ISSUE
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LARRY McAVOY
MILLWALL & CHARLTON COMPETING FOR PLAYERS
CONTENTS INTERVIEW
4 12 20 28
PREVIEW
8 16 22 32
LARRY MCAVOY: MILLWALL AND CHARLTON COMPETING FOR PLAYERS
COLCHESTER UNITED
OPINION
NEWS
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
UPSON READY TO FIGHT FOR PLACE IN REJUVENATED MILLWALL SIDE
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
MILLWALL MIDFIELDER ABDOU REACTS TO RECENT PARIS ATROCITIES
MILLWALL ATTACKER AIDEN O’BRIEN DREAMS OF INTERNATIONAL CALL
MATCH REPORT
INTERVIEW
3 PLYMOUTH 5 MILLWALL
FORMER CHELSEA STARLET SAVILLE ENJOYING HIS MILLWALL REVIVAL 3
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YOUTH BOSS:
MILLWALL AND CHARLTON COMPETING FOR PLAYERS By John Kelly
day versus Brentford and they are a really strong side,” he said.
ARRY McAvoy is expecting a much tougher test for his young players against London rivals Charlton in the FA Youth Cup next month – and revealed the rivalry between the clubs stretches beyond the pitch to the recruitment of players.
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“They’ve got two boys, Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Ademola Lookman, who are centre-forwards that play in the Championship for the first team. “They’ve a lot of boys playing for the U21s and they will put out their strongest side in terms of those boys coming back in. They’ll be really strong.
Mikael Ndjoli scored four goals in the 9-1 win over non-league Woodbridge Town in the second round on Monday.
“With us and Charlton we’re both striving for the same sort of players, from south London. Sometimes they’ll get him, sometimes we’ll get him.”
Charlton advanced to the third round with a 7-1 dismantling of Brentford. And McAvoy, who coaches the U18s with former Republic of Ireland striker David Connolly, admitted the Addicks will present a significant obstacle.
Greenwich-born Ahearne-Grant and Lookman, who joined from Waterloo FC, are two of Charlton’s brightest prospects. Eighteenyear-old Lookman made his competitive debut for the Addicks this
“I went to watch Charlton on Satur-
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month, while Ahearne-Grant, also 18, has made six appearances for the first team this season, scoring two goals. Millwall have a core of players who are U21 regulars this season, but the likes of Noah Chesmain and Harry Girling have yet to make their senior competitive debuts. And McAvoy believes his young players will be taking on Chartlon’s most formidable underage side at The Valley. He said: “All the boys will know each other, generally. Charlton and Crystal Palace, but certainly more the Charlton game, it’s one the boys look forward to every year. “It’s a real mouth-watering tie and we’re under no illusions what we’re up against. The U18s is probably their strongest age group. “It’ll be a completely different game from Woodbridge.”
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MILLWALL VS
COLCHESTER UNITED SATURDAY21sTNOVEMBER
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PREVIEW:
COLCHESTER UNITED By John Kelly
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They possess in Marvin Sordell a striker who was once touted as a future England international. The U’s have scored two more goals in the league than their hosts this weekend, and Harris highlighted the potential potency of their attack after watching their 3-1 defeat to Coventry last weekend with his assistant, Dave Livermore.
ILLWALL will aim to make it nine games unbeaten in all competitions when they take on Colchester United at The Den on Saturday.
The U’s have conceded more goals than any of the 92 teams across England’s top four divisions and face a Millwall striking trio in rich goal-scoring form.
Colchester are likely to include former Lions player Matthew Briggs at left-back, but Owen Garvan, who was on loan at Millwall last year, is injured.
Aiden O’Brien, Lee Gregory and Steve Morison will feel confident of adding to their individual totals against a Colchester defence that has conceded 37 goals in League One this season, eight more than Barnsley, who have the next worst defence in the division.
Boss Tony Humes may also have just two fit senior centre-backs available for the trip to The Den. A win could propel Millwall into the top six in the Sky Bet League One table for the first time this season.
Lions boss Neil Harris could have to plan without Carlos Edwards, who is still struggling with the tight hamstring that forced him off in the first half of the 5-3 win at Plymouth 11 days ago.
Form guide (Last five games):
Sid Nelson replaced the 37-year-old at Home Park and is in the frame to start on Saturday, as is Jamaican international Shaun Cummings.
Millwall: WWDWW Colchester: WDLWL
Byron Webster will continue his partnership with Mark Beevers in the centre of defence with Joe Martin, still unbeaten in eight competitive outings for Millwall, at left-back.
Sky Bet odds: Millwall 17/20 Draw 11/4 Colchester 3/1 Probable Millwall team:
Harris has decisions to make in midfield with Fred Onyedinma and Shane Ferguson competing for a place on the flank with the returning Ed Upson.
4-4-2: Archer;
Elsewhere there are no new fresh injury worries for Harris to contend with as Millwall seek to extend an unbeaten record at home to seven games since the 2-0 defeat to Southend on September 26.
Cummings, Webster, Beevers, J Martin; O’Brien, Williams, Saville, Ferguson; Gregory, Morison.
