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DAVID CONNOLLY
former hammer enjoying life as a lion
CONTENTS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
PREVIEW
DAVID CONNOLLY ENJOYING LIFE AS A LION
BURY
OPINION
4 12 22 32
NEWS
8 20 28 40
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
AMBLER: WE’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL O’BRIEN BIDS
INTERVIEW
MATCH REPORT
BOSS HARRIS WANTS MILLWALL TO BURY FLEETWOOD MEMORY
2 FLEETWOOD
MATCH REPORT
MATCH REPORT
1 MILLWALL
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR MILLWALL STAR FERGUSON
4 MILLWALL
1 COLCHESTER 3
ŠMillwall FC
DAVID CONNOLLY ENJOYING LIFE AS A LION By John Kelly
M this season.
ry was appointed the U16s coach, while former Republic of Ireland and World Cup striker David Connolly was brought in as joint coach of the U18s with Larry McAvoy.
ILLWALL’s overhaul of their youth set-up in the summer has paid off spectacularly at times already
Connolly burst onto the international stage with a hat-trick against Liechtenstein in a World Cup qualifier in 1997 and he would have had a natural-born striker’s appreciation for the four goals Ndjoli scored in the 9-1 win against Woodbridge Town in the FA Youth Cup the week before his heroics in Wales.
The U21s secured an impressive win against Swansea in the Premier League Cup last Monday night to move into the last 16 of the competition. Striker Mikael Ndjoli was the hero for Justin Skinner’s side, scoring twice to see off the Swans in the last minute of extra-time. The Lions made some eye-catching appointments in the summer as chairman John Berylson backed Neil Harris’ vision that the club needed to start again building from the bottom up.
Millwall have real strength at U18 level with Ndjoli, Noah Chesmain, Harry Girling (who has already been on the first-team bench twice this season) and Ebere Eze all regulars with the U21 side who are top of the Professional Development League Two.
Former Wimbledon and Tottenham Hotspur defender Chris Per-
Connolly says it is important that the younger players get a feel for
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playing on the more open expanses at The Den in front of bigger crowds. They defeated Dover 2-0 in the first round of the Youth Cup and Connolly felt they showed their character by putting in a commanding performance and that the coaching staff also deserve credit for how they prepare the youngsters. “For the majority of them it was their first time playing at The Den,” Connolly said. “But we stress to them it’s the same, two goals, 22 players but just a few more people there wanting them to do well. “We didn’t need the statistics to tell us bit we had nearly 70 per cent possession, 30 shots against Dover. “We’ve got really good staff. Larry, who I’m working alongside jointly, is a brilliant coach. That’s a real bonus because I’d never met Larry prior to taking the job. “We’ve got really good support staff, (goalkeeping coach) Seb Barton, Ian Jones, the fitness coach. And obviously Scott (Fitzgerald) oversees it all.” Millwall are currently in seventh place in the U18 Professional Development League Two table, with 14 points from 11 games.
They defeated London rivals Crystal Palace 3-1 away the last time out and are currently preparing for the next round of the FA Youth Cup where they will face a strong Charlton U18 side at The Valley on December 2. Connolly says he is happy in his first job in coaching, including imposing a way of playing on the team and coming up against some of the bigger clubs. “I’m really enjoying the coaching side, the planning and preparing. Before the first round we went to see Dover, we travelled a long way on the motorway to watch them and back after! “We’re trying to do things the right way. We do a lot of video analysis and reports on opponents. We work a lot on the strengths of our players and try to improve them. Since the start of the season we’ve really come on in terms of how we play, how we want to be a possession team that can penetrate. “We’re going to the likes of Hull and Birmingham. We’ve had a lot of injuries which has affected results but that’s helped with the development of other players. “I’ve really enjoyed being part of it all.” 6
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PREVIEW: BURY FC By John Kelly
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season, they have lost their last three games on the road since a 1-0 win over Colchester on October 3.
ILLWALL boss Neil Harris could have a defensive selection headache for this weekend’s clash with Bury at The Den.
They slipped out of the top six, where they have been for the majority of the season since promotion from League Two last term, after losing 2-1 at home to Scunthorpe at the weekend.
Joe Martin picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Feetwood at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night and will now serve a one-game ban.
Shakers boss David Flitcroft felt his side dominated that game and they will be a threat in SE16, possessing a striker in Leon Clarke who has scored 12 goals this season.
Carlos Edwards has missed the last two fixtures with a tight hamstring, meaning three of Millwall’s four first-choice defenders could be unavailable against Bury, who are ninth in League One.
They can also call on the likes of Chris Eagles, Peter Clarke and Danny Pugh, all of whom have Premier League experience.
Harris hinted he would think about whether he picked the right team at Fleetwood, but injuries and suspension reduce his hand.
Form guide (Last five games):
Shane Ferguson could play at left-back, where he has filled in already this season, with Ed Upson likely to start his first game since the 5-3 defeat to Peterborough at the beginning of October.
Millwall: DWWWL
The current Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday run of fixtures could also tempt Harris to rest one or two of his players. Fred Onyedinma may come into contention for a starting place if the Lions manager decides to leave Aiden O’Brien, Lee Gregory or Steve Morison on the bench.
Millwall 4/5 Draw 5/2 Bury 18/5
Bury: WWLWL Sky Bet odds
Probable Millwall team: 4-4-2: Archer; Cummings, Webster, Beevers, J Martin; O’Brien, Williams, Saville, Upson;
Though Bury’s home form – where they have beaten Burton, Wigan and Coventry – has largely been impressive this
Gregory, Morison.
