the right way and we were 2-0 up. Gregory has twelve goals now and is on course for a decent tally this season. We were buzzing and goal number three looked as though it wouldn't be long and just before half time Steve Morison duly obliged stroking home after controlling the ball after it pinged to him after yet another Gregory effort was blocked.
3-0 to the Wall and as I mentioned above if we score another and we do not concede we can go above Sheffield United in 7th place on goal difference.
Port Vale made two substitutions for the start of the second half and had a bit more zest, I presume they got a half-time rollicking and scored after fifteen minutes.with a shot that Jordan Archer had no chance with.. We kept the opposition away from scoring for the rest of the game and had numerous chances our selves to add to the score. A solid home win and that's the way it should be.
Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Ferguson, Beevers, Webster, O'Brien (Marquis 88m), Williams, Abdou, Wallace (Upson 63m), Gregory (Onyedinma 87m), Morison
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Martin, Thompson
Goals: Gregory 14m, 34m pen, Morison 45
Port Vale: Alnwick, Purkiss, Dickinson, McGivern, Duffy, O'Conner, Foley (Hooper 55m), Daniel (Kelly 46m,), Brown, Moore (Dodds 55m), Letch-Smith
subs not used, Neal, Streete, Yates, Grant
Goals: Hooper 61m
Lee Martin signs on loan to Northampton Town
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Chesterfield 1 Millwall 2, League One, Game 27, 23/1/16, att: 7,078 ( 854 on the road)
Chesterfield: Lee, O'Neil, Raglan, Hird, Talbot (Dieseruvwe 87), Ariyibi (Gardner 65), Morsy, Donohue, O'Shea, Novak, Ebanks-Blake (Harrison 72),
Shane Ferguson and it's a relief to get the deal done
Millwall 1 Crewe 1, League One, Game 28, 30/1/16, att: 9,044 (away 334).
Burton 60pts
1 Burton 68pts
Millwall and the big day out but automatic promotion is still on
Barnsley who are 7th close the gap on the 6th placed spot to 3 points
*BANGING THEM IN*
THAT'S ELEVEN FOR AIDEN O'BRIEN AND FOURTEEN FOR LEE GREGORY
According to the Yorkshire Star Chesterfield were the better side but Millwall were the better finishers. I suppose that happens a lot in football and it proves that goals are the key to success. I think we are spoilt by having three strikers and we don't know it. We moan and groan as at the Oxford game and a few choice words for the team and some individuals but we are winning more that we are losing so we may not have been the better side for this game but we are the better team. We move into the last play-off spot winning our 4th league game out of five and it's nice to look up instead of looking down. It looks like Shane Ferguson has played his last game for us as his loan period ended when he left the pitch today. There is something in the pipeline and we may resign him on a permanent deal and secure him from his club Newcastle United where he has very little chance of getting a game. I think he fits in with the side and offers hard work and has a good football brain. Hope he stays.
Another northern win
A top win at our first visit to Chesterfield's new ground which is yet another ground that has a non football related heritage and never will with a name Proact Stadium, talk about selling your soul.
Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Webster, Beevers, Ferguson (Martin 76), Wallace, Abdou, Williams, O'Brien ( Upson 78), Gregory (Onyedinma 88), Morison
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Thompson, Marquis
Goals: O'Brien 27, Gregory 47
Chesterfield: Lee, O'Neil, Raglan, Hird, Talbot (Dieseruvwe 87), Ariyibi (Gardner 65), Morsy, Donohue, O'Shea, Novak, Ebanks-Blake (Harrison 72),
subs not used, Chapman, Humphreys, Onovwigun, Simons
Goal: Morsey 25
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THE BOSS HAS GOT HIS CHEQUE BOOK OUT
undisclosed fee
undisclosed fee
We only went and done it, a 24 year old Northern Ireland international who can play and because he has played in 28 games for us while on loan he knows us and he knows what's needed. As we have just moved into the play-spots this signing should keep the momentum going. It will be business as usual against Crewe Saturday. The former Newcastle Utd youth player played 32 games for them and was on loan at Birmingham and Rangers before joining us at the start of this season. He states that joining the Lions is a no-Brainer and he is excited about his future with Millwall.
The eighteen month contract is interesting as it leaves options for all.
_____
Only a point but we still retain sixth spot in the play-off's
Jimmy Addou receives a award for 300 appearances for the Lions. well done, Top Man.
Millwall up near the top and Crewe down near the bottom, we should have won this game. We would have if Lee Gregory had not missed his second penalty. Take no notice of the false reports and also take no notice of the Crewe manager questioning the referee awarding this second penalty that was a blatant handball by Crewe's Oliver Turton who played the ball with his right hand down by his side. I was directly in-line with this and had a good view from block 8 and well spotted the Lino.