Despite their difficulties keeping clean sheets, Colchester could pose problems for a Millwall defence missing captain Tony Craig. 9
THE IRRESISTIBLE FORCE AGAINST THE… EASILY MOVABLE OBJECT? The form of Millwall’s three primary attackers and Colchester United’s woeful defensive record suggests there should be goals in this for Neil Harris’ side. The U’s have conceded an average of 2.2 goals per game in the league this season and haven’t kept a clean sheet away from home since a 1-0 win over Oldham on February 14. It seems to have been agreed that Lee Gregory scored the second goal against Plymouth in the 5-3 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win (though there didn’t seem to be much talk of the Dubious Goals Panel convening to adjudicate). That means Gregory, Aiden O’Brien and Steve Morison have scored 24 of Millwall’s 36 goals this season, with Gregory and O’Brien locked on nine goals apiece in the Millwall golden boot race. Before the start of the season NAD asked Gregory what his goal target for the season was but, though he said he had one, he preferred to keep it to himself and said he’d reveal it if he hit it. The odds are we’ll know what the figure was sooner or later. We speculated at the time 15 would be a good return but if that was it then Gregory may be privately revising it upwards. O’Brien wanted double figures by Christmas and it wouldn’t be a surprise were he to achieve that this weekend nine games early. The front two of Gregory and Morison, in particular, are awkward aerial forces with O’Brien often sweeping through from a flank position to provide the ground support and finishing nous. That’s not to portray Millwall as a route one side, but to say they use the tactic very effectively.
By John Kelly
It has been notable that opposition midfielders at The Den have been unsure whether to drop in front of their defenders as an extra barrier against more direct football, or push up on George Saville and Shaun Williams. If they opt for the first contingency, Millwall’s defenders can play it into their central midfielders who then have time and space to pick out incisive passes forward; if they decide on the second, Mark Beevers or Byron Webster or Joe Martin can go the longer route and put the opponent’s defenders under pressure, thus giving the wider players the chance and space to make decisive attacking contributions. With Colchester so suspect at the back, it would be a puzzle if Millwall fail to take advantage on Saturday.
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MIDFIELD ABUNDANCE
SATURDAY-TUESDAY INTENSITY
Harris again has a healthy quota of midfielders to choose from with the return of Ed Upson. The Millwall boss seems to have settled on finding a place for all three strikers and though that’s what O’Brien sees himself as his positioning on the flank hasn’t blunted his goal-scoring threat: He has scored six goals from either the right or left wing in Millwall’s last eight games.
Millwall face a phenomenally tough run of fixtures before the turn of the year. They play seven times in the next 22 days after which Lions fans will either be looking forward to an FA Cup third round clash which, against a Premier League opponent, could be worth three-quarters of a million pounds to the club. They could also be making some space in their diaries for a JPT southern area final… or, of course, the only focus might be on the league between December and May, which would be an abrupt anti-climax after getting so close to both scenarios.
Upson hinted before his injury at the player he could be for Millwall this season: a high-energy presence joining the play from the left, driving through the middle of the opponent’s cover and creating space for over-lapping runs outside. He hasn’t had the chance to play a competitive fixture with Joe Martin yet but that’s a unit on the left that looks like it offers an ideal balance.
Jimmy Abdou should be back next month and, while they have coped well with the injuries they have picked up so far, the loss of their spiritual leader, Tony Craig, will amplify any further first-team losses.
Upson perhaps needs to improve his shooting. He has worked his way into good positions just outside the area this season but has so far failed to find the back of the net. With the scoring threat of the attackers mentioned above, if Upson could chip in with five or six goals between now and the end of the season – though he has a fairly spare record so far in his career – it could significantly contribute to the Lions’ final points total.
This year concludes with a December 28 trip to Southend United in the league and also takes in games against Bury, Burton, Gillingham and Walsall who are all currently in the top six and who have impressed in all manner of ways this season. The next six weeks will be like one long scrupulous examination of Millwall’s promotion ambitions when they will be tested by the best attack in League One, the two best defences, and a side who continue to defy pre-season expectations. Needless to say, Millwall need their most important players to stay fit and healthy.
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STAT'S THAT... BY JOHN KELLY
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1 29k
Millwall and Colchester have met 47 times in their history. The Lions have won 23 with the U’s on 14 wins.
3-0
The sides first met on December 2, 1950 with Colchester winning 3-0 in the old Division Three (South).
6-1
The biggest winning margin between the sides is five – Millwall’s 6-1 win over the U’s on Boxing Day, 2000. A Neil Harris hat-trick – his second of the season – as well as two goals from Paul Moody and a sixth from Paul Ifill gave Millwall the win that kept them top of the old Division 2 on their way to winning the title that season.
2-1
The most common scoreline between Millwall and Colchester is 2-1 – that has happened on 11 occasions (23%).
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Colchester have conceded 37 goals in League One this season – eight more than the next worst defence, which belongs to Barnsley, and the worst of all 92 sides in the top four divisions.
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The last six matches between these sides have either ended 2-1 or 1-0. Colchester have 29,100 followers on Twitter – 24,000 fewer than Millwall. But the U’s have sent out 42,900 tweets. The Lions’ official Twitter site has 25,000 tweets. On Facebook Millwall lead the way with over 120,000 likes, three times Colchester’s total.
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Colchester striker Marvin Sordell won three caps for Great Britain as part of Stuart Pearce’s 2012 Olympic squad.
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Former Millwall player Barry Fenton is the longest serving manager in Cochester’s history. He took charge of a total of 427 games between February 1955 and October 1963. During that time the club scored and conceded a total of 1,469 goals – with an overall aggregate of +3.
