NewsAtDen Magazine Issue 06

ISSUE

06

NEIL HARRIS hoping his Millwall side will display more “cutting edge”

CONTENTS INTERVIEW

4 14 20 28

PREVIEW

BOSS HARRIS WANTS MILLWALL SIDE TO HAVE MORE “CUTTING EDGE”

ROCHDALE

INTERVIEW

OPINION

6 18 26 30

FULL-TIME FRAMPTON IS A BIG INFLUENCE, SAYS MILLWALL MANAGER

MILLWALL YOUNGSTERS WILL GET FIRST-TEAM CHANCE

INTERVIEW

NEWS

MILLWALL’S ARCHER: FIRST HOME LEAGUE WIN WILL BE “GREAT” OCCASION

WE’RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SAYS MILLWALL BOSS HARRIS

MILLWALL 0 - 2 SOUTHEND

CLASSIC MATCH REPORT

REPORT

2 MILLWALL 0 LEEDS 3

ŠMillwallFC

BOSS HARRIS WANTS MILLWALL SIDE TO HAVE MORE “CUTTING EDGE”

BY JAY TAYLOR

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EIL Harris is hoping his Millwall side will display more “cutting edge” against Rochdale on Saturday. after a game and when you reflect back later and say, ‘Well, actually, I was wrong’.

The Lions are still in search of a win in front of their own fans after losing all four home league games this so far this season, the latest being a 2-0 reverse against Southend.

“Having reflected back on the game, I think my conclusion straight afterwards was right.”

And Harris believes his assessment after the Shrimpers defeat was justified and will be looking for a response from his team on Saturday afternoon.

Harris added: “We definitely lacked a cutting edge and a sharpness that we’d had in previous fixtures and we got punished, not for two errors, but slight misjudgement in marking or positional play and the ball has ended up in our goal twice.

“I think in terms of the final third we definitely didn’t have the zip in our front play that had been so impressive previously,” Harris said.

“It’s either real bad luck or bad defending.

I’d say it’s a combination of both in terms of the recent standards we’ve been setting.

“We’re going to work on it, but in terms of personnel it was probably a game too far for some of the players.

“It had been a long, tough week for us (after Crewe and Port Vale away).

“Sometimes you say things immediately

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PREVIEW:

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ROCHDALE

ILLWALL will assess defenders Byron Webster and Sid Nelson ahead of Saturday’s game with Rochadale.

BY JAY TAYLOR

Hill did say, however: “The old Den was intimidating as a player. I played there a couple of times and was a substitute there. You can imagine it; the crowd were on top of it and it was a real task. I don’t think anyone wanted to be sub! It was a great place to play though.

Saturday’s fixture between the two sides will be the first competitive meeting in 50 years and there could be some concern for Harris in the centre of his defence should the pair be unable to play.

“There’s no intimidation in these new stadiums; the only intimidation is the opposition as a team really.

Sid Nelson is still recovering from the knock to the ribs he suffered against Crewe, whilst Webster took a blow to the ankle in the final seconds of last weekend’s defeat to Southend.

“It’s a super stadium, but I don’t think in these new stadiums that the crowd can generate the type of intimidation that you would get at the old ground.”

Winger Paris Cowan-Hall is out, however, after he picked up a groin injury in the Elite Development Squad’s 4-1 win over Coventry on Monday as his luckless run continues.

Sky Bet match odds: Millwall 6/4 Draw 23/10 Chesterfield 7/4

Shaun Cummings, who has been out with a hamstring injury has resumed training, but this weekend is a week too early for the defender.

Probably Milwall team: 4-4-2: Archer; Edwards, Nelson, Beevers, Craig; Onyedinma, Abdou, Williams, Upson; O’Brien, Morison.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill is keeping team selection discreet as he wasn’t forward in offering possible ins-and-outs of his squad ahead of the weekend.

Referee: James Adcock

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THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND

BY JAY TAYLOR

HOW WILL HARRIS SOLVE DEFENSIVE CONUNDRUM AMIDST BACK-LINE INJURIES? Byron Webster is a doubt for the weekend’s clash with Rochdale and is being assessed ahead of the game after being in on the receiving end of a heavy challenge in the Southend defeat last time out.

There could be a further concern for Harris in the centre of his defence as Sid Nelson is still recovering from the knock to the ribs he suffered against Crewe.

Harris has a few options he could try as he looks to patch up his central defence. Joe Martin could make a return from injury at left-back with Tony Craig moving into the middle to partner up with Mark Beevers Alternatively, if needed, Harris could opt to put Jimmy Abdou in defence alongside Craig to have a balanced pairing as opposed to two left-footers like the Lions captain and Beevers. This would mean a midfielder coming into partner Shaun Williams in the middle.

WILL PLAYERS FIND THEIR CUTTING EDGE AFTER BLUNT SOUTHEND DEFEAT?

CAN MILLWALL FINALLY WIN A LEAGUE GAME AT HOME? In the past, The Den has been a fortress but in recent seasons, however, home wins have been at a premium.