Plenty of second half action around the Crewe Penalty box. We had a few one-on-ones with their keeper but as games that have gone before we could not penetrate.
Crewe did give us a game which we did expect and we had to work hard to try to win the game and putting the penalties aside we had chances but on the day we didn't lack effort but lacked that spark to bury the ball. We had the majority of the early play and we were putting the ball into the Crewe box with Gregory and Aiden O'Brien having chances. Just before half-time we should have been dancing in the isles as both Jed Wallace and Steve Morison also missed decent chances.
Lee Gregory sets himself up and hits the post
It seems that we still like to make things hard for ourselves and went behind on 59 minutes when Jordan Archer conceded a penalty and for a scary moment I thought it may be another red card, it wasn't and Archer picked the ball out the back of the net. It didn't take long before we had a penalty of our own when Bryon Webster was impeded going for a header and Gregory stroked it home. Jed Wallace had a great chance to give us the lead with just over ten minutes left on the clock he received the ball from Morison but shot just over the bar. It looked like it could end up a draw but with three minutes left we were awarded our second penalty but this time Lee Gregory hit the post and that was that. I take the positive.....that's another game we didn't lose and it's 44 points.
A rare event: we did not make a substitution.
A rare event: we did not make a substitution.
Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Webster, Beevers, Ferguson, Wallace, Abdou, Williams, O'Brien, Gregory, Morison
all the subs not used: Forde, Nelson, Martin, Thompson, Upsoon, Onyedinma, Marquis
Goal: Gregory (penalty 65m)
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Crewe: Garrett, Turton, Guthrie, Nugent, Haber, Ihman, Cooper (Ng 90), Fox, Jones, Ajayi, Bakayogo (Seager 80)
subs not used, Richards, Saunders, Baillie, Ainley, Howell
Goal: Ihman (penalty 59m)
Tuesday Night
all the subs not used: Forde, Nelson, Martin, Thompson, Upsoon, Onyedinma, Marquis
Goal: Gregory (penalty 65m)
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Crewe: Garrett, Turton, Guthrie, Nugent, Haber, Ihman, Cooper (Ng 90), Fox, Jones, Ajayi, Bakayogo (Seager 80)
subs not used, Richards, Saunders, Baillie, Ainley, Howell
Goal: Ihman (penalty 59m)
Tuesday Night
On to the next game which is somewhat different, Tuesday night away to Oxford United in the 2nd leg of the area semi-final Johnstone paint Cup and a place at Wembley is at stake. We are 2-0 down from the first leg and we have sold out our allocation of 1500 away tickets for this return game. Can we win it? of course we can.
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Oxford United 0 Millwall 1, Johnstone Paint Trophy area final 2nd leg, 2/2/16, att: 10,138 (1,478)
WE WENT FOR IT
Yet another win as we overcome a decent Oxford side and most of the second half we were playing with ten men. We could not overcome the 2-0 defeat at home but we continue with our good away form. If only David Forde had not made that basic goal keeping error at our place or if we had scored a goal at home because after all, we were only playing a 4th division side. I suppose football is all about if's. A good result on the night but no Wembley final for us but there is the League One Play-off's and at this moment in time we are in with a shout.
We started with a flourish and had the first chance of the game when a Steve Morison effort was blocked on the line and he went close again shortly afterwards when he headed a Shane Ferguson's ball past the wrong side of the bar. Oxford who were not committing much forward had their first raid on the Lions goal after 20 minutes but it didn't add to much. Jed Wallace was getting in on the action and made their keeper work for his corn when he fired one in from a decent distance..
0-0 half time
We started the second half with still having the believe that we could get something from this game and just after ten minutes Lee Gregory set up Steve Morison but he was closed down by the Oxford keeper and nothing come about. Three minutes later we were 1-0 up when Aiden O'Brien sent a cross in from the left and Gregory received the ball, turned and smacked into the back of net. We still had time to win this game and then Mark Beever's gets sent off for bringing down a Oxford man closing in on goal. He took one for the team but we could have done with out it. There was still 26 minutes to go and with a reshuffled ten men Lions we carry on going forward roared on by our top draw travelling away support. On another day Fred Onyedinma would have buried that chance after being set up by Gregory but on this occasion it wasn't to be and that was that.
I hate the fact that Oxford's ground is named after the money bags that came in and finished building it. Self gratification or what.