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WILL SAV NAV GET MILLWALL BACK ON TRACK? George Saville had his first real setback in a Millwall shirt since joining on loan from Wolves. Like Joe Martin he hadn’t been on the losing side in nine games but the game at Fleetwood seemed to pass him by and he was replaced with 10 minutes left. It was doubly unfortunate as Wolves manager Kenny Jackett was among those watching at Highbury Stadium. Saville settled in immediately after arriving from Wolves, dominating the game in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Northampton in his first game and then taking the physical battle to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, a performance that so annoyed Blades boss Nigel Adkins. The 22-year-old midfielder has shown plenty of character already in his short career, deciding to leave Chelsea despite experience on the firstteam bench and a contract off on the table. He went to Wolves where it hasn’t yet worked out for him and then when the offer from Neil Harris came he opted to join a club where fans aren’t exactly readily forgiving of players who have already achieved for them, let alone an outsider coming in trying to win them over in a short period of time. Both Saville and Shaun Williams were given no time on the ball against Fleetwood’s three-man midfield in which Jimmy Ryan sat at the defensive base allowing Eggert Jonsson and Antoni Sarcevic to push forward and press high. With Fleetwood’s wide players diligently watching for potential passes played out wide to Millwall’s full-backs or wingers, the result was that Saville and Williams had to play the ball back with little movement happening in front of them and the home side’s defence squeezing any space between them and their midfielders. That’s where a really pacey striker such as Fleetwood had in David Ball could have given Millwall the option of an out ball and, on that note… By John Kelly
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WILL INACTIVITY IN THE TRANSFER MARKET COST THE LIONS? No one could say that Millwall have not coped with the injuries they’ve had. In fact, their best form this season has come at the same time that they lost two first-choice midfielders in the same game in October. They went on a nine-game unbeaten run but… the feeling among fans is that they should have been looking to push on further rather than consolidate, especially as they really could have done with more options with such a challenging run of fixtures ahead before the New Year. It’s not as if there’s an abundance of strikers with real pace available, however, and Premier League clubs increasingly prefer to develop their own players through their U21s rather than send them down a couple of divisions where they would be playing for a club with different philosophies from their own.
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TIME FOR FRED RUN?
Take Tottenham as one pertinent example. The north London club have traditionally been a good source for young players that Spurs want to get experience in the intensity of competitive first-team football.
Through no particular dramatic downturn in form winger Fred Onyedinma has found himself out of the first team recently.
There’s no doubt given the subsequent early successes in their careers that Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend all benefitted from loan spells at The Den. If nothing else it would have given them an appreciation of the precarious life of a League One footballer playing for the next contract.
Onyedinma, who turned 19 this week, started Millwall’s first 11 games of the season but has only started two of the last seven league games – the 5-3 defeat away to Peterborough and the 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
Not that there was any indication Millwall approached Spurs during the most recent window but, taking them as an example of a wider trend, Mauricio Pochettino, who has one of the best records of any manager currently in the Premier League for giving youth a chance, has a different philosophy and prefers to develop the likes of Josh Onomah and Harry Winks by involving them in first-team training sessions and giving them competitive action in the U21s.
He was very effective against United, putting in a hard-running, disciplined shift on the right. He offered more defensive protection than Aiden O’Brien does, and against Adkins’ side he showed his ability to relieve pressure by carrying the ball from deep.
That aside there is also the fact that Harris has created a tight-knit group and anyone coming in, especially in the short term, would need to buy into it immediately. It’s a risk, in other words, that a fine-tuned dressing room atmosphere could be disrupted.
Although O’Brien has scored six of his nine goals after starting in a wide position, he is really a striker and it would be interesting to see him renew his partnership up front with Steve Morison this weekend with Onyedinma starting on the right of midfield.
He has been somewhat unfortunate that the goal-scoring form of O’Brien and then Lee Gregory has made a starting spot more difficult to come by.
There will be fingers crossed nothing befalls the top three scorers, but there could also be a sense of a missed opportunity if Millwall’s results dip until the transfer window opens again in January.
That would give the home side more balance, certainly defensively, against an inconsistent Bury team but one capable of beating anyone in the league.
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Stat's that... BY JOHN KELLY
Steve Morison has participated in more scoring attacks than any Millwall player this season. He has been involved in 13 goals. ŠMillwallFC
39 2-0 0-0 7-1 14
1903
There have been 39 meetings between Millwall and Bury. The Shakers hold the historical advantage, winning 17 games to Millwall’s 11. There have been 11 draws. The first meeting of the clubs was in January 1908 in the FA Cup and Bury won 2-1. In fact, the first four meetings were all FA Cup ties, Millwal winning the fourth, a replay, 2-0.
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There have been five 0-0 draws in those 39 meetings. The biggest margin of victory in the fixture is six – Bury’s 7-1 away win in February 1948. This is the first meeting between the clubs in more than 14 years. The last fixture was in at Gigg Lane in March 2001 in the old Division 2. Neil Harris put the Lions ahead in the fourth minute but goals from Coiln Cramb and a last-minute strike from Jon Newby won it for Bury.
18%
The most common scoreline between the sides is 2-0 – that has occurred on seven occasions (18%).
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Including loans, Bury striker Leon Clarke, 30, has made 19 transfer moves in his career. He has scored 12 goals for the Shakers this season.
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Bury have won the FA Cup twice, and they did it in the space of three years (1900 and 1903). Their 6-0 win over Derby County in 1903 in front of more than 63,000 fans at Wembley is still the record winning margin in an FA Cup final. Jimmy Kerr is the youngest ever player to appear for Bury in the league at 16 years, 15 days. The oldest is Bruce Grobbelaar. He was 40 years and 337 days. That was his only league appearance and he still managed to go on to play for another four clubs before his retirement in 2007. Of Millwall’s 29 league goals this season, 13 have come from set-pieces. Surprisingly, Fred Onyedinma commits more fouls per game (2) than any other Millwall player.