Joe Martin is still unbeaten in a Millwall shirt in eight competitive outings. In fact, the last time he lost in the league was back in March when Gillingham lost 3-0 at Chesterfield.
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UPSON READY TO FIGHT FOR PLACE IN REJUVENATED MILLWALL SIDE By John Kelly
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ILLWALL midfielder Ed Upson says the atmosphere at the club is “totally different” to what it was earlier in the season.
“I think we stick together. We’ve got the right players and the right mentality. “We’ll have little bad spells in patches in games but it’s about staying positive. It’s more about mentality because we know we’ve got the quality.
Upson missed seven games with a knee injury he sustained against Peterborough before returning to the first team as a substitute in the 5-3 JPT win over Plymouth last week.
“We’ve got such a tight-knit group of lads, everyone’s nice to each other and friendly, at the right times, obviously.
The Lions began their current eightgame unbeaten run during his spell in the treatment room and Upson senses the mood is far more upbeat than it was at the end of August when they were struggling near the foot of the League One table.
“It was about tweaking the mindset. Winning games strengthens that mentality meaning you go into every game confident you can win every time. A winning mentality is the confidence to know that you can do that.”
He also believes that the recent spell of good form is breeding confidence in the squad and reinforcing the tightness of the group.
Upson recognises he faces a battle to reclaim his place in the side with George Saville having established himself as an automatic selection in central midfield and Aiden O’Brien and Shane Ferguson excelling on the flanks.
“The atmosphere is totally different now,” Upson said. “Obviously when you’re losing it’s not going to be good, but we’ve picked up some results and everyone’s positive, in a happy mood and having a laugh. That’s how you want it coming into work every day.
“I’ll just train as hard as I always do and try and show my ability,” Upson vowed. “We are a good team so it’s about being patient.”
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HARRIS: MILLWALL HAVE THE QUALITY TO COPE WITH CRAIG ABSENCE By John Kelly
ILLWALL boss Neil Harris appears to have ruled out adding another centre-back to the squad before the end of the loan transfer window on November 25.
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the U21 side if needed.
The Lions learned this week that captain Tony Craig is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery recently on the knee injury he suffered against Bradford.
“At full-back we’re okay with Shaun Cummings, Carlos Edwards, Joe Martin and Shane Ferguson who can play there. We’ve also got the versatility of Shaun Williams, who can slide into the backline.
“Defensively we’ve certainly got three talented centre-halves that all want to play and be in the team,” Harris said.
But Harris has said that he is happy with his current defensive options with Sid Nelson, Byron Webster and Mark Beevers competing for the two centre-back slots and cover in other back four positions.
“Couple that with an U21 side that haven’t conceded many goals in 12 league games. There are people there that we wouldn’t be afraid to chuck in and give them some exposure. So, I’m not concerned with the numbers we’ve got at the moment.”
He also believes players such as Keaton Wood could step up from
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MILLWALL MIDFIELDER ABDOU REACTS TO RECENT PARIS ATROCITIES By John Kelly
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but escaped as 89 people were killed. Both players have travelled to England.
ILLWALL midfielder Jimmy Abdou has called for “character and not weakness” in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Paris on Friday night.
After England manager Roy Hodgson said that the “football world is united against these atrocities”, Abdou had a similar message today.
Abdou revealed his brother was in the French capital on Friday night as the massacres unfolded at several locations, including Stade de France where France were playing Germany.
He told Millwall’s official website: “My brother was in Paris on Friday. He went to Disneyland with friends. I was worrying because I couldn’t get hold of him but eventually he rang.
French coach Didier Descahmps offered his players the chance to withdraw from Tuesday night’s scheduled friendly against England at Wembley, but it was turned down and all 23 players in the squad have travelled for the fixture.
“We have to show character and not weakness. Playing the game on Tuesday shows that. It will be more than a game, the world will be watching I’m sure. “Everyone wants to stay strong, look forward and work together to stop this sort of thing occurring in the future.”
Lassana Diarra’s cousin, Asta Diakite, was one of 129 people killed on Friday, while Antoine Griezmann’s sister was in the Bataclan theatre
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MILLWALL ATTACKER AIDEN O'BRIEN DREAMS OF INTERNATIONAL CALL By John Kelly
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IONS hotshot Aiden O’Brien is hoping his form in a Millwall shirt will be rewarded with international recognition.
viously as David Forde joined up with Martin ONeill’s squad this week for their crunch Euro 2016 play-off games against Bosnia.
O’Brien, 22, was born in Islington and speaks with a strong London accent, but he has never been in doubt about which country he would like to represent on the international stage.
“That would be a dream,” he said of a potential call-up. “That step shouldn’t really come this early in my career. I don’t really expect it but the way I’m playing on Saturdays and Tuesdays I don’t see why I shouldn’t get a shot at it.