Millwall: Archer, Cummings (Martin 68), Webster, Beevers, Ferguson, Wallace, Abdou, Upson (Onyedinma 82), O'Brien, Gregory, Morison
subs not used, Forde, Thompson, Marquis
Goal: Gregory 54 mins
Oxford United, Buchel, Skarz, Roofe, Mullins, Wright, Sercombe, Hylton, MacDonld (Bowery 81), O'Dowda (Ismail 89), Kenny, Lundstram
subs not used, Slocombe, Ruffels, Dunkley
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Wallsall 0 Millwall 3, League One, Game 29, 6/2/16, att: 4,843, (749)
It was wet and windy but the sun shone for us as we beat a team up the top who is fancied to do well.
W W W D W
We are having fun and long may it continue. After something like three years of mainly misery that light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to make me squint. We can go for this, it will be a hard graft but they are all beatable and we are in the mood to do it. In a sixteen minute spell in the second half some slick play from the Lions produced a cracking goal by Mahion Romeo on his debut which was sandwiched in between a brace by Lee Gregory. Jed Wallace was involved setting up these goals and he is showing good form after his loan contract was extended.
Walsall did have chances and hit the woodwork twice and Jordan Archer was producing his trademark double saves to keep Walsall at bay.
With Mark Beevers suspended Sid Nelson started this game which is his first for a while and he did not disappoint as he got stuck in, we defended stoutly and it stopped Walsall from attempting to claim top spot and it also made sure we retained our play-off spot. Our last five games have produced 13 points which is title winning form but there is a gap to close of nine points to catch Walsall in second spot and a thirteen point gap to catch Burton Albion in top spot. It should be interesting and it starts again at Rochdale next Saturday which is annoying because I fancied a Tuesday night game to keep the momentum going.
Top 7
Burton 60pts
Walsall 56 pts
Wigan 55 pts
Gillingham 55 pts
Coventry 49 pts
Millwall 47 pts +9 gd
Southend 47 pts +6 gd
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Nelson, Webster, Ferguson, Wallace (Martin 75), Abdou, Williams, Upson, Gegory (O'Brien 88), Morison (Marquis 88)
subs not used, Forde, Wood, Thompson, Onyedinma
Goals: Gregory 61m 77m, Romeo 70m
Walsall: Roberts, Demetriou, Downing, O'Conner, Taylor (K.Morris 75), Chambers (Lalkovic 75), Mantom, Bradshaw (Cook 50), Sawyers, Forde, Henry
subs not used, Preston, Kinsella, B.Morris, Jezeph
2/2/16 Steve Morison signs for another year and is now committed to the club till summer 2017
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Rochdale 0 Millwall 1, League One, Game 30, 13/2/16, att: 2,882 (873)
THE DEFENCE SHOWS GRIT AND PASSION AS LEE GREGORY SCORES NINE IN EIGHT
Happy times continue as we take all three points under the nose of Keith Hill and Rochdale. They spout that they were robbed and should have had a penalty and that's nothing new for us. Monitoring the managers that we have beat this season their reasons for the defeats are always not because we are a decent side but every other hard luck story you can think of.
First time back at Rochdale since our win way-back in 1965
Lee Gregory yet again banged one in or in the case of his game tapped one in which made his total 19 goals this season and it was enough to give us a 5th away win on the trot and still hold on to the last position in the play-off spots. That's 50 points now and like always it's one game at a time but I am looking at the top. It was a bit of a journey for the team on Friday and it took them seven hours to get there so they must have missed some prep for this game.
The pitch was taking a battering from the rain as the game got going and the wet heavy pitch did not stop us creating chances and slinging in a few corners. Rochdale were doing their bit and the game swung one way then another as both sides were going for it.
The second half carried on the same as the first with the Lions from back to front putting in a shift which included Sid Nelson and Mahlon Romeo and it did not take long before Gregory on 54 minutes scored a poachers goal after the ball found his way to him when Steve Morison mis-hit a effort on goal. The travelling wall who made up nearly a third of the overall attendance and with most of the 2nd half still to go roared on the Lions. If it was a nervy time the team did not show it as as Gregory come close but the keeper saved. With counter attack raids on the Rochdale goal we see the game out and the wet and long journey home didn't seem that bad.
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Nelson, Webster, Martin, Wallace, Abdou, Willaims, Upson, Gregory (Marquis 86/), Morison
subs not used, Forde, Edwards, Ferguson, Thompson, Onyedinma, O'Brien
Goal: Gregory 54m
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Rochdale: Lillis, Rafferty, McNulty, Eastham, Lancashire, Andrew (Vincenti 35), Allen, Cannon ( Alessandra 71), Camps, Bunney, (Mendez-Laing 71), Henderson
subs not used, Lund, Collis, Rose, Syers
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Millwall 0 Scunthorpe 2, League One, Game 31, 16/2/16, att: 8,036 (173)
I am bit late with this, the Lewisham Council land grab saga has drained me. ..
Mushroom Picking?