80%
Carlos Edwards attempts on average 55 passes per game. But Aiden O’Brien has the best average pass completion rate per game (80%)
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Millwall had just 37% possession in the 2-1 defeat to Fleetwood – their lowest of the season. They completed the fewest accurate passes at Highbury Stadium (228) than any other side in the league on Tuesday night. By way of contrast, Coventry (503) registered the most of any team in their 0-0 draw at Bradford.
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LEE GREGORY:
HARRIS GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE TO EXPRESS OURSELVES By John Kelly
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“You’re going to give the ball away, you’re going to lose games, go one down. Obviously you have to try to minimise those mistakes.
ee Gregory has praised manager Neil Harris for giving confidence to the players – by allowing them to make mistakes.
“If you’re not afraid to make mistakes you play more comfortably, more confidently.”
Gregory was also critical of former manager Ian Holloway who he said didn’t tolerate errors.
Gregory also revealed that as a former striker and Millwall’s record goalscorer, Harris is in the ideal position to pass on the benefit of all his experience to his forward players.
The 27-year-old striker, who has scored 10 goals this season, said the key difference between Millwall’s current manager and his predecessor Holloway, who was sacked last March after a wretched run of results, is the belief he instills in the side.
“We talk a lot in training,” Gregory said. “He helps me out more than you think.
Gregory said: “It’s the way he goes about things, putting confidence into the team.
“It’s better that he played in my position. He helps me a lot, works with me in training.
“He’s saying, ‘If you make a mistake you make a mistake, it’s okay, we get on with it, we work as a team’. With Holloway not one mistake can be made.
“It’s helping me a lot more. Credit to the gaffer.”
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POWELL LEAVES MILLWALL TO JOIN BRAINTREE TOWN ON LOAN By John Kelly
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ILLWALL midfielder Jack Powell has joined Braintree Town on loan until January 2016.
Powell, 21, has started three games for Millwall this season but will now link up with Danny Cowley’s side, who are currently eighth in the Vanarama National League. Former West Ham youth team player Powell has seen his first-team chances with the Lions limited this season by the arrival of on-loan Wolves midfielder George Saville and the progress of Ben Thompson. Powell made his debut for Millwall against Wycombe in August 2014.
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AMBLER: WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL O'BRIEN BIDS By John Kelly
ILLWALL CHIEF executive Andy Ambler says he “welcomes” interest in Lions players as it’s a sign of how well they are performing.
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Millwall secured a number of their younger stars on new deals during the summer and Ambler isn’t worried about potential bids materialising in January.
Some reports have linked Crystal Palace with a move for Aiden O’Brien recently and several Premier League and Championship clubs have sent scouts to watch him this season.
“It’s good that we’re getting interest in our players and I welcome that interest,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean they’re going to go anywhere because we’ve already signed contracts with them to keep them here.
The former Republic of Ireland international striker has scored nine goals in all competitions and that has alerted some of the bigger clubs to his talent.
“It’s fantastic if there’s interest and that’s where we need to be as a club. People can show interest if they like. The players have to knuckle down to keep doing what they are doing to get to that point.
The 22-year-old has also demonstrated his versatility in Neil Harris’ side playing on both wings or in a central role up front.
“But all our young players are with us well into 2017.”
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ŠMillwall FC
BOSS HARRIS WANTS MILLWALL TO BURY FLEETWOOD MEMORY By John Kelly
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EIL HARRIS has challenged his players to bounce back against Bury this Saturday after seeing Millwall surrender their nine-game unbeaten run at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night.
Eggert Jonsson and Bobby Grant put the home side two goals ahead before Byron Webster’s injury-time consolation. Fleetwood battered Millwall for most of the 90 minutes and only for Jordan Archer, who produced three excellent saves in the first half to prevent certain goals, the final score could have been more damaging than 2-1.
The Lions were off-colour throughout against Steven Pressley’s Cod Army as they failed to manage the wet and blustery conditions in Lancashire.
Harris admitted his side didn’t deserve
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to get anything from the game. He said: “Collectively as a group we can do better and we will be better on Saturday. “It would have been against the run of play had we scored. It would have been harsh on Fleetwood but that’s football. “They got the first goal and we had to chase the game and went with three up front with four strikers on the pitch. “It didn’t quite happen for us and the goal comes slightly too late for us to rally. We didn’t get ourselves in the final third with good quality to force set-pieces, which we’re good at. “The one set-piece we did get we put the ball in the net. “We have to learn and be better with the football and certainly better without the ball.” Fleetwood’s goals came through two set-pieces, the second a Grant corner that eluded Archer, but Harris wasn’t blaming his goalkeeper for the error. “It was a terrific learning curve for him tonight on how to manage the game,” Harris said. “I think he’ll be disappointed with the second goal. “He’s a young man learning his trade and in U21 football he wouldn’t have played in many games like that. It’s very good for him, experience-wise, and it’s not about looking back on mistakes and blaming. It’s about learning.”
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MILLWALL BOSS HARRIS: NO EXCUSES, WE LOST TO THE BETTER TEAM By John Kelly
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EIL Harris insisted he and his players will take collective responsibility for the 2-1 loss at Fleetwood on Tuesday night that brought an end to their ninegame unbeaten run.
“However, that’s the first time in 10 games. There’s no blame culture, I just thought that collectively as a group we didn’t do enough. “The goals we conceded were disappointing, obviously, the way we defended and attacked set plays. To concede two, one from a second phase set play and one that went directly in was disappointing but it’s a good learning curve.