His mum’s family moved to the capital from Ireland and he watched en-
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O’Brien’s Sky Bet League One player of the month award for October was validation of his progress and, while he was pleased with the recognition, that type of individual honour isn’t what motivates him. He explained: “Being nominated is one thing but winning it is another. That’s the first I’ve ever won, it was a good achievement in my short career so far. “I wasn’t really thinking ‘I want to get an award’, it was a bonus this season. The main thing on my mind is goals. Even though I’ve been playing on the wing a lot instead of up front, to get double figures from the wing before Christmas takes a lot of work. “I’ve scored a few with my head, both feet, so I’ve got the balance. I’m confident in all areas in front of goal. My aim was to get double figures by Christmas. I’ve said that from the start of the season.” O’Brien is well on track to achieve that target with time to spare after hitting his ninth of the season against Plymouth on Tuesday night. And he puts his success in front of goal this season partly down to a laidback attitude on and off the pitch. “When I go on the pitch I’m relaxed, I’m not really buzzed,” O’Brien said. “When I come off the pitch I’m the same as when I go on the pitch. I’m just composed and play my own game. I’m not one who comes off and then can’t unwind. “If I play well I relax, if I play badly I relax. I’m just a relaxed person all round, really. “If I miss a chance I play it back and I replay it with me scoring. The exact same chance, but with me putting the ball into the back of the net. So then the next time hopefully that’ll happen. I’ve done that all my career.”
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MILLWALL BOSS: THERE'S A LOT OF RESPECT BETWEEN LEE AND STEVE By John Kelly
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ILLWALL boss Neil Harris said Lee Gregory set an example with his outstanding performance in the 5-3 win over Plymouth in the Football League Trophy on Tuesday night.
“I’m delighted with his hat-trick, and I think he might be trying to claim a fourth goal as well. But it wasn’t just his goals, it was his allround game and decision-making as well with and without the ball. “There was also his assist, it was a lovely ball in behind the defence for Aiden O’Brien.”
Gregory scored his second hattrick since Harris took charge of Millwall, having netted a treble in a 3-3 draw with Derby County at The Den last April.
Gregory and Morison have now scored 14 goals between them this season, along with O’Brien’s tally of nine, but Harris feels the front duo’s partnership can improve even further.
As well as his goals, the 27-yearold former Halifax Town centre-forward laid on the fifth for Aiden O’Brien in the 66th minute against the Pilgrims to help send Millwall through to the southern section area semi-finals.
He said: “It’s getting better all the time but there’s still progress and work to be done on that. They’re a threat and they complement each other well. They both work extremely hard, they’ve both come from a non-league background and there’s a lot of respect there between the two of them.
Harris also praised the contribution of Steve Morison, who was thwarted twice late on by Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick. “I said to the guys in the dressing room I thought the front pair were brilliant,” Harris said. “I thought Steve Morison was outstanding and he’s disappointed he hasn’t added to his goal tally for the season.
“With Aiden O’Brien also giving us that goal-scoring threat and Fred Onyedinma understanding the role that he plays and giving us pace on the counter, that’s key.
“But Lee Gregory was a fine an example to any senior or young pro how to play as a number nine in the modern day. He was playing off the shoulder and making threatening runs.
“I thought we were a real handful and a real threat all night.”
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PLYMOUTH ARGYLE MILLWALL
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ILLWALL are through to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy southern area semi-final after an entertaining 5-3 win over Plymouth at Home Park.
Archer made an outstanding save when Carl McHugh’s header from close range seemed destined for the bottom corner, but the keeper palmed the ball away.
In a match that had almost everything Millwall led 2-1 at the break before a second half that produced five goals but easily could have seen double that. Lee Gregory put Millwall ahead in the 21st minute when he executed a neat back header that looped over Luke McCormick after Shaun Williams had crossed from the left.
The Lions went ahead again just before the break when Mark Beevers headed Williams’ corner towards goal and the ball looked like it flicked off McHugh before trickling over the line. Gregory got his second after linking up neatly with Steve Morison to beat McCormick at the second attempt.
Millwall were dealt another injury blow in the 34th minute when Carlos Edwards was forced off and Plymouth eqaulised moments later with Jake Jervis giving Jordan Archer no chance when he lashed the ball home from 12 yards.
But Plymouth made it 3-2 in the 56th minute when Graham Carey found the top corner with a wicked shot from 40 yards. Gregory completed his hat-trick from the spot after
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he was fouled in the box and then laid on a perfect pass for Aiden O’Brien to sweep home his ninth of the season.
2-1 Capital Cup defeat in August and seconds after he came on Plymouth’s Gary Sawyer swung over a cross from the left and Jervis was able to dig the ball from under his feet to swivel and fire past Archer.
But the scoring wasn’t over and Jervis grabbed his second of the contest when he drove low past Archer moments after Morison raced through only for McCormick to make the save.
It remains to be seen what exactly the problem with Edwards is but his loss for any period of time would be damaging to Millwall.
GREGORY GETS HIS REWARD He gets some stick but there can never be any doubting his application.
It feels a bit like one step forward, two back at the moment on the injury front with half of the firstchoice back four potentially sidelined.
This was also a demonstration of his finishing ability and of a partnership with Morison that continues to blossom.
WHAT’S NEXT? Harris believes the third disruption to Millwall’s season due another international break comes at an opportune time.
He took his hat-trick well and showed his awareness and touch to set up O’Brien to make it 5-2 in the 66th minute.
Despite Burton’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stating his dissatisfaction with the postponement, Harris says Millwall had little choice.
Gregory would admit himself that he struggled in the early part of the season but, though he sometimes needs to be more careful in possession, particularly when Millwall have the chance to counter, Neil Harris hugely appreciates his value to the side. The Lions boss now has three attackers in ultra-confident form. Morison probably should have got his name on the scoresheet as well but he skewed a second-half effort high and wide when he should have worked McCormick. He had two more chances in the last five minutes but McCormick was in the right place to prevent him adding to his season’s tally.