The game:
That's the end of our unbeaten run and lets hope we can start another one
I don't really want to raise the effort to think about this game because we were way off the mark. We got beat by a bunch of spoilers who were spending so much time lying on the grass I thought they were picking mushrooms. It would be nice to see at home some creative midfield play but nothing seen like that in this game. If we picked the ball up or was passed the ball in a midfield position it wasn't long before we lost it which doubled the work load the defence had to deal with. Just after 15 minutes Sid Nelson cleared with a whack to anywhere, it went straight to a Scunthorpe player and "bang' we were 1-0 down. If we have not got the midfield skills needed to create lets at least get in and win the second ball and if we need to win it again. Counter attacking football we play away from home is more direct and normally away we do not have to deal with five behind the ball.
Scunthorpe scored late to seal the win and it may have been different. Lee Gregory had a golden chance on the hour after picking up a superb ball from Jed Wallace and having beaten the keeper he put it wide. That miss hurt Gregory and we weren't happy either.
Still 6th place in the League and still a three point gap.
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Nelson, Webster, Ferguson, Wallace, Abdou (Marquis 81), Upson (Thompson 45), O'Brien, Gregory, Morison
subs not used, Forde, Martin, Edwards, Beevers, Onyedinma
Scunthorpe:Daniels, Mirfin, Madden (Luer 79), Bishop, Dawson, Townsend, Hopper (Wotton 90), Wallace, Ness, McSheffrey (O'Brien 66), Clarke
subs not used, Anyon, Laird, Adelakun, King
Goals: McSheffrey, 17, O'Brien 90+2
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Millwall 3 Peterborough 0, League One, Game 32, 20/2/16, att: 8,722 (away 763)
BACK ON THE WINNING WAY
After the dismal Tuesday night home defeat against Scunthorpe there was a ripple around the Millwall forums that seemed negative regarding us beating Peterborough. Lack of faith springs to mind.
A bit harsh some may say because after all our home form has been dire and the Scunthorpe defeat cemented the notion that this could be another loss.
Grey and miserable. Some may say "a bit like the Millwall Forums"
From the off the Den was roaring on the Lions and it was good to see and hear that those in the stands were not excepting or expecting another Scunthorpe performance. We were better that Tuesday as I knew we would be because after all the Scunthorpe defeat was the first defeat after five wins and a draw in the league and as a team in the play-off's we must have something about us.The Peterborough boss made me chuckle when I read his thoughts after the game.....they played pretty much as we thought they would, there was no surprises for us, we prepared for everything that come our away. There's more of his words of wisdom on the net and he maybe another dugout boss who is shown the door after getting beat by the Wall.
Peterborough's only contribution in this game. The ball in the back of the net but it's ruled off-side
As I said we were going for this from the off but Peterborough had the first chance when they won a free kick, nothing come of it and it was not long before Lee Gregory looking at goal picked up a ball from a Jed Wallace cross but the opposition blocked and cleared. We continued to pressure and with Shane Ferguson who started this game in midfield creating play higher up the pitch we were busy around the Peterborough goal. With nearly 15 minutes gone I have no idea what Mark Beever's was thinking of when he was near the half way line and he whacked a back pass so high and long in the air to goal keeper Jordan Archer, what could he do? he couldn't catch it or touch it as it was a back pass but what a save as he back headed it over the bar. The video of this is all over the internet but just in case you have not seen it.
skysports watch-millwall-goalkeeper-jordan-archer I think they are calling it 'save of the season. It was 0-0 at that point and a goal for Peterborough would have been a game changer.
***
Steve Morison scored a couple in this game and the first was headed home on 30 minutes when Ferguson picked up the ball and scooted through the middle and played the ball to Lee Gregory who fired one in which the keeper blocked, Gregory won the loose ball and set Morison up to score his first of the game with a close in header. Peterborough made a few changes at the start of the second half and one of these changes who hadn't been on the pitch for 20 seconds cynically flattened Jed WaIlace and should have walked but his punishment was just a yellow. It did not take us long in the second half to extend our lead when Gregory who was looking for his twentieth goal of the season had already threatened earlier in the game headed home after receiving the ball from a Mark Beevers flick. He's record for his last ten games is quality, ten goals in ten games, and twenty overall in all competitions.
Also I have looked at the stats and we have not lost a game where he has scored. A good little buy from FC Halifax and he is grafting hard.
***
A happy place was the Den at this point and it got happier when Morison got his 2nd on 62 minutes and the Lions third. This goal was also a header as he connected with a Shane Ferguson corner and we were 3-0 up and comfortable. Steve Morison was looking for his hat-trick and was set up nicely from a Jed Wallace cross but he was just a gnats testicle away from connecting with it. He was substituted with a little over quarter of a hour on the clock to go and Lee Gregory quickly followed. With John Marquis and Aiden O'Brien now on the pitch we saw the game out and took the points.
