NewsAtDen Magazine Issue 01

ISSUE

01

SHANE FERGUSON MILLWALL CONFIRM CAPTURE OF NEWCASTLE UNITED WINGER

CONTENTS NEWS

4 8 14 22

PREVIEW

NEWS

6 12 16 24

SHREWSBURY TOWN

MILLWALL CONFIRM CAPTURE OF FERGUSON FROM NEWCASTLE UNITED

INTERVIEW

HARRIS EXCITED BY POTENTIAL OF NEW SIGNING MBULU

HARRIS: BEEVERS’ QUALITIES MAKE HIM VALUABLE OPTION

NEWS

INTERVIEW

MORISON HAS SIGHTS SET ON IMMEDIATE PROMOTION

WILLIAMS: WE’RE TARGETING LEAGUE ONE TOP SIX

MILLWALL 2 - 3 CD TONDELA REPORT

STEVENAGE 0 - 1 MILLWALL REPORT

3

ŠTalksport

MILLWALL CONFIRM CAPTURE OF FERGUSON FROM NEWCASTLE UNITED

BY JOHN KELLY

M

ILLWALL have signed Shane Ferguson on a 93-day loan deal from Newcastle United.

Premiership play-off defeat against Motherwell.

The Northern Ireland international, who can play at left-back or on the left wing, is Millwall’s second first-team signing this week after Steve Morison re-joined the club on Tuesday.

Ferguson, 24, will offer the Lions balance on the left and with Joe Martin currently injured he can slot comfortably in at left-back or provide competition for Lee Martin further forward.

The move is something of a coup for manager Neil Harris as Ferguson has Premier League experience as well as 18 international caps having made his debut against Italy in 2009.

He is highly rated by his international boss Michael O’Neill and has been part of Northern Ireland’s surprise push to qualify for Euro 2016, starting in their 2-0 win away to Greece last October.

Harris has also wanted to bring in a naturally left-footed player to give the side width and add to the attacking options on the flank.

Ferguson came through the youth system with the Magpies, making his debut in a League Cup tie in 2010 and his Premier League bow in January, 2011.

He was part of Newcastle’s squad for their US tour and even found himself starting at centre-back for Steve McLaren’s under-strength side in their 4-3 defeat to Portland Timbers.

He has enjoyed two separate loan spells at Birmingham City and spent the latter part of last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers, starting in their controversial 3-1 second leg

But it is his crossing ability and pace that attracted Harris and he will offer Millwall a new attacking dimension.

5

LIVE

FOLLOW THE NEWSATDEN BLOG FOR LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY OR FOLlow @JKelly1882 On Twitter

#6 SHAUN WILLIAMS

MILLWALL VS SHREWSBURY #STFCvsMFC SATURDAY8THAUGUST

©MILLWALL FC

PREVIEW:

SHREWSBURY TOWN

S

STEVE Morison could go straight into the Millwall side for their Sky Bet League One opener against Micky Mellon’s Shrewsbury Town.

BY JOHN KELLY

Tondela last Saturday and should retain his place on the right wing.

Meanwhile Shane Ferguson, signed on loan from Newcastle on Friday, is included in the squad but Lee Martin should start on the left of midfield.

Morison participated in a full pre-season with Leeds before sealing his switch back to The Den this week.

Harris rates Jimmy Abdou “touch and go” with Ed Upson and Shaun Williams set to start as the midfield pairing.

If manager Neil Harris does opt to put the 31-year-old straight in it will be to partner Lee Gregory, with John Marquis, who started up front with Gregory in Millwall’s last two pre-season games, missing out.

Shrewsbury have won four of their last six home league games, while Millwall’s last league win on the road was against Birmingham on February 10, a run of eight games. The Lions have won just three league games away from home in their last 20.

Harris will be reluctant to leave out Marquis who he rates very highly.

“I saw John a number of times last season when he was at Gillingham and he was the best player on the pitch each time,” Harris told a fans forum at The Den last night.

“If I was a manager from another club watching him I’d have wanted to sign him.”

Two divisions separated the sides last season but a record of 14 wins and just two defeats at home in the last 20 league games will give the Shrews huge confidence.

They were boosted yesterday when forward Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, who scored nine goals in 26 league starts last season, signed a new deal.

Joe Martin will miss the game with an injured ankle meaning Mark Beevers, more comfortable in the centre of defence, is likely to continue at left-back.

They were also hopeful that defender Jermaine Grandison, linked with the Lions this week, would commit before the season opener.

Captain Tony Craig will probably be partnered

by Byron Webster with Sid Nelson on the bench as Harris would prefer a more physical presence at the back, particularly against a robust Shrewsbury attack that could include new loan signing from Wolves Liam McAlinden.