He explained: “It’s a tricky situation where do you want the game called off or do you want to try and maintain momentum? “We want to win every game and the players know where I stand on that. “At the moment with the injuries we’ve got and the call-ups if we’d played Saturday we would have been really light. “Before it wasn’t ideal, but this one might work in our favour.”
However, his role in Gregory’s second was crucial and he continues to be pivotal to Millwall’s style of play.
*Millwall later accredited Lee Gregory with the second goal.
MORE INJURY PROBLEMS FOR LIONS Harris picked his strongest available line-up, and there were two surprises on the bench with Ed Upson and Sid Nelson making appearances after recovering from injury. Both players had little training done prior to this fixture and ideally Harris would probably have liked to keep them where they were. But those plans were disrupted when Edwards went off with what looked like a muscle injury.
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Nelson played at right-back against Barnet in the
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MILLWALL STAR WILL IGNORE PREMIER LEAGUE ADMIRERS TO REACH TARGET By John Kelly
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and several Premier League and Championship sides have had him watched this campaign in what is increasingly looking like his breakout year.
ILLWALL’S Aiden O’Brien insists he won’t have his head turned as his form this season continues to attract admiring glances from Premier League and Championship sides.
But the 22-year-old won’t be letting that distract him from achieving his objectives with Millwall.
O’Brien scored again last weekend in the 3-1 win over AFC Fylde to take his goal tally for the season to eight in all competitions.
“I’m a Millwall player,” O’Brien said. “I’m not thinking about any other teams at the moment. It’s natural that other teams are going to be watching and see that I’m in form. They’ll be keeping an eye but it’s nothing to do with me. That’s down to those clubs.
His scoring form is all the more impressive given he missed the start of the season through injury and the fact that he has been playing in wide positions recently with Steve Morison and Lee Gregory up front.
“I’m just here to play my football. The main thing is I’m enjoying my football here and playing well and hopefully it continues.
The Irish attacker also has seven assists this season and is well on course to reach his target – double figures in goals by the end of the year – that he set for himself during the summer.
“I know that (the goal against Fylde) is not going to be my last one before the end of the season. My aim is to get double figures by Christmas. I’ve said that from the start of the season.”
Everton and Swansea were linked with him when he first broke into the Millwall first team,
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FORME R C HE LS E A STARLET S AVI LLE E NJ OY IN G HIS MI LLWALL RE VI VAL By John Kelly
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EORGE Saville was once part of Chelsea’s squad for the Fifa Club World Cup final.
But he insists he wouldn’t swap first-team football and the cut and thrust of League One and cup competitions for a place on the bench at a Premier League side as he prepares to help his current team get a step closer to Wembley.
he will come back into manager Neil Harris’ plans for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area quarter-final clash with Plymouth. Home Park in the JPT on a Tuesday night in November is a far cry from the Yokohama Stadium in Japan where he experienced the thrill of being part one of the most prestigious games in world club football in front of almost 70,000 fans, but Saville is glad he took the decision to quit the club when a path to the first team looked too congested to negotiate.
Saville left Chelsea to join Wolves in August 2014 after featuring a number of times in the Blues’ matchday squads without making a competitive first-team appearance. But after playing just twice for Kenny Jackett’s side this season he decided to drop down a division further to fulfil a need to be involved in the relentless demands of playing in a first team week in, week out.
He enjoyed his time at Chelsea, but now feels at home at Millwall where he has yet to taste defeat in six games. “It was brilliant,” he said. “I had a really good nine or 10 years at Chelsea. I loved every minute of it but as I got older I wanted to play regularly.
The 22-year-old midfielder missed Millwall’s FA Cup win first round over AFC Fylde at the weekend as he wasn’t given permission to play by his parent club, but
“I had the privilege to train with the Chel-
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sea first team under Roberto di Matteo. He was really good to me. I went to the club World Cup game in Japan in 2012. I was on the bench a few times and it was a really good experience. “I had one more year left on my contract and they offered me a new deal, but we couldn’t really come to an agreement and we decided that it was best for me to go elsewhere. “I had a brief spell at Millwall before and went on loan to Brentford and realised chances at Chelsea were limited and it was best for me to drop down to play regular first-team football. “Obviously that didn’t work out for me at Wolves but I’m very happy with where I am now. Hopefully I can step back up and help Millwall back up.” “I’m really enjoying it, it’s a really good group of lads. I haven’t lost yet so it’s going well. “The boys have turned it around and I’ve helped out as much as I can. We’re in a good place right now.” Saville’s aggressive style of play and commanding performances have won him the admiration of The Den crowd and the extension of his initial one-month loan until the New Year was met with approval. But he insists he hasn’t thought about his future after January, when his loan spell is due to come to an end. “I’m not looking long term right now,” Saville stressed. “I had a spell out when I wasn’t playing games. I want to get back to playing games, back playing well. I hope I can play 15 or 20 games until January and then see where it takes me. “I’m not looking beyond that at the moment. I just want to get into a good rhythm and pattern and help Millwall climb up the table.” 34
BEN THOMPSON: HALF-TIME HAIRDRYER FROM GAFFER LIFTS MILLWALL By John Kelly
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EN Thompson revealed a halftime blast from manager Neil Harris and his coaches provoked the desired response as the Lions eventually negotiated their way past AFC Fylde in the FA Cup first round.