We are coming to the final run in of the season and there is 14 league games to play and 42 points available. I wonder how many of them we would end up with. There's no prediction from me as I don't want to put the mockers on it but 30 would be nice.
I (we) have not had to worry about top of the table stats for a good few years so its different and its a joy. COYL
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Webster, Beevers, Martin, Wallace, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson (Onyedinma 86), Gregory (O'Brien 76), Morison (Marquis 73),
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Edwards, Powell
Goals: Morison 30m 60m, Gregory 49
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Peterborough United: Alnwick, Smith, Taylor, Bostwick, Oztumer (Coulthirst 46), Santos, Beutyman (Maddison 57), Coulibaly, Forrester, Samuelsen, Toffolo (Nicholson 46)
subs not used, Henry, Zakuani, Baldwin, Nichols
22/2/16 John Marquis goes back on Loan to Northampton, I don't think he will be back in a Millwall shirt.
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Doncaster 1 Millwall 1, League One, Game 33, 27/2/16, att: 6,810 (825)
Steve Morison bags his 13th of the season but it should have been a brace
All the other games around and above us apart from Wigan went more or less our way and as all points are valuable this one was gratefully received, We started with the same team that took the field against Peterborough and our Ben Thompson had a shot deflected from goal with just a few minutes gone.A couple of minutes later Steve Morison lobbed the Doncaster keeper and we were 1-0 up.With Doncaster pressing and threatening our goal we counter attacked which is one of our trade marks away from home and a four man move which finished with Shane Ferguson hitting in a cross that was dealt with by the defender and we did not increase our lead. On the half hour we should have been awarded a penalty when Lee Gregory who was setting himself up for a finish had his shirt nearly ripped off his back by a Doncaster defender but the ref chose to ignore it but we still managed a corner as Gregory fired a shot on goal which went for a corner.
Millwall "old boy" has something to prove
Doncaster Rovers had not won in the last four games and the early period you could see why but on 37 minutes ex Millwall Richard Chaplow thumped the ball home to equalise for the home side. Don't you just know that would be the case. We were all holding our breath as Chaplow was lurking again just before half-time but this time Jordan Archer made a superb save and we went in at half time all square.
2nd Half
That was a miss that was
How did Steve Morison miss that? I must say that again, how did Steve Morison miss that? With the 2nd half barely a few minutes old Lee Gregory set up Morison who seemed to have his boot laces tied together completely missed the ball and a open goal. I think its being blamed on a "bobble" It was even Stevens for a while as both sides where ending up in the oppositions box and Shane Ferguson in particular putting in a shift and putting in some decent balls into the box, if only. Jordan Archer was saving everything that ended up his way. From a corner Bryon Webster's firm header was saved and shortly afterwards Lee Gregory was brought down while racing towards the Doncaster goal. With seconds left on the clock Archer was there again to made sure we went home with at least a point. I am sure with the way we have been playing away this season that the side is disappointed that they did not win this game but no ground lost and Wigan at home Tuesday night is something that I can't wait for and hopefully we can follow on from our 3-0 defeat of Peterborough and continue winning at home. We have Blackpool at home Saturday and I am looking for six points. I know, but as the song goes 'let em all come down to the Den.
Last six away=
Doncaster 1 Millwall 1
Rochdale 0 Millwall 1
Walsall 0 Millwall 3
Oxford 0 Millwall 1 Johnstone paint 2nd leg semi final
Chesterfield 1 Millwall 2
Oldham 1 Millwall 2
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin, Beevers, Webster, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson (O'Brien 76), Gregory, Morison, Wallace (Onyedinma 88),
subs not used, Forde, Williams, Nelson, Philpot, Mbula
Goal: Morison 6m
Doncaster: Stuckmann, Lund, Evina, McCullough, Chaplow, Williams (Gooch 60), Tyson, Keegan (Middleton 52m), Taylor-Sinclair, Grant, Alcock
subs not used, Butler, Mandeville, Marosi, Coppinger, Stewart
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Millwall 0 Wigan 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
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Millwall 3 Blackpool 0, League One, Game 35, 5/3/16, att: 9,753 (away 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.
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
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
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Millwall enjoying League One
This league has it all going on. Teams that were and are up or near the top are faltering and teams that were mid table or below are pushing and dis-lodging teams like Coventry, we are one of those teams. Earlier on in the season Gillingham stuffed us 3-0 at the Den and were streets ahead of us. After 27 games played Gillingham had 54 points and we had 43. Eight games later we are a point behind them in 5th spot and they are looking over their shoulder at us. The Walsall head coach has been sacked with Walsall still in the top four but they have not won for six games. Barnsley and Bradford are closing and Burton look fragile. Its there for the taking. We play away at Swindon this weekend and they are much improved so it should be a interesting game but one that we could win.