Millwall conceded from two set-pieces against Steven Pressley’s side as they lost just their second away game this season. Eggert Jonsson put Fleetwood ahead after the Lions failed to adequately clear a corner before substitute Bobby Grant’s corner caught in the swirling wind and deceived Jordan Archer as it floated straight into the net.
“The conditions were the same for both teams but if anything the home team played the conditions better than us. It’s slightly different to what we encounter week in, week out, but no excuses.
Lions boss Harris admitted his side didn’t deserve to get anything from the game but refused to make excuses after the defeat.
“They used the wind slightly better than us in the first half and certainly used it better in the second half with good quality balls.
“Certainly the second balls all over the park we didn’t quite react to,” he said. “We were reactive rather than proactive.
“When we had a chance, especially in the first half to show a bit of quality, we didn’t. But it’s not often that I’ve said that about my players this year, that we’ve been found wanting for quality, especially in the midfield area.”
“I talk to the boys about aggressiveness and picking up second balls and in the conditions trying to read where the ball goes. But we were second best to it.
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FLEETWOOD TOWN MILLWALL
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second away defeat of the season.
LEETWOOD ended Millwall’s nine-game unbeaten run as goals from Eggert Jonsson and Bobby Grant gave Steven Presley’s side a deserved 2-1 win at Highbury Stadium.
They had chances to score and came closest when Steve Morison’s header clipped the crossbar, but it was Fleetwood who dominated and could have won by a bigger margin.
Millwall faced an onslaught from their hosts but survived until Jonsson gave Fleetwood the lead in the 65th minute when he headed in at the back post.
SPACE AND PACE TROUBLES LIONS Harris picked the same side that beat Colchester 4-1 on Saturday. That wasn’t a surprise as he continued with the attacking line-up that had scored 12 goals in three games since the 0-0 draw with Bradford.
Neil Harris’ side struggled to get into the game throughout and Fleetwood doubled their lead a minute from the end when Bobby Grant’s corner drifted straight in. Byron Webster gave Millwall some hope in injury time when he bundled in his second in two games and third of the season.
But it was the home side who were much more attacking in the first half and but for the positioning, speed and then bravery of Jordan Archer they would have been ahead at the break.
But it came much too late as Millwall fell to just their
A glimpse of how much they were on the front
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foot could be seen in the gradual change of leftback Amari’i Bell’s positioning. By the end of the opening 45 minutes he was operating almost as a left-sided attacker and Shaun Cummings, already overworked trying to cope with Tariqe Fosu, had another problem to solve.
Fleetwood half. That was a rarity, however, and the hesitancy in the back four was understandable given the obvious threat of leaving space in behind. Unusually also for Archer, when he had the chance to launch a counterattack his kick-outs invariably drifted way too far for his front two to make anything of them.
And three times in the first half Archer had to come to his defence’s rescue. He stood up well to push David Henen slightly wide before blocking the shot. He was then quickly off his line to deny the dangerous David Ball and he was fearless when he threw himself on the ball, picking up a knock in the process, after initially spilling Antoni Sarcevic’s effort from outside the box.
MILLWALL SWITCH TO ALL-OUT ATTACK After being so impressive recently an abrupt low followed for Shane Ferguson and George Saville, both of whom were taken off. It was rough on Saville in front of watching Wolves boss Kenny Jackett and it seemed cruel on Ferguson that Michael O’Neill was present a game too late.
Fleetwood have been inconsistent this season but the way they took the game to Millwall was more like their dominance in the 4-0 win over Burton than their tameness in the 1-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield.
Harris brought on Fred Onyedinma and stationed Aiden O’Brien behind Morison with Lee Gregory moving wide but it didn’t really result in any more attacking cohesion and only meant Fleetwood posed more of a threat on the break.
Still, against the run of all that play, Millwall could have gone in ahead at half-time had Morison’s brilliant looping header that came off the bar been a bit lower.
It never really looked like the Lions’ night and Pressley’s side sealed it late on when Grant’s corner flew into Archer’s net.
PATTERN REPEATED IN SECOND PERIOD Millwall flickered to life at the start of the second half, but Fleetwood were back into their stride after 50 minutes and when the goal came it had looked inevitable for most of the evening.
Millwall halved the deficit in added time but they never did enough to suggest they would get anything from the game.
They were playing at a much higher tempo than their visitors and moving the ball much more swiftly. They just seemed much fresher than Harris’ side. Shaun Williams did come close when he whistled a shot over from the edge of the area, but Fleetwood mounted a sustained spell of pressure and Webster produced two superb clearing headers before Archer had to stretch and tip Jonsson’s snap shot over the bar. The reprieve was short-lived, though, and when Fosu scorched a cross to the back post Jonsson stooped to head in. The movement of the front three was a problem all evening for Millwall and Harris was urging his defence to push up when the ball was deep in the
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STRIKER NDJOLI THE HERO AS MILLWALL DOWN SWANS IN CUP By John Kelly
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Swansea went ahead just before the break through Keston Davies before Nodjoli equalised soon after the restart.
Midfielder Harry Donovan made his first start since signing from Arsenal as Justin Skinner’s youngsters came from a goal down to knock out their Category One Academy opponents.
The Swans hit the woodwork three times in the second period but the Lions survived to take the game into extra-time and secure qualification with Ndjoli again the knockout hero after his four-goal haul against Woodbridge Town in the FA Youth Cup last week.
IKAEL Ndjoli scored a dramatic last-gasp extra-time goal to give Millwall a 2-1 win over Swansea in the Premier League Cup in Landore on Monday night.
Swansea coach Cameron Toshack was gracious afterwards, telling the club’s official website: “Millwall have defended well and stuck to a game plan and we have struggled to break them down like we have with other sides this season.