“It’s really important Fordey keeps his focus,” Harris said. “He’s been a terrific pro and he trains hard in every session. He’s off on international duty and to have two keepers of that quality, I’m really lucky.” The Millwall boss did admit, though, that Paris Cowan-Hall’s lack of competitive action showed after the winger made way for Aiden O’Brien at the start of the second half.
The home side were sluggish in the first half and could have been behind at the break had a Danny Rowe shot that skimmed the post been on target.
“That was Paris’ first start in a Millwall shirt and he’s been here 11 months,” Harris said. “That says it all, really. He’s had a stop-start time here and he looked like he lacked a little bit of rhythm and knowledge of our play because of the minutes he’s missed.” Harris was pleased with the contributions of his strikers, all three of whom scored against Dave Challinor’s side.
And Thompson said Harris let his side know that the performance was well below par. “There was a lot of criticism from the manager,” Thompson admitted. “It was a poor, poor first half but they told us what to do second half and we just went out and did the job.
“All three goals were really good finishes. The third goal was a really good move and I think a few times Shaun Williams also showed his quality in possession.
“It wasn’t great first half, for me personally and the team. I didn’t think we got hold of the game quick enough. “At the start of the game we said we were going to go out with the same intensity as we would at any game but maybe we did slacken off a bit.
“When you’ve got players who can find through balls like he can it gives strikers opportunities to score goals. When you’ve got three good strikers who all know where the back of the net it it’s a big help.
“But I thought in the second half we did well and got the result.”
“There was disappointing stuff, but I’m not trying to be negative, there was a lot of good stuff as well but we just didn’t sustain it for long enough to be as flowing and effective as we can be.
Meanwhile, Harris says he is fortunate to have two quality goalkeepers after watching David Forde make a winning return to the side. The Republic of Ireland international started for the first time since August 18 and, though there were a couple of wobbles, he produced a fine save late on to help avoid a nervy finish.
“It’s football, sometimes it just happens – ask Louis van Gaal.” But Harris also emphasised the quality of Fylde: “They’ll win the league this year, they’ll be in the National League and they’ll be right at the top of that as well. And when they get their new stadium I’m pretty sure they’ll be in the Football League in a few years.”
Forde, 35, has been understudy to Jordan Archer since the 3-2 defeat to Barnsley, but Harris stressed it hasn’t affected his work ethic.
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HARRIS: BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE THE DIFFERENCE FOR MILLWALL By John Kelly ©Millwall FC
N
EIL Harris said October’s Sky Bet League One player of the month Aiden O’Brien was the difference as Millwall eventually overcame the challenge of non-league AFC Fylde to advance to the second round of the FA Cup.
“But when you can bring the best player in the league for the last month on it makes a big difference.” Harris said his players should have made it much more comfortable for themselves after going two goals up in six second-half minutes, but Alex Whittle took advantage of some sloppiness in defence to briefly give Fylde hope of snatching a result.
O’Brien came on at half-time for the ineffectual Paris Cowan-Hall to inspire the Lions to a 3-1 win. The 22-year-old put Millwall ahead in the 54th minute before providing the assist for Steve Morison who made the game safe two minutes from time with his sixth goal of the season.
“We prepared the players well for it,” Harris stressed. “But I’ve played in those type of games and they’re difficult until you get the first goal, and then we got a second one pretty quickly, but you have to be professional after that and we gave a poor goal away.
Harris admitted his side were sluggish until O’Brien’s introduction, but the Millwall manager also praised the opponents for making it a difficult afternoon. “I’m delighted to get through,” Harris said.
“It was a poor goal down our right-hand side and I was really disappointed with it. We could have made it a lot easier for ourselves. At 2-0 we should have been comfortable.”
“I’m delighted with the boys because it’s about winning, cup football. You have to be respectful to the opposition, whatever the level, and for the record I thought they were fantastic.
After making it a third game unbeaten in cup competitions this season, Millwall now look forward to another knock-out clash on Tuesday against Plymouth in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
“They were a credit to the club and the league and they made it really difficult for us. I was delighted with some of our play but disappointed not to get a clean sheet.
And Harris was eager to quickly turn the focus towards that challenge. He said: “You could see in my team selection what the competition means to me. We want to win every game and the most important game of the season for us now is the next one against Plymouth on Tuesday night.”
“I knew it was going to be difficult, I’ve seen them and know how good they are and how difficult they would make it for us. “We didn’t have a spark all today, we weren’t proactive enough.
39
You can buy this classic shirt in the Millwall Club Shop
You can buy this classic shirt in the Millwall Club Shop
CLASSIC NEWSATDEN
MATCH REPORTS THREE YEARS AGO 24TH NOVEMBER 2014
BLACKBURN ROBINSON MN OLSSON DANN HENLEY G HANLEY FORMICA MURPHY MS OLSSON ETUHU RHODES ROCHINA
M
0-2 1 3 12 16 25 4 14 19 26 20 39
1 3 16 27 31 10 13 14 18 11 23
MILLWALL WO O D 7 2 ’ , HENRY 9 0 ’
FORDE SHITTU LOWRY BEEVERS SMITH WRIGHT HENRY C TAYLOR ABDOU KEOGH WOOD
ILLWALL stunned Blackburn Rovers with two breathtaking goals to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to 11 matches.
string injury as a second-half substitute against Leeds United last weekend, replaced Liam Feeney on the right side of midfield as Millwall made two changes to their starting line-up.
Chris Wood and James Henry both scored longrange efforts of the highest quality to move the Lions up to sixth in the league table – and secure their first win at Ewood Park since 1986.