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Swindon 2 Millwall 2, League One, Game 36, 12/3/16, att: 8,623 (away 1,247)
IT LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER AWAY-DAY WIN
Another away game and another chance to take home the three points
We flew at them from the off and before Swindon knew it they were 2-0 down. It looked like it was going to be another happy weekend away and a win here would mean one more step towards promotion. We looked strong and precise in front of goal and on the first half display we could beat anybody in this league. I still believe that even though it went tit's up after half-time as we seemed to tire and where a homer referee helped to contribute to the 2-2 result. If that was a penalty then the moon is made of cheese.
Lee Gregory and Steve Morison scored our two goals in the opening fourteen minutes and the Lions with their foot firmly on the pedal Swindon struggled to cope with or to stop the Lions threatening throughout the first half. We did not score again but we had the chances to increase our goal tally and I presume that Swindon were thankful when the half-time whistle blew.
We threatened second half but also conceded
It's the second half and from the off Steve Morison threatened when Shane Ferguson sent in a peach of a cross that was headed just wide of the post. If we had buried that we would have gone on to win the match. I thought we were already going to win the match anyway so was not concerned about this miss at the time but now I understand how important it was.
Half time and the travelling Wall prepare for more of the same please
We were slowly losing control of the game as we appeared to tire and on 63 minutes Swindon were awarded a a very soft penalty when the Swindon player Barry fell to the floor like a fairy when Carlos Edwards breathed on him. The referee with great eagerness awarded a penalty to Swindon who scored and we had 27 minutes to hold on to our 2-1 lead. We nearly did just that but it wasn't to be as the home side scored in the last minute of extra time and gutted, it felt like a loss and it was a long drive home.
I wonder if this bloke had a long drive home
There was some wins above us today but we retain our position in the play-off's with a four point buffer.
There was some wins above us today but we retain our position in the play-off's with a four point buffer.
Top spot..Burton 71 pts
2nd.. Wigan 65 pts
3rd.. Gillingham 62 pts
4th.. Walsall 62 pts
5th.. Millwall 59 pts
6th.. Bradford 58 pts
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7th.. Coventry 55 pts
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 1 Sheffield United 0, League One, Game 37, 19/3/16, att: 11,175 (away 1,167)
PROMOTION PUSH IS STILL ON TRACK
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Our 2nd biggest gate of the season and its a 1-0 win
That's one of the ten games out the way and we start with a win.I am not sure that the word "slog" is correct but I will use it. This was a slog of a game against a side that seemed to have most of their team in midfield which meant for chunks of the game our midfield was trying to play them when we were pushed back tight up against our own defenders. Balls over the top sorted that problem but that was only when we had possession. Sheffield United gave us a game and we responded. We scored early, missed a few chances and battled and grafted. We kept a clean sheet and if my memory serves me right we restricted them to one decent shot on goal that Jordan Archer dealt well with.
Ben Thompson amazes me, he is not a big bloke but dominates his space and everybody else's when given the chance. He is going to have a future and hopefully most of it spent at The Den
Mahlon Romeo was lively on the right wing and he created a outlet from defence which was different from just putting the ball over the top and he caused Sheffield problems all game long.
Welcome back Chris
We scored with less than two minutes on the clock and Chris Taylor must be over the moon as he comes back to Millwall again on loan and lashes a Steve Morison cross into the back of the net. Going into the lead early did not mean that Sheffield were there for the taking and they were making it a tough old game for the Lions as the visitors kept possession for periods of time and tackled hard when they didn't.
They still had to deal with our defence and this is where they came up blank and Jordan Archer didn't have to make a save of any note in the rest of the first half. We had more chances before the half-time whistle but yet again we are not very good with one-on-ones with the keeper and both Lee Gregory and Steve Morison missed again.
Sheffield defend in numbers
The second half was won of those chunks of the game that saw the opposition push from the midfield that had Jimmy Abdou and Chris Taylor at times pushed back, playing deep and facing the wrong way. The Lions defence held firm and a solid performance and as I said earlier restricted Sheffield to one decent shot on goal which Jordan Archer dealt with superbly. After missing out on the full three points at Swindon when we conceded late you could see that the team were in no mind to do it again and all them put in the shift to make sure "no repeat performance. I am thoughtful that it looks like we "have got our Millwall back" and although we are not mistake free we are doing a lot more right than wrong.
I was bang on with my prediction in my earlier post regarding the attendance as 11,000 or thereabouts.