Manager Neil Harris cited a lack of “cutting edge” in the 2-0 home defeat to Southend last weekend.

This season, only 2,050 have witnessed a win at The Den. That came in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Peterborough.

The Lions had plenty of possession and had wave after wave of offence without really threatening Daniel Bentley in the Shrimpers goal.

In the league, however, the Lions have the joint worst home record with Shrewsbury, losing all four matches played at The Den this season — scoring two goals and conceding 11.

The Lions boss admitted his side made two mistakes punished and had a forward line more potent on the day, the scoreline could have been different.

Compare that with the Lions’ away record, joint best with Walsall with all ten points on the board coming on the road.

There was attacking impetus in abundance in the 2-0 away win to Port Vale ten days ago, with the Lions seeing four goal-bound efforts cleared before going on to win against the Valiants.

Millwall’s players have been travelling to home games by coach to try and replicate the away game experience but so far, to no avail.

Two weeks ago, Aiden O’Brien scored his first professional hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Crewe.

Can Harris’ men make it fifth time lucky in the league and finally break their duck in SE16 and secure an inaugural three points home this season?

Millwall’s forwards have an abundance of cutting edge in the side that was stifled last week against Phil Brown’s side.

Can the Lions find their form in the final third against Keith Hill’s men this weekend?

9

STAT'S THAT...

BY JAY TAYLOR

1965 0 2nd 8 1

11 10

The year the last time these two faced each other at what was The Den - 50 years ago. On that occasion the game ended in a goalless draw in front of 15,389 supporters.

Millwall are still to register a win - and a point - at home in League One this season, having lost all four league fixtures so far.

4

The last season Rochdale and Millwall met, the Lions finished second, and were promoted from Fourth Division table with 62, one point behind champions Brighton. Rochdale finished sixth, with 58 points.

176

Millwall (14th) and Rochdale (6th) are currently separated by eight places in League One, but the two sides are only four points apart.

Former Millwall player Peter Vincenti, now at Rochdale failed to make a senior appearance for the club after featuring regularly for the reserves. Expect making it onto the bench on one occasion against Swindon Town.

10

Millwall have scored eleven goals in the eight games played against Rochdale Rochdale scored ten goals in those eight games including putting 4 past the Lions on two separate occasions.

Millwall beat Rochdale 4-1 on the 25th March 1961 with Joe Broadfoot scoring all four goals. Broadfoot made over 250 appearances for Millwall between 1958-1963, scoring 65 goals.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill is also held in high regard by his own fans, featuring in a total of 176 games for Rochdale, in a playing career which took him to, Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Rochdale, Cheltenham Town, Wrexham and Morecambe. Hill also previously managed the club between 2006 and 2011.

ŠMillwallFC

ŠMillwallFC

WEBSTER CALLING FOR “CONSISTENCY” FROM MILLWALL TEAMMATES

BY John kelly

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ILLWALL defender Byron Webster is calling for more “consistency” from his side.

The Lions have the worst home record in Sky Bet League one and are aiming to avoid a fifth successive defeat at SE16 with Rochdale the visitors this weekend.

number of teams that make a late surge into the play-offs and nine times out of ten they’re the ones who go up in the end. So it is massively about consistency.

And Webster is calling for the Lions to me ready to bounce back in what the defender calls a “mental league.”

“Rochdale are up in the play-offs but we’re all the same, anyone can beat anyone.

“It’s about consistency,” Webster said.

“My previous club when we got promoted we were unbeaten for five, lost five on the bounce and then won five.

“You look at Sheffield United, favourites to go up. They’re seventh at the moment.

“They lost their opening game of the season, won a couple, then lost and then they drew.

“If we’d won on Saturday it would have taken us up towards the play-offs. It’s so tight it’s a crazy league.

“It’s a mental league, and it’s all about your mentality.”

“You look at the Championship and the

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FULL-TIME FRAMPTON IS A BIG INFLUENCE, SAYS MILLWALL MANAGER

BY JOHN KELLY

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EIL Harris has hailed Andy Frampton’s influence in the dressing room.

“He adds something different to myself and Livers on the training ground and in the dressing room.

Frampton played for the club between 2007 and 2011 and re-joined in the summer as a development coach, and recently took his place on the bench alongside the manager and assistant Dave Livermore.

“He’s a man with vast experience at The Den. He’s a great character, a really good leader and really well respected within the dressing room.

The Lions coach finished his playing career with AFC Wimbledon in the summer, before being appointed coach when Harris was given the managerial position full-time at The Den.

“He brings another option, another set of eyes and ears. He brings great mental strength and is a strong voice in the dressing room.

He was a teammate of Harris when Millwall last won promotion from League One in 2010, and the Lions manager believes the 36-year-old will be a valuable asset in inspiring the same spirit in the current group.

“He has been bedding in since joining us.

He had other commitments that had been ongoing, but they have been concluded now.”

Harris said: “Framps is now full-time with us and is part of the coaching set-up with the first team.