Sky Bet odds: Shrewsbury 11/8 Draw 9/4 Millwall 2/1 Probable Millwall team:

Paris Cown-Hall was handed the number seven shirt for the season this week but Fred Onyedinma has been impressive in pre-season and scored a fine solo goal against CD

Forde; Cummings, Webster, Craig, Beevers; Onyedinma, Upson, Williams, Martin; Gregory, Morison.

7

©MillwallFC

HARRIS EXCITED BY POTENTIAL OF NEW SIGNING MBULU

BY JOHN KELLY

M

ILLWALL boss Neil Harris believes new signing Christian Mbulu has big potential after handing the defender his first ever professional contract.

Mbulu signed a one-year deal with the Lions yesterday on his 19th birthday.

son, helping them win promotion to the Ryman League Premier Division.

The 6ft 4in centre-back impressed the watching Harris, Dave Livermore and Scott Fitzgerald when he came on as a second-half substitute for a Millwall XI side against Braintree last month and stood out again at Kingstonians a week later.

“He’s a real off-the-cuff one,” Harris said at a Millwall fans forum at The Den last night.

“He’s extremely raw and has signed his first professional contract with us. He’s going to need to adapt to training every day but he’s impressed everyone on the management team.”

He played with Brentwood Town last sea-

8

MILLWALL SQUAD LIST FOR 2015-16 SKY BET LEAGUE ONE SEASON

BY JOHN KELLY

M

The full list is as follows: 1. David Forde 2. Shaun Cummings 3. Joe Martin 5. Tony Craig 6. Shaun Williams 7. Paris Cowan-Hall 8. Ed Upson 9. Lee Gregory 10. Fred Onyedinma 11. Lee Martin 13. Jordan Archer 14. John Marquis 15. Sid Nelson 16. Mark Beevers 17. Byron Webster 20. Steve Morison 22. Aiden O’Brien 23. Jack Powell 24. Ben Thompson 26. Jimmy Abdou 27. Mahlon Romeo 28. Jamie Philpot 29. Alfie Pavey 31. Tom King 35. Chris Parr 36. Keaton Wood 37. Kris Twardek 38. Kyron Farrell

ILLWALL have announced their squad numbers for the new season which starts on Saturday at Shrewsbury Town.

New signing Steve Morison will wear number 20 while Fred Onyedinma has been handed the number 10 shirt after some impressive pre-season form.

Another summer acquisition, club captain Tony Craig, will have number five on his back with the other closed-season recruits Joe Martin, Jordan Archer and Mahlon Romeo wearing numbers three, 13 and 27, respectively.

A number of youngsters including Chris Parr (35), Keaton Wood (36), Kris Twardek (37) and Kyron Farrell (38) have also been given first-team squad numbers.

Other changes from last season are Shaun Cummings (2), Paris Cowan-Hall (7), Lee Martin (11) and John Marquis (14).

ŠMillwallFC

9

SHREWSBURY TOWN BOSS MELLON PRAISES HARRIS’ MILLWALL WORK

BY JOHN KELLY

S

HREWSBURY Town boss Micky Mellon says his side have done their homework on Millwall and is expecting a “terrific occasion” on Saturday. likes of Mat Sadler from Rotherham, Martin Woods from Ross County and striker Liam McAlinden on loan from Wolves.

Mellon also revealed he has kept a close eye on Millwall during the summer, in particular the restructuring work carried out on their squad.

And the former Blackpool midfielder paid tribute to Neil Harris, who he will be trying to get the better of this weekend.

“They’ll be a huge test coming down from the Championship, they’ve done some rebuilding and they’ll be looking to bounce straight back,” Mellon told the Shropshire Star.

He added: “You hear their manager talking about the ‘Millwall way’ and that’s what we’re trying to build here, where everyone knows the history of the club and what we’re all about.

“They play at a really high tempo and they’ve done a lot of recruitment, so their team is unrecognisable from last season.”

“We’ve got quite a few DVDs on them and we’ve watched them continuously – they’ll be a very committed side.

“There are a lot of lads who have come through the ranks, starting with the manager, and they all love Millwall and really play for the badge.

“But we’ve got enough here to deal with that, we’ll be ready for that challenge and we’re really looking forward to it.”

“It’s a very partisan club and it makes it a very difficult game – that’s the danger and the size of the task we face.”

Mellon has himself been busy working on his squad over the summer, bringing in the

“It will be a terrific occasion.”