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin, Beevers, Webster, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson (Upson 90+1), Gregory (O'Brien 83m), Morison, Taylor
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Williams, Edwards, Onyedinma
Goal: Taylor
Sheffield United: Long, Brayford, Basham, Edgar, Baptiste (McEveley 49), Done, Cuvelier (Coutts 68), Hammond, Flynn, Sharp, Sammon (Adams 71)
subs not used, Howard, Kelly, Whiteman, Calvert-Lewin
Alan Dunne has he's autobiography out for sale and he was in the Merchandise Hut signing copies and before you ask, yes, he did have a queue.
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Millwall FC-Dare We Believe
MILLWALL ARE BACK
TURNING UP THE HEAT
Steve Morison reckons we are getting louder as the crowd grows bigger and the season comes to a climax. Once we turned the corner and started to play the way Neil Harris wants us to play the crowd has been OK but not really letting ourselves go which I am sure is due to three years of rubbish and many, many disappointments for us to get carried away. I don't think that we fully believe that we are going to win more than we lose and probably thought it will go "tits up any time now" Whatever way the season pans out we are looking decent and if not this season there's always next.
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24/3/16
A trio of updates:
Mahlon Romeo signs a new contract to stay at the Den till the summer of 2019
Tony Craig returns to full training with the team
1710 Colchester tickets sold out
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Bradford 1 Millwall 0, League One, Game 38, 26/3/16, 18.538 (500 ish)
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
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Millwall 2 Burton Albion 0, League One, Game 39, 28/3/16, att: 8,012 (244)
A SIMPLE FACT OR TWO: we were better than this top of the division side and the lousy Easter wind had died down.
*****
I WASN'T GOING TO MISS THIS
Nigel Clough said they were good for the first ten minutes. I added, "but then it went down hill from there.
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.
Ben Thompson worked his nuts off and was set up to score, a shame he didn't.
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
I ENJOYED THAT
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
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Colchester United 0, Millwall 0, League One, Game 40, 2/4/16, att: 5,377 (we take 1,700)
FOLLOWING ON FROM BURTON
We head across Essex
And arrive here just off the bypass
THE WESTON HOMES COMMUNITY STADIUM
A bit of a mingle and they served a decent pint
And they had a band
*
THE WESTON HOMES COMMUNITY STADIUM
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THE SCRAP
We packed in for this game and it did not take long before we had a few groans. There was not very much happening on the pitch by both teams that was of any quality and the first half in particular we was under par and scrappy. Colchester with a relegation battle on their hands were looking for their third straight win but didn't really threaten throughout the game but they did come close early on when a shot took a deflection and whizzed past the post. Jordan Archer went low to save a shot a short while afterwards and we finished the first half with a couple of chances when Chris Taylor shot straight at the keeper and Lee Gregory picked up a headed ball from Steve Morison and with the goal in front of him and with the keeper beaten he hit it over the bar.
Front row action but no away win
I was hoping for a better Millwall second half. Aiden O'Brien who was not having his best game was subbed at half time and Shane Ferguson took his place.
The home side come at us from the off and Jordan Archer was at his best stopping a couple of decent efforts. Colchester is one of those places that has a drummer and we needed to have scored to shut that Wally up but we had to put up with it even though we we went on to dominate the rest of the half. We had chances Lee Gregory on another day would have had a couple and Chris Taylor hit the post but a point was all we earn't and we kept another clean sheet which is always a prize not to be sniffed at.
We drop a place to 6th spot but have a four point gap below us.
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin, Beevers, Webster, Thompson, Williams, Williams, O'Brien (Ferguson 46), Gregory, Morison, Taylor
subs not used, Forde, Nelson, Abdou, Onyedinma, Upson, Philpot
Colchester United: Parish, Brindley (Vincent-Young 59), Kent, Eastman, Shorey, Gilbey, Lapslie (Ambrose 69m), Massey (Wright 77), Moncur, Lee, Porter
subs not used, Bransgrove, Harney, Bonne, Akinwade
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Millwall 3 Shrewsbury Town, League One, Game 41, 9/4/16, att: 9,583 (560)
A GAME OF TWO HALF'S AND IF OK I WOULD LIKE TO FORGET THE FIRST HALF
IT'S
POINTS
POINTS
Another win at home but going on the first half performance that seemed somewhat wishful thinking.. Shrewsbury finished the half one nil up after scoring with about five minutes on the clock and we spent the rest of the half huffing and puffing trying to get the goal back. Shrewsbury looked a strong composed outfit from the off and they were coming close even before they scored while we were the opposite and anybody watching that half would have thought that we were down near the bottom and they were up there near the top. Their number 7 was giving Mark Beevers a tough old time and it is probably 45 minutes that our central defender would like to forget.