The Lions had to withstand a ferocious second-half onslaught from the hosts to advance to the last 16 of the U21 competition. It was the second round in a row that Millwall, who operate a Category Two Academy, showed their resilience after Keaton Wood scored a late winner against Plymouth in the previous round.
“You have to give credit to them, they made it difficult for us and deserved their win.”
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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT FOR MILLWALL STAR FERGUSON By John Kelly
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HANE Ferguson has admitted he has been told off by Millwall’s groundstaff – for staying out on the training pitch too long.
“I’ve found my feet a bit,” he said. “I didn’t want to come here the first day and try tricks and it’s not working out. People would think I was being fancy. I wanted to get my confidence up first.
The winger, on loan from Newcastle until at least January, scored his first goals for the Lions last weekend and delivered some dangerous set-pieces into the Colchester box.
“I haven’t played a lot of football in the last year, but I’m enjoying my football and winning games – there’s not much of a better feeling than that.
He revealed that dead ball accuracy is down to practise and dedication, often after the rest of the members of the squad have headed for the showers.
“I’m loving it, it’s just good to be playing football week in, week out, especially when we’re winning. I can’t complain.” Ferguson also made sure to highlight the contributions of his teammates and manager after being voted NewsAtDen’s man of the match against Colchester.
And that has meant extra work for Dave Bradbury-Shaw and his staff. Ferguson explained: “I got told off a couple of weeks ago and to come in because I was out there too long. Everyone was in and I was the only one outside. I think we had a game the next day and I was probably doing too much before it so one of the staff said, ‘Come on, you have to go in now’. So I got chucked off!” Fans at The Den last weekend would have seen evidence that Ferguson’s work ethic is finding reward on the pitch.
“The lads have been unbelievable this season,” he said. “We got off to a slow start but the manager’s worked brilliantly with us, mostly on a lot of team shape and you can see that. We’re a hard team to break down so it’s paying off. “The older lads help you a lot but keep your feet on the ground, too. You don’t want to get over-confident, that’s when you make mistakes and start thinking it’s too easy. That never happens to us because the manager wouldn’t let it.
As well as the two goals there were flashes of the skill and trickery that once marked him out as one of Newcastle’s top prospects and the Northern Ireland international admitted he’s now feeling more confident to attempt new things with the ball.
“We’re going into games now and things that we’re trying are working and it’s going really well for us.”
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ILLWALL manager Neil Harris is calling for more goals from all over the pitch after watching Shane Ferguson bag his first two strikes for the club. Lee Gregory got the Lions’ opener in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Colchester to bring his, Aiden O’Brien and Steve Morison’s combined total to 25 out of the 40 goals Millwall have scored this season. Ferguson put Millwall 2-0 and then 3-1 up before Byron Webster scored his second of the season to seal the three points for the home side.
HARRIS WANTS MORE GOALS AND IMPROVEMENT FROM MILLWALL By John Kelly
Harris praised Gregory for the quality of his goal against Tony Humes’ U’s when the striker took advantage of Tom Eastman’s hesitancy at the back to race into the box and chip the ball over goalkeeper Jamie Jones, and the Lions boss feels his side have even more room for improvement. “I think it’s important we score goals from all over the park,” Harris said. “Aiden, Lee Gregory and Steve Morison have got their fair share, but I was delighted to see Byron score from a set play. Mark Beevers has also got his fair share from set plays. “And Fergie and Fred (Onyedinma), Ed Upson and Lee Martin, they need to chip in also. If you add Shaun Williams and George Saville’s quality on the ball from distance and their ability
to break into the penalty area, we’re a goal threat.
sure and along with Aiden’s pace and Shane Ferguson’s quality we thought would cause them problems.”
“Lee Gregory’s goal was brilliant. I think Tony might be disappointed with his centre-half’s defending but once Lee gets in, the calmness, the ability and the confidence to finish like he did was outstanding.
Harris has now quickly turned the focus to Tuesday’s night’s clash against Fleetwood at Highbury Stadium and is looking for an even better performance from his players.
“That’s hard work on the training ground from him and a boy bang in form.”
“We were eight unbeaten before the (international) break when were really good at times, really good,” he said. “We finished with a brilliant performance at Plymouth and I said the challenge is, ‘Can you do it again today?’ And they certainly answered the challenge the manager put to them.
Gregory could have scored a second goal to take him two clear of O’Brien when he pounced after more uncertainty in Colchester’s defence, but after rounding Jones he saw his effort from a tight angle rebound off the post.
“I’ve said to them as good as we were we can be better than that. I was disappointed we didn’t get a clean sheet and I told them. We can be better and the good teams win the next game, that’s my belief.
Millwall have scored 12 goals in their last three games and Harris said the management and squad prepare “tirelessly” to try to exploit areas of weakness in other sides.
“We have a tough trip on Tuesday night against Fleetwood who had a very good win (Saturday).”
He explained: “We look at the opposition diligently and we focus on strengths and weaknesses, spaces we think we can exploit and obviously places where they think they might hurt us. We work tirelessly on it as a group. “We felt if played as much football as we could in Colchester’s final third, from their goal line to 30 yards, we’d create opportunities. Gregory and Steve put the centre-backs under pres-
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FERGUSON: I T W AS “ UNBELIEVAB LE” TO S C ORE FO R MILLW ALL AT HOME By John Kelly
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HANE Ferguson expressed his delight at finally getting his first goals for the club at The Den.
The Northern Ireland international winger produced two expert finishes to score Millwall’s second and third goals in the 4-1 Sky Bet League One win over Colchester United on Saturday that extended the unbeaten home run to seven games.
goals. “I’ve been taking a bit of stick from the boys and the manager but thankfully it’s come now and hopefully I can get a few more. “Steve made it very easy for me, I didn’t even have to take another touch, he just put it on a plate for me. Gregs as well saw my run late and put it through the boy’s legs. It was a great pass and thankfully I finished that one off as well.