10

ŠMillwallFC

ŠMillwallFC

MILLWALL BOSS: BEEVERS’ QUALITIES MAKE HIM VALUABLE OPTION

BY JOHN KELLY

N

NEIL Harris has backed Mark Beevers to continue doing a job at left-back in the absence of the injured Joe Martin.

suit of a striker this summer before finally landing one of his prime targets, and he paid tribute to chairman John Berylson after Steve Morison joined the club yesterday.

Beevers started pre-season in the centre of defence but played full-back in the last two games against Stevenage and CD Tondela.

“The chairman has been really supportive and we’ve set our standards high,” Harris said. “If we’re going to bring in anyone in any area of the pitch they have got to match the quality we have in the squad and have the personality and character as well.”

He scored the winner against Teddy Sheringham’s side and Harris believes the 6ft 4ins defender will be an important player from dead balls this season, though he is not ruling out bringing another left-back into the squad.

The Millwall boss has had a number of days to reflect on the 3-2 defeat to CD Tondela last weekend and believes his players will take valuable lessons from the contest against their Portuguese opponents.

“We’ll consider adding someone in that position,” Harris said. “But Mark played a lot of games there in the Championship for Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday. He’s a very capable player in that position, he’s got a great left foot and adds some real height to the team at set-pieces in both boxes.

He said: “I’ve watched the game back and reflected on it and there was a lot of good stuff.

I was really just frustrated with the game, particularly towards the end, but it was a good learning curve for us.

“Mark playing there is a really good option for us at the moment.

“As a Millwall player you do encounter that at The Den, you do encounter spells where decisions don’t go your way and teams do their best to frustrate you, so it’s important that we are switched on to that this year and that we don’t get frustrated with our play and with the referee, that we stick to our game plan.

“Joe’s going to be missing for a couple weeks with the same injury as Aiden, ankle ligaments.

He suffered that in a block tackle blocking the ball.

“It’s a blow for him and for the squad. It’s a shame. Usually you expect one of those types of injuries a season but we’ve got two in pre-season which is unlucky.

“So from that respect Saturday was a big bonus and we can take something out of it. We’re also working hard on defensive shape this week to be better in that area on Saturday.”

“But that gives other people an opportunity.”

Meanwhile Harris had to be patient in his pur-

13

ŠMillwallFC

MORISON HAS SIGHTS SET ON IMMEDIATE PROMOTION

BY JOHN KELLY

S

TEVE Morison says he wants to help the club “get back where it should be” after signing permanently for Millwall for the second time.

playing for my future, the club needs to get back to where it should be and hopefully we’ve got everything in place to get us there.”

The 31-year-old joined the Lions yesterday on an initial one-year deal after two years at Leeds United.

Morison completed a full pre-season with Leeds and scored against Eintracht Frankfurt in a friendly in Austria two weeks ago.

Morison was part of the last Millwall side to win promotion from League One in 2009/10, scoring in the play-off semi-final second leg against Huddersfield Town.

He was still training with the Yorkshire club up to two days ago but is now getting ready for the trip to Shrewsbury this Saturday with his new team-mates.

He partnered his new boss Neil Harris up front in the 1-0 win over Swindon Town in the final before leaving for Norwich City a year later.

Morison scored 20 league goals during 2009/10 and Harris believes being back at the club is motivation to aim towards a similar target again.

The former Stevenage centre-forward told the club’s official website: “I know what this place is all about. I know what Neil is all about, what the fans are all about.

He said: “This is where he has played his best football and this is where he finds the fire in his belly to perform. He is desperate to start scoring goals for Millwall again.”

“I’m not coming here under any illusions that this is going to be an easy ride. I’m

15

ŠMillwallFC

MILLWALL’S WILLIAMS: WE’RE TARGETING LEAGUE ONE TOP SIX

BY JOHN KELLY

M

IDFIELDER Shaun Williams feels the physical nature of last Saturday’s game against CD Tondela will benefit Millwall when they face Shrewsbury on Saturday.

something we’ll work on.

“It was the first game on the new pitch, it’s a lot bigger than it was last season, but that’s not an excuse. It was quite tough covering the ground.”

Williams scored the Lions’ second equaliser but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Portuguese side winning 3-2.

Williams has scored just three times since joining the Lions in January 2014, having mostly occupied a central defensive or deep-lying midfield role, but he says boss Neil Harris wants his midfield to show more attacking impetus this season.

The former Republic of Ireland U21 international is anticipating a similarly robust contest at New Meadow but believes his side can get their season up and running with a win.

“In play he has been encouraging us to break forward into the box whereas before it was more sitting back. Hopefully I can get forward and get a few more goals.”

He said: “The first game of the season is always going to be a bit scrappy but if we battle as well as they do hopefully the three points will follow.