It was from Henry’s quick free-kick in the seventh minute that Andy Keogh thought he had given the visitors the lead, glancing a header in at the near post, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
With Liam Trotter out injured, manager Kenny Jackett was boosted ahead of kick-off by the return of Jimmy Abdou from paternity leave and he lined-up alongside Josh Wright in the centre of midfield.
Incredibly, Millwall – and the same combination of players – were denied again by the officials when Keogh nodded in Henry’s pinpoint cross, only to see the linesman’s flag raised again as he wheeled away in celebration.
Henry, who made his comeback from a ham-
42
©MillwallFC
Millwall attacks were becoming less frequent but Chris Taylor went close when he cut inside from the left flank and curled a shot towards the far corner, but the ball drifted inches wide with Robinson rooted to the spot.
The Lions were not perturbed by those early disappointments and continued to carve out chances. After Ruben Rochina’s low drive had been tipped behind by David Forde at the other end, Wood had a shot parried by Paul Robinson in the 30th minute.
Blackburn appeared to be building up a head of steam after Danny Murphy, Rochina and King all had efforts on goal, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in stunning fashion.
In the same passage of play, Keogh’s attempted flick from close range was hooked over his own crossbar by Martin Olsson and behind for a corner.
In the the 72nd minute, Wood charged at the Rovers defence, nutmegged Grant Hanley and, without breaking stride, unleashed an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net from 20-yards out.
Blackburn rallied as half-time approached, forcing a string of corners, and Mark Beevers made a crucial block to clear Rochina’s dangerous low cross before Markus Olsson blasted over from the edge of the area five minutes before the break.
Wood had a second goal ruled out off for offside – the Lions’ third of the game – after he converted Josh Wright’s through-ball in the 85th minute.
Rovers picked up where they had left off after the restart and Jordan Rhodes, who was quiet in the opening period, headed over Rochina’s cross in the first minute of the second-half.
But Millwall were not to be denied a killer second goal. In the last minute of normal time, Henry picked up possession on the edge of the area and arrowed a rocket into the far corner to seal a memorable win.
Forde made two crucial saves in quick succession to keep the home side at bay as they pushed for the opening goal; first to deny Olsson in the 48th minute and then substitute Josh King, parrying both shots behind from a tight angle.
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LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT 1 Gilling h a m
1 7 1 0 4 3 34 1 9 1 5 34
2 C o v e n t r y C i t y 1 7 10 4 3 32 18 14 34
3 Wa ls a l l 1 6 9 5 2 28 14 14 32 4 B ur t o n A l bi on
1 6 1 0 2 4 1 6 1 3 3 32
5
1 7
W iga n A t h l e t i c
8
6
3
28
18
10
30
6 B ur y 1 7 7 6 4 2 9 2 7 2 27 7 B r a d for d C i t y 1 7 7 6 4 1 9 1 8 1 27 8 Sh e f f i e l d U n i t e d 1 7 7 4 6 2 8 24 4 25
9 Millw a l l 1 6 7 4 5 24 2 3 1 25 10 P e t e r borou g h U n i t e d 1 7 7 3 7 34 28 6 24 1 1 So ut h e n d U n i t e d 1 7 6 6 5 1 9 2 0 -1 24 1 2 Sc unt h or p e U n i t e d 1 7 7 2 8 2 2 2 0 2 23
13 P o r t Va l e 1 7 6 5 6 2 0 1 9 1 23 14 C h e s t e r fi e l d
1 7 7 2 8 2 3 2 5 -2 23
15 Ro c h da l e 1 7 5 6 6 2 0 2 0 0 21 16 Do n c a s t e r R ove r s 1 7 5 5 7 1 5 2 2 -7 20 17 C o lche s t e r U n i t e d
1 7 5 5 7 2 6 37 -1 1 20
18 O ld h a m A t h l e t i c
1 7 3 1 0 4 1 9 24 -5 19
19 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
1 6 5 2 9 1 9 2 3 -4 17
20 Swindon Tow n 1 7 4 4 9 2 2 2 8 -6 16 21 B la ck p ool 1 7 4 4 9 1 5 2 5 -1 0 16 2 2
F le e t w ood Tow n
1 7
4
3
10
2 0
2 6
-6
15
23 B a r n s l e y 1 7 4 2 11 2 0 2 9 -9 14 24
C re w e A l exa n dr a
1 7
3
4
10
14
2 6
-1 2 13
FIXTURES COLCHESTER UNITED T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 21S T N OV E M BE R
FLEETWOOD TOWN H I GHBURY STAD I UM TUESDAY 24Th N OV E M BE R
BURY T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 28 T H N OV E M B E R
BURTON ALBION PI REL LI STAD I UM TUESDAY 1 ST D E C E M B E R