Ferguson paid tribute to strikers Steve Morison and Lee Gregory for the quality of the passes to set him up, and he was also pleased to make up for a miss in the 1-1 draw with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road when he felt he could have put the Lions two up before Carlos Edwards’ dismissal led to the home side’s equaliser. And he now has his sights set on increasing his tally after opening his Millwall account.
“I was disappointed with the one at Blackpool, it kept me awake for a few nights because I should have scored. But I’ve worked hard in training on my finishing and credit to the lads as well who set me up, that helps a lot.”
“It was unbelievable, to be honest,” he said of scoring in front of the home fans. “There was a great atmosphere and I’m just delighted to get my first couple of
Neil Harris revealed his admiration for Ferguson after Saturday’s win, saying the on-loan Newcastle player is often the last off the training ground after working
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on set-piece deliveries. Ferguson delivered some dangerous balls into the box against the U’s that caused some awkward moments for the away defence, while Shaun Williams sent in the corner from which Byron Webster scored the fourth goal. Ferguson believes extra work on the training pitch is one of the keys to self-improvement, and he also revealed that he and Williams decide during the game who will take the set plays. He explained: “I practise a lot of free-kicks and corners. We haven’t got many freekicks outside the box yet but hopefully we’ll get one eventually. I’m always practising because you always want to push yourself and better yourself as much as you can and hopefully it’s paying off on matchday. “It depends if we’re feeling it that day. Sometimes you’re not having a good day, so we’d talk to each other and if (Shaun’s) feeling it more than me he’ll take them. He’s got a great delivery and if he wants to take them I’ve no problem letting him.” Millwall could have won more handsomely against their often overwhelmed opponents at the weekend, and Ferguson feels the rigorous preparation before games is yielding rewards on the pitch. “We always have a game plan,” he said. “We know how good we are on the break but we knew how good they were as well. The main thing was whenever we attacked to make sure we were okay defensively. We work a lot a lot on our shape. “You can see (the effect of positive results) on the whole squad, not just in the lads who are playing but in the young lads as well, it’s helping them a lot. “It makes you try things as well because you’re confident, and you can see that on matchdays.” 38
MILLWALL COLCHESTER UNITED
4 1
©MillwallFC
M
ILLWALL stretched their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions with a comprehensive dismissal of Colchester at The Den on Saturday afternoon.
Colchester looked shaky at the back and one wrong step away from disaster but it was a mistake from Joe Martin that allowed substitute Chris Porter to pounce and make it 2-1.
Shane Ferguson bagged his first goals for the Lions and Lee Gregory and Byron Webster were also on target against an away side shorn of confidence in defence.
Ferguson put Millwall two up again when he ran onto Gregory’s pass to find the bottom far corner with a low shot. And Webster got his second of the season when he shot home in a crowded area after Shaun Williams’ corner caused panic, yet again, in Colchester’s defence.
Gregory put Millwall ahead in the 13th minute when he outpaced Tom Eastman to finish past Jamie Jones. Ferguson doubled the lead when he was picked out in space by Steve Moriuson on the left side of the box and he kept his nerve to roll the ball under the Colchester goalkeeper.
HOW THEY LINED UP Manager Neil Harris didn’t risk Carlos Edwards, who is still troubled by a tight hamstring. Shaun Cummings, back after featuring in Jamaica’s squad in their 1-0 win over Haiti on Monday night, replaced
40
him.
In the second half he continued to be a menace to the away defence, who looked so, so nervous, and he helped settle some of Millwall’s nerves after Colchester had halved the lead when he superbly produced a nutmeg pass for Ferguson to run onto and put Millwall 3-1 up.
And apart from captain Tony Craig that’s Millwall’s first choice side. Harris said in the match programme: “We want to give (the fans) something to feed off with the way in which we play and perform and that is by being a strong, solid Millwall team, but with some flair as well.”
He came off for Lee Martin late on, and must have reflected on the reception he received when at times this season it has been criticism he’s had to bear.
All of that was in evidence in the first half with Morison embodying strength and Aiden O’Brien and Ferguson adding a dash of flair.
MAN OF THE MATCH Ferguson is enjoying quite a season. He played as a centre-back at times during Newcastle’s tour of the USA during the summer, but must have wondered where his future lay with Steve McLaren coming in as manager.
There was even a couple of smart Cryuff-like turns from O’Brien and at one point in the first half Ferguson slalomed his way into the box with a little feint, a burst of pace and it was only a pity there wasn’t someone at the back post to put the seal on that little cameo by nodding in his dinked cross.
Since then he has qualified for the European Championships in France and here he was on Saturday afternoon clapping the fans, who had risen to acclaim his performance as he made way for Fred Onyedinma.
Ferguson is really wearing his Millwall shirt well now, though, and you can see how the crowd has taken to him.
Whatever else you get from Ferguson you know that hard work is the bedrock of his performances. Harris constantly emphasised attitude and character when he spoke about recruitment in the summer and Ferguson is exactly the kind of player who ticks those boxes.
He finished his first goal very calmly and his second even better when he drove the ball low past Jones from Gregory’s pass. GREGORY TAKES UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF The striker is such a confidence player, and at the moment it’s sky high.
He deserved his two goals, not just for his effort on Saturday, but for his general play recently that has seen him make the left wing position his own.