THE 10th ANNUAL DOCKERS DAY
The old boy's get their medals
click here>> Youtube Ben Thompson goal
Not for the first time this season we improve in the second half and the second 45 minutes see us score three and our promotion push is still on track. Our first goal was a cracker scored by Ben Thompson who when outside of the penalty area controlled a Shrewsbury clearance with his chest and then hit a volley which was so sweet the keeper had no chance and the Den went into orbit.
He's one of our own
Enjoying the lime-light
I think it was thought that Ben Thompson's first league goal would be something special and he didn't disappoint with this finish and he didn't disappoint with his celebration and at the final whistle not wanting to go down the tunnel after the game while the applause was still going on.
After we had equalised with Thompson's goal we were piling on the pressure and it did not take long for us to go into the lead when Steve Morison nicely put away with his head a Chris Taylor corner. This was such a slick header the keeper didn't see it let alone save it. We stiffened up all over the park and we kept Shrewsbury frustrated so they could not add to their goal tally. In extra time we got our third goal as Lee Gregory latched on to a poor Shrewsbury back pass and was floored by the keeper inside the box.
The keeper received a red card and Lee Gregory got up and buried the penalty.
Penalty
Bang in the corner
We now sit in 4th place with 69 points and with a 7 point cushion
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin (O'Brien 46), Beveers, Webster, Williams, Thompson, Ferguson, Gregory (Upson 90+2), Morison, Taylor
subs not used, Forde, Onyedinma, Nelson, Andou, Philpot
Goals: Thompson 57m, Morison 61m, Gregory 90+2m penalty
Shrewsbury: Halstead, Sadler (Mangan 64m), Black (Wellens 45+1m), Vassell (Akpa Akpro 65m), Kalkai, Grimmer, Ogogo, Demetriou, Hendry, Cole, Smith
subs not used, Lutiler, Whalley, Wesclowski, Clark
Goal: Cole 4m
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There was two games last night that are of interest:
Barnsley 2 Oldham 1 and Gillingham 1 Walsall 2
Barnsley who are 7th close the gap on the 6th placed spot to 3 points
Gillingham now are 6th with Walsall moving up to 3rd and ourselves dropping down to 5th.
A lot going on but all we got to do is win, win, win and win again
It's in our hands if at the very least we want to do this again
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Coventry City 2 Millwall 1, League One, Game 42, 16/4/16 att: 11,632 (1,862)
There's always drama
PEAR SHAPED
We seem not to be able to beat a team that is playing with ten men and we seem not to be able to beat a team when we are playing with ten men. We must have been able to do both at some time in the past but no game of that kind springs to mind at the moment.
Lee Gregory on the bench
Was the large Millwall away crowd let down? I suppose we need to ask Shaun Williams and the referee. We took the lead in the 19th minute when Bryon Webster powered in a header from a corner and things were looking good. It didn't look good for long due to Shaun Williams hand bagging with the Coventry drama queen Lameiras and the ref fell for it hook line and sinker and Williams walked.
We made changes. Jimmy Abdou replaced Shane Ferguson and Aiden O'Brien moved to the left midfield. I was gutted that Shane Ferguson was sacrificed in the re-structure after the sending off and it seemed a odd thing to do. Coventry sensed that the advantage that they now had was a golden chance to beat a top side and they were putting the effort in but we kept them at bay and went in at half time still a goal to the good.
Can we keep them at bay second half
We all know now we couldn't and a couple of goals from Coventry eight minutes apart made sure we missed out on the points. We had some good chances after the home sides brace and Joe Martin and Steve Morison both come close. A rare away defeat but we were unlucky and we gave it a go right to the end. We had Tony Craig on the bench making his return to the team and Neil Harris did not go down the route of stiffening up by having a extra man at the back. Fleetwood at home Tuesday night and off we go again.
As it stands with four games to go (Walsall have five)
1 Wigan 80pts---2 Burton 77pts---3 Walsall 74pts---4 Bradford 71pts---5 Millwall 69pts---6 Gillingham 68pts-----7 Barnsley 66pts
Millwall: Archer, Romeo, Martin, Beevers, Webster, Williams, Thompson, Ferguson (Abdou 33m), O'Brien (Upson 58m), Morison, Taylor (Gregory 79),
subs not used, Forde, Craig, Philpot, Onyedinma
Goal: Webster 19m
Coventry: Charles-Cook, Vincelot (Maddison 36m), Fleck, Lamerias (Lorentzson 84m), Armstrong, Cole, Stephens, Rose, Philips, Ricketts (Tudgay 54m), Martin
subs not used. Addai, Birgiriman, Murphy, Fortune
Goals: Fleck 61m, Tudgay (69)
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