Williams also emphatically dismissed the notion that Millwall will feel the pressure of being one of the marked sides in the league and one of the title favourites.

“Tondela’s approach to the game surprised us a bit. There was some rustiness but that’s part and parcel of pre-season.

Harris’ side are currently joint third favourites to win League One behind Sheffield United and Wigan.

“I don’t know how many free-kicks there were but it kind of ruined the flow of the game. It felt at times like we couldn’t get near them and then when we had it there were always two or three coming towards you.

When asked if that pressure would be felt Williams said: “No, not at all, not by us.

We’re focused on our goal to get into the top six.”

“They worked it quite well and it’s something we have to sharpen up on but that’s 17

EDWARDS PLAYS 45 MINUTES AS MILLWALL XI DRAW WITH DONS

BY JOHN KELLY

C

ARLOS Edwards played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly this afternoon.

“We have had to go from step one to step two and progress from there. To get out of the treatment room is a relief because at the end of the day you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The right-back suffered a serious knee injury last September but came through unscathed as a Millwall XI drew 1-1 with AFC Wimbledon.

“I went to see the surgeon and he was happy for me to start pre-season. I couldn’t look back and here I am today.”

Edwards played the opening half as striker Alfie Pavey got the Lions’ goal.

Earlier, manager Neil Harris refused to be drawn on whether the defender would be offered a new deal.

After his return to playing for the first time in ten months, Edwards, 36, told the club’s official website: “It came to the point in pre-season where I had to get my first run out and give the knee a good test.

Shaun Cummings looks set to start at rightback against Shrewsbury in the Sky Bet League One opener next Saturday, while Antigua and Barbuda international Mahlon Romeo has also featured in pre-season.

“It’s really good to be back out playing with the guys and trying to get some minutes under my belt.

18

ŠMillwallFC

LEGENDARY LIONS L I O NS LEGE NDS IN PICTURE S

©DailyMail

Tim Cahill scoring the first of his double against West Ham United in 2004.

Cahill went on to play 242 times for the Lions and scored 56 goals

4-1 vs WEST HAM UNITED

MILLWALL CD TONDELA

2 3

ŠMillwallFC

M

ILLWALL’S unbeaten pre-season run came to an end after Portuguese side CD Tondela claimed victory at The Den.

Tondela just about shaded it in what was an often fractious contest that threatened to boil over a number of times.

Luis Tinoco put Tondela ahead in the seventh minute before Fred Onyedinma levelled the score seven minutes later.

Neil Harris had said during the week that the line-up against the Portuguese side would be a strong indicator of the team to face Shrewsbury next week.

The away side recaptured the lead almost immediately when Wagner squeezed a shot past David Forde.

He made two changes from the team that defeated Stevenage 1-0, with Onyedinma coming in on the right of midfield for Paris Cowan-Hall and Ed Upson partnering Williams in the centre of the park instead of Jimmy Abdou.

The Lions battled well as the half went on, though, and Shaun Williams got a deserved second equaliser on 45 minutes when he headed in a Lee Martin free-kick.

Harris was cautious before facing Tondela, something of an unknown quantity after a spectacular rise from the fifth tier of Portuguese football to the top flight in little over ten years.

But the away side got the winner on 67 minutes when Luis Machado found space at the back post to plant a header beyond the reach of Forde.

22

And they were immediately into their composed stride as they dominated possession early on.

Deep-lying midfielders Lucas and Luis Alberto were orchestrating cleverly as a definite clash of styles became evident: the Portuguese attempted to play the ball out from the back and through the lines to frustrate Harris’ side.

They pressed high and closed down quickly and it took Williams and Upson some time to realise they wouldn’t have the time on the ball that they had in previous games.

Millwall, meanwhile, were trying to hit strikers Lee Gregory and John Marquis early and get Onyedinma and Martin involved from the wings.

But it was the away side who took the lead on seven minutes, Tinoco’s free-kick from the left floating over everyone and deceiving Forde who may have thought it was drifting wide.

Millwall responded well though and levelled seven minutes later.

It was a fine goal too as Martin broke away and when he found Onyedinma the 18-year-old still had a bit to do. But he drove into the box and lifted the ball expertly over the advancing Matt Jones.

©MillwallFC

CD Tondela took the lead again a couple of minutes later when Wagner’s left-footed shot from just inside the box crept in at the near post past Forde.

The Lions, however, stuck to the plan and their physical approach earned them a number of set-piece opportunities.

As at AFC Wimbledon, though, they came to nothing until the stroke of half-time when Martin dinked a ball in from the left to find Williams. Jones got a fingertip to the midfielder’s header but it wasn’t enough to prevent the ball going in off the post.