The way he finished the first chance he got was a demonstration of that, even if he was given a massive helping hand – or stumble – by Eastman. Gregory still had lot to do when he reached Williams’ hopeful hooked half-volley pass forward. He was in the inside-left channel with Eastman scrambling back, but he was able to cut inside the defender and then lift the ball over Jones in the Colchester goal. That put him a goal clear of O’Brien in the Millwall scoring charts, but he ought to have added another after Colchester yet again got in a muddle at the back. Gregory actually could have taken the ball further towards the goal – and really walked it in he had so much space – after nipping in to take the ball around Jones. But, instead, he shot and hit the post.
©MillwallFC
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CLASSIC NEWSATDEN
MATCH REPORTS A YEAR AGO 29TH NOVEMBER 2014
BOURNEMOUTH COOK 22’ , PITMAN 25’
BORUC FRANCIS ELPHICK COOK DANIELS RITCHIE ARTER SURMAN PUGH KERMORGANT PITMAN
M
2-2 1 2 17 16 28 6 15 7 27 11 9
31 2 5 3 11 30 8 6 7 18 10
MILLWALL U P S O N 75 ’ , G U E Y E 8 8 ’
FORDE DUNNE WEBSTER BEEVERS (FULLER) MALONE WILLIAMS UPSON MARTIN (EASTER)) MCDONALD WOOLFORD (GUEYE) GREGORY
ner from Jermaine Easter’s cross.
ILLWALL staged another late comeback to salvage a point at Bournemouth.
And when the ball game to Gueye at the back post 90 seconds from time, the former Everton man made no mistake with a clinical finish to send the away fans into raptures.
The Lions have made a habit of scoring last-gasp equalisers this season and continued that trend when Magaye Gueye drilled home in the 88th minute.
That was more than Millwall deserved after a spirited recovery but they have have still won just one of their last 14 games.
The visitors looked dead and buried at half time after Steve Cook and Brett Pitman capitalised on inept defending to score two goals in three minutes.
Ian Holloway named an unchanged side for only the second league game this season, keeping faith with the XI that drew 0-0 at Charlton.
But the second period was a different story and Ed Upson reduced the deficit when he powered a determined header into the bottom cor-
Bournemouth were without 11-goal top scorer Callum Wilson, who was withdrawn from the
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©MillwallFC
At half time, Holloway brought on Ricardo Fuller and went to three at the back and the Lions looked a lot better following the change. It didn’t take long for a chance to fall Fuller’s way but he flicked Woolford’s corner over the bar from a very narrow angle.
squad with a hamstring problem, as well as striker Tokelo Rantie. But those injury blows did little to blunt the Cherries’ attack. They signalled their intent early on when Simon Francis powered a header beyond the far post before Matt Ritchie sent a curling 30-yard drive narrowly wide.
Woolford then glanced Williams’ free kick inches wide before Upson headed another set piece straight at Artur Boruc. But when Easter looped a cross high into the sky, Upson showed great determination to out-jump his marker and power the ball into the bottom corner.
Yann Kermorgant then spurned a gilt-edged chance when he nodded over unchallenged from eight yards. The Lions were forced to make a change when Lee Martin hobbled off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Jermaine Easter.
Roared on by the 1,000 travelling fans, Millwall poured forward in numbers in search of an equaliser.
Easter got involved in the action straight away but, after skipping past a defender, saw his dangerous low cross cleared away from the toes of Martyn Woolford.
They almost got it straight away but Boruc managed to hold onto Lee Gregory’s header after momentarily losing his balance on the line.
Bournemouth went straight down the other end and created another good chance but David Forde was equal to Pitman’s downward header. The host eventually took the lead, though, when a half-cleared corner was hooked back into the area and Cook squeezed the ball home.
At the other end, Junior Stanislas should have made the game safe but strayed into an offside position before turning in Pitman’s pass.
And a static Millwall defence watched on as Pitman swept a low shot under Forde on Bournemouth’s next attack to make it 2-0.
First Fuller’s header was tipped over the bar and then, from the resulting corner, Dunne’s deflected effort came back off the bar.
The Cherries could have added a third before the break but Francis drilled into the side netting after galloping forward from full back.
But the Lions finally levelled when Gregory’s shot deflected into the path of Gueye, who fired hard and low under Boruc.
That let-off seemed to drive Millwall on and they went straight back on the front foot.