W YCOMBE WANDERERS T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 5TH D E C E M BE R
PLAYER STATS LEAGUE ONE
Ap p
Sta r ts
Assi sts
Go als
D. F or de 3 3 0 0 J. Ar c h e r 1 3 1 3 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 7 6 1 0 T. Cr a i g 1 6 1 6 0 1 S. Ne l s on 4 4 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 1 5 1 5 0 4 B. We bs t e r 1 2 7 0 1 S. Fe r g u s on 1 4 7 4 0 M. R ome o 0 0 0 0 C . Pa r r 0 0 0 0 C . Edw a r ds 1 0 1 0 1 0 J. M a r t i n 5 5 0 0 S. Wi l l i a ms 1 3 1 3 2 1 E . U p s on 9 8 1 0 L . M a r t i n 7 2 1 0 J. P o w e l l 1 1 0 0 B. T homp s on 9 4 0 0 N. A bdou 9 9 0 1 J. P hi l p ot 0 0 0 0 K . Tw a r de k 0 0 0 0 G. S a vi l l e 5 5 0 0 P. Cow a n H a l l 3 0 0 0 L . G re g or y 1 5 1 1 0 3 F. O ny e di n ma 1 6 1 1 1 3 J. M a r q u i s 4 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 1 6 1 5 1 4 A. O ’ B r i e n 1 4 1 1 4 6 A. P a ve y 2 0 0 0
ACADEMY ROUND-UP
UNDER 21S
LAST GAME
MILLWALL 5-1 Palace
Under 21s RESULTS:
MFC GOALSCORERS: L Martin (2), Upson, Thompson, Powell
AUGUST Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey)
MILLWALL LINE UP:
Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot) Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo)
Sandford
Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)
Romeo SEPTEMBER
Farrell
Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood)
Thompson (Eze, 75mins)
Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2
Wood
Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3)
Mbulu
Hull City (A) 0-0
Upson (Parr, 46mins) OCTOBER
Powell
Plymouth Argyle (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Pavey
Huddersfield Town (H) 0-2
Martin
QPR (A) 0-4 (Eze 3, Ndjoli)
Cowan-Hall
Colchester United (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Sub not used:
NOVEMBER Palace (H) 5-1 (Martin 2, Upson, Thompson, Powell)
Barton.
TOP SCORERS: Alfie Pavey - 7 Keaton Wood - 4 Ebere Eze - 3 Jamie Philpot - 2
47
LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E
17- Oc t-15
2 0-Oct-1 5
24 -Oct-15
CO MP E T IT IO N
L e a g u e On e
Lea g u e One
Lea g u e O ne
OPPO N E N T
S w i n don Tow n ( H ) B l a ckp ool ( A)
Shef f Utd (A )
RESU LT
2-0 W
1 -1 D
1 -2 W
G O AL K E E P E R
Archer
Ar cher
Ar cher
DEFEN DE R S
E dw a r ds
Ed w a rd s
Cu mmings
Craig
Cr a i g
Cr a i g
B e e ve r s
B eevers
B eevers
J Martin
J M a r ti n
J M a r tin
O’ B r i e n
O’ B ri en
Onyed inm a (91)
W i l l i a ms
Sa vi l l e
Sa vi l l e
S a vi l l e ( 6 0 )
Wi l i a ms ( 50 )
Thomps o n
Fe r g u s on ( 6 6)
Fer g u son ( 8 3)
O’ B ri en (87 )
M or i s on ( 9 1)
M or i son
M or i son
G re g or y ( 7 9 )
G reg or y ( 63)
G reg or y (7 3)
S UB
For de
For d e
For d e
S UB
C u mmi n g s
Cu mmi ng s ( 8 3)
Romeo
S UB
We bs t e r
Web ster
Web ster (91)
S UB
T h omp s on
Thompson ( 50 )
Pow el l
S UB
L M a r t i n ( 7 9)
L M a r ti n
L M a r tin (87 )
S UB
Ony e di n ma ( 66)
Onyed i nma ( 63)
Fer g u s o n (7 3)
S UB
P a ve y ( 9 1)
Pa vey
Pa vey
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
27-Oct-1 5
3 1- Oc t-15
0 7-Nov-1 5
1 0 -Nov-1 5
Le ag ue O n e
L e a g u e On e
FA Cu p
J PT
Doncas t e r (H )
Br a dfor d C i t y ( H )
AFC Fyl d e ( H )
Pl ymou th (A )
2- 0 W
0-0 D
3-1 W
5-3 W
A rcher
Archer
For d e
Ar cher
Edward s
E dw a r ds
Cu mmi ng s
Ed w a rd s (33)
C r ai g
Craig (56)
Web ster
Web ster
Be e v e r s
Be e ve r s
B eevers
B eevers
J Mar tin
J Martin
J M a r ti n
J M a r ti n
O ’Bri e n ( 86)
O’ Br i e n
Cow a n-H a l l ( 4 6)
O’ B ri en ( 83)
S avi lle
S a vi l l e
Thomson ( 8 8 )
Sa vi l l e
T homp s o n
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Fergus o n (92)
Fe r g u s on ( 6 2 )
Onyed i nma
Onyed i nma (86)
M oriso n
M or i s on
M or i son ( 8 8 )
M or i son
G reg o r y ( 69)
G re g or y ( 9 0 )
G reg or y
G reg or y (90)
F ord e
For de
Ar cher
G i rl i ng
C ummi n gs
C u mmi n g s
Romeo
Nel son ( 33)
Webste r (92)
We bs t e r ( 5 6 )
Wood
Thompson (86)
Powel l
P ow e l l
L M a r ti n
Upson ( 8 3)
L Mar tin ( 86)
L Martin
Pow el l ( 8 8 )
Pa vey
O nye d in m a ( 69 )
Ony e di n ma ( 6 2 )
O’ B ri en ( 4 6)
Pav e y
P a ve y ( 9 0 )
Pa vey ( 8 8 )
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MILLWALL ©MILLWALL FC
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