The second half settled into a similar pattern with the away side dominating possession, yet it was a defensive lapse after a long ball that saw them go back in front, the diminutive Macahdo finding himself in acres of space at the back post to nod past an exposed Forde.

Marquis had an excellent opportunity to square for a trio of Millwall players a few minutes later but his cross was cut out just when a third equaliser looked like it was on the way.

The striker and Tondela’s Pica were then booked late on but the Portuguese side saw out the game to end Millwall’s unbeaten run.

©MillwallFC

STEVENAGE MILLWALL

0 1

©MillwallFC

M

an-Hall delivered an inviting ball to the edge of the sixyard box.

ARK Beevers headed home the only goal of the game as Millwall won their first pre-season game.

The cross was met by a lurking Abdou but the chance was spurned when the midfielder headed just wide having been under pressure from his marker.

Paris Cowan-Hall, Lee Gregory and Lee Martin all returned from injury as they started for the Lions in the win, after missing the Bromley and Wimbledon draws.

And Millwall dominated the game against Teddy Sheringham’s side from the first whistle to the last.

Five minutes before half-time, Shaun Williams had the Lions’ best chance of the half.

Following some intricate, snappy passing, the ball eventually found its way to Marquis, whose cross to Martin was played off to Gregory on the penalty spot.

Instead of shooting, Gregory laid the ball off to Williams, who nonchalantly arrowed a left-footed effort onto the crossbar.

Cowan-Hall had an early chance for the visitors when Martin picked up the ball in his own half and played a sweeping cross-field pass over to his fellow winger.

But he was in two minds whether to shoot or cross and in the end, the winger opted to square the ball to Marquis.

Stevenage had one real chance of note after 41 minutes when striker Dipo Akinyemi crossed to his forward partner Brett Williams but, his glancing header fell wide of Millwall’s left-hand post.

The striker was waiting on the edge of the penalty spot, but the ball was under hit and eventually cleared.

Jimmy Abdou had one of Millwall’s best chances of the first-half when, after a good spell of possession, Cow-

24

Eight minutes after the interval, Shaun Cummings dinked a ball over to Gregory seven yards out from goal.

The striker went on to chest the ball down and, on the half turn, try to fire past Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, but the effort was miss-hit and trickled through to the keeper.

Harris made four changes on the hour with David Forde, Martin, Gregory and Cowan-Hall all replaced by Jordan Archer, Jack Powell, Fred Onyedinma and Jamie Philpot.

And it was Powell who made the quickest impact.

The Lions were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Stevenage area, and Powell would step-up to take.

The ball was delivered in with plenty of whip on it straight to the head of defender Beevers who headed past Boro keeper Day to give the visitors the most deserved of leads.

After the goal, the game itself wasn’t too eventful, with

©MillwallFC

Millwall continuing to dominate.

Substitute Ben Thompson picked up the ball in midfield and made a positive run to the edge of the box, before unleashing a shot just wide of the post.

With ten minutes left, Powell drilled in a corner that missed everyone in the area as the ball fell to captain Craig ten yards out.

The defender was leaning back as his foot connected with ball, sending the shot high over the crossbar.

Aside from Stevenage’s one real chance in the first half, Millwall dominated the entirety of the 90 minutes.

Manager Harris might have been a little disappointed that their persistent domination didn’t amount to more goals.

But Millwall saw the game out to secure a first win after two straight draws in pre-season.

LIVE

FOLLOW THE NEWSATDEN BLOG FOR LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY OR FOLlow @JKelly1882 & @jay_taylor18 On Twitter

#14 JOHN MARQUIS

MILLWALL VS BARNET #MFCvsBFC TUESDAY11THAUGUST

©MILLWALL FC

EDITORIAL NewsAtDen is the exclusive home of latest Millwall Football Club news, with the latest interviews, expert opinions, stats, graphics and much more.

For more information about NewsAtDen or to speak to us about this magazine, please contact josh@newsatden.co.uk

Thank you to all the people who have helped produce this magazine: FOUNDER / MANAGING DIRECTOR:

Chris Mullany FOUNDER / MANAGING DIRECTOR:

Kevin Quinn CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER:

Also, we would love to hear any suggestions you have for future editions of our magazine. Please get in touch.

John Kelly

Twitter: @newsatden

DESIGNER:

SPORTS REPORTER:

Jay Taylor

Josh French

Facebook: /newsatden IMAGES: Millwall FC, Daily Mail, Talksport

Online: newsatden.co.uk

NEWSATDEN IS PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY BEFORE HOME GAMES.

27

Created by