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LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT 1 C o v e n t r y C i t y
1 9 1 1 5 3 36 1 9 1 7 38
2 Gillin g h a m
1 9 1 1 4 4 37 2 3 1 4 37
3 B ur t o n A l bi on 1 8 1 1 2 5 1 7 1 4 3 35
4 Wa ls a l l 1 8 9 6 3 30 1 7 1 3 33 5 W iga n A t h l e t i c
1 9 9 6 4 2 9 1 9 1 0 33
6 B r a d for d C i t y 1 9 8 7 4 21 18 3 31 7 P e t e r borou g h U n i t e d 1 9 9 3 7 4 2 31 1 1 30 8 So ut he n d U n i t e d 1 9 8 6 5 2 5 2 2 3 30
9 B ur y 1 9 8 6 5 31 2 9 2 30
10 P o r t Va l e 1 9 8 5 6 2 5 21 4 29
1 1 Millw a l l 1 8 8 4 6 2 9 2 6 3 28 1 2 Sh e f f i e l d U n i t e d
1 9 7 5 7 31 2 9 2 26
13
1 9
Scun t h or p e U n i t e d
8
2
9
24
2 3
1
26
14 Ro c h da l e 1 9 6 6 7 2 2 22 0 24
15 C h e s t e r fi e l d 1 9 7 2 10 2 5 31 -6 23 16 Do n c a s t e r R ove r s
1 9 6 5 8 1 8 24 -6 23
17
1 9
F le e t w ood Tow n
6
3
10
2 7
28
-1
21
18 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
1 8 6 2 1 0 2 3 2 6 -3 20
19 C o lc h e s t e r U n i t e d
1 9 5 5 9 2 9 4 4 -1 5 20
2 0 Swindon Tow n
1 9 5 4 1 0 2 5 34 -9 19
21 O ld h a m A t h l e t i c
1 9 3 1 0 6 2 2 31 -9 19
22 B a r n s l e y 1 9 5 2 12 24 33 -9 17 23 B la ck p ool 1 9 4 4 1 1 1 5 2 8 -1 3 16 24 C re w e A l exa n dr a
1 9 4 4 1 1 1 8 33 -1 5 16
FIXTURES 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
ROOTS H ALL TUESDAY 8T H D E C E M BE R
OLDHAM ATHLETIC B OUNDARY PA R K S ATU RDAY 1 2 T H 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 5 1 5 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 9 8 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 7 1 7 1 4 B. We bs t e r 1 4 9 0 3 S. Fe r g u s on 1 6 9 4 2 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 7 7 0 0 S. Wi l l i a ms 1 5 1 5 2 1 E . U p s on 1 1 8 1 0 L . M a r t i n 8 2 1 0 J. P o w e l l 1 1 0 0 B. T homp s on 9 4 1 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 7 7 0 0 P. Cow a n H a l l 3 0 0 0 L . G re g or y 1 7 1 3 1 4 F. O ny e di n ma 1 8 1 1 1 3 J. M a r q u i s 4 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 1 8 1 7 2 4 A. O ’ B r i e n 1 6 1 3 4 6 A. P a ve y 2 0 0 0
ACADEMY ROUND-UP
UNDER 21S
LAST GAME
SWANSEA 1-2 MILLWALL
Under 21s RESULTS:
MFC GOALSCORERS: Ndjoli (2)
AUGUST Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey)
MILLWALL LINE UP:
Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot) Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo)
King
Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)
Brown SEPTEMBER
Chesmain
Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood)
Powell
Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2
Mbulu
Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3)
Wood
Hull City (A) 0-0
Twardek OCTOBER
Donovan
Plymouth Argyle (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Ndjoli
Huddersfield Town (H) 0-2
Eze
QPR (A) 0-4 (Eze 3, Ndjoli)
Farrell
Colchester United (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Subs:
NOVEMBER Palace (H) 5-1 (Martin 2, Upson, Thompson, Powell)
Chesmain
Swansea (A) 1-2 (Ndjoli)
Farrell Mulrooney-Skinner
TOP SCORERS:
Bray
Alfie Pavey - 7
Girling
Keaton Wood - 4 Ebere Eze/Mikael Ndjoli - 3
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LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E
24 - Oc t-15
2 7-Oct-1 5
31 -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 h e ff U t d ( A )
Donca ster ( H )
B ra d ford Cit y (H)
RESU LT
1- 2 W
2 -0 W
0-0 D
G O AL K E E P E R
Archer
Ar cher
Archer
DEFEN DE R S
C u mmi n g s
Ed w a rd s
Ed w a r d s
Craig
Cr a i g
Cra i g ( 56)
B e e ve r s
B eevers
B eever s
J Martin
J M a r ti n
J M a r ti n
Ony e di n ma ( 91 )
O’ B ri en ( 8 6)
O’ B r i en
S a vi l l e
Sa vi l l e
Sa vi l l e
T h omp s on
Thompson
Wi l l i a m s
O’ B r i e n ( 8 7 )
Fer g u son ( 92 )
Ferg u so n (62)
M or i s on
M or i son
M ori son
G re g or y ( 7 3)
G reg or y ( 69)
G reg or y (90)
S UB
For de
For d e
Ford e
S UB
R ome o
Cu mmi ng s
Cu mmi ngs
S UB
We bs t e r ( 9 1 )
Web ster ( 92 )
Web ster (56)
S UB
P ow e l l
Pow el l
Pow el l
S UB
L Martin (87)
L M a r ti n ( 8 6)
L M a r ti n
S UB
Fe r g u s on ( 7 3)
Onyed i nma ( 69)
Onyed i nm a (62)
S UB
P a ve y
Pa vey
Pa vey ( 9 0)
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
07-N o v -1 5
10 - N ov-15
2 1 -Nov-1 5
24 -Nov-1 5
FA C up
JP T
Lea g u e One
Lea g u e One
A F C F yld e ( H)
P l y mou t h ( A )
Col chester Utd ( H ) Fl eet w oo d (A )
3-1 W
5-3 W
4 -1 W
2 -1 L
F o rd e
Archer
Ar cher
Ar cher
C ummi n gs
E dw a r ds ( 3 3 )
Cu mmi ng s
Cu mmi ngs
Webste r
We bs t e r
Web ster
Web ster
Be e v e rs
B e 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
C owan-Hall ( 46)
O’ B r i e n ( 8 3 )
O’ B ri en ( 78 )
O’ B ri en
T h omson (8 8)
S a vi l l e
Sa vi l l e
Sa vi l l e ( 8 0)
W i lliams
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
O nye d in m a
Ony e di n ma ( 8 6)
Fer g u son ( 71 )
Fer g u son (63)
M oriso n (8 8)
M or i s on
M or i son
M or i son
G reg o r y
G re g or y ( 9 0 )
G reg or y ( 8 3)
G reg or y
A rcher
Girling
For d e
For d e
Ro m e o
N e l s on ( 3 3 )
Nel son
Nel son
Wood
T h omp s on ( 8 6 )
Romeo
Romeo
L Mar tin
U p s on ( 8 3 )
Thompson
Thompson
Po wel l (8 8)
P a ve y
L M a r ti n ( 8 3)
L M a r ti n
O ’Bri e n (46)
Upson ( 78 )
Upson ( 63)
Pav e y (88 )
Onyed i nma ( 71 )
Onyed i nma (80)
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