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©MillwallFC

©MillwallFC

MILLWALL'S WEBSTER SAW NO MALICE IN DANGEROUS TACKLE

BY JOHN KELLY

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YRON Webster doesn’t think there were any sinister motives behind the tackle that could see him miss the next game against Rochdale.

Webster was caught late with the studs by Glen Rea just as referee Mark Haywood blew his final whistle in the clash with Southend.

influence of Carlos Edwards beside him.

But the 28-year-old has a philosophical attitude to the battle for a first-team place in Harris’ side.

With doubts still surrounding the availability of Sid Nelson, out since the win over Crewe with damaged ribs, boss Neil Harris could be without both his right-sided central defenders for the visit of Keith Hill’s rugged Rochdale side.

“Every player wants to play so it’s up to every player to stay in the team,” he said.

“I just keep going. I’ve got good family and friends around me, good teammates. I just try to keep happy and get in the team.”

Webster replaced Nelson in the 51st minute of that contest at Gresty Road and started in the win over Port Vale in which the Lions registered a third clean sheet in five games.

Meanwhile Webster, like Jordan Archer did this week, outlined his eagerness to experience at The Den an amplified version of the atmosphere accompanying a win that Lions supporters have created at away grounds this season.

But Webster preferred to put Rea’s tackle down to competitive instincts with both sides desperate to secure three points.

He said: “The fans pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us and it’s been a long time that results haven’t been going for us at home. You can see the frustration and it’s expected.

“I don’t think there was any maliciousness in it,” Webster said. “It’s about winning, isn’t it? Both teams wanted to win so everyone was going for every ball, every header, every tackle.”

“When we’ve won away the fans have been fantastic because we’ve given them something to be happy about. So I’m sure once we get the win at home the fans will be even noisier and that will help us a lot.”

Missing out would be an obvious blow to the former Yeovil Town defender just when it seemed he was re-establishing himself in the side and benefitting from the calming 17

MILLWALL YOUNGSTERS WILL GET FIRST-TEAM CHANCE, SAYS HARRIS

BY JOHN KELLY

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EIL Harris will give players who impress in the Elite Development Squad their chance in the first team if they produce consistent performances.

He said: “That’s the idea (with the U21s), firstteam players not being in the team get the opportunity to play for minutes but also to impress me.

The Lions’ U21 side continued their fine recent form with a 4-1 win over Coventry at Calmont Road on Monday afternoon.

Keaton Wood put Millwall ahead before the break before striker Alfie Pavey fired a stunning seven-minute hat-trick to seal a fourth win in five games for Justin Skinner’s side.

“The U21 players also get a chance to impress me. Alfie Pavey has captained the side in the last two games and has scored five goals.

Harris spoke during the summer of basing the future of the club on a successful production line of players from the underage ranks, having handed Pavey his first-team debut in the last game of last season against Wolves at Molineux.

“Does he come into my thinking? Of course he does.

Pavey joined Millwall on a two-year academy contract as a 17-year-old in May 2013 after a number of prolific seasons in the youth teams at Maidstone.

“If they do that consistently their opportunity will come because that’s what we believe in here.

“Mahlon Romeo has been outstanding in the last two games. What they do is they catch the eye and give me food for thought.

“Whether they’re 18 years old or 35 years old if they are consistent with their performances in the 21s, in training or coming off the bench, then they’ll certainly be looking to get an opportunity in the first team.”

Harris has given prominent roles already this season to Sid Nelson, Ben Thompson and Fred Onyedinma and stressed if other youngsters like Pavey or defender Mahlon Romeo continue to impress they will get their chance in the first team.

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ŠMillwallFC

MILLWALL'S ARCHER: FIRST HOME LEAGUE WIN WILL BE “GREAT” OCCASION

BY JOHN KELLY

©MillwallFC

J

ORDAN Archer refused to reach for an excuse as he reflected on Saturday’s defeat to Southend at The Den. He revealed the players were bereft of reasons to explain their poor home form in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat.

Millwall were on top for large spells against Phil Brown’s side but couldn’t breach an away defence inspired by Archer’s opposite number Daniel Bentley.

Archer said: “We were sitting in the changing room after it and we just couldn’t put our finger on it. We’ve been brilliant away from home but our home form has been very disappointing.

Archer did not have a save to make in 90 minutes but still ended up having to pick the ball out of his net twice after two close-range headers from David Mooney and Adam Barrett.

“We have been dominating games but we just can’t seem to find that final product in the final third and put the ball away.

“It was a frustrating afternoon, he said. “I thought we dominated large parts of the game but we just couldn’t produce in the final third and in this game if you don’t put this ball away there is always a chance that the opposition will and they got two point-blank headers which I couldn’t do much about.

“If you don’t score you’re always in danger of conceding and that’s been the case the last few games at home.

“The fans were a lot better, they always are great but I can understand their frustration. We dominated the game so there wasn’t a lot they could be frustrated about.

“It was disappointing.

“That’s the nature of the game, if you don’t concentrate at the back you’re susceptible to conceding and we were probably too focussed on trying to nick a goal and left ourselves exposed at the back.

“The first 10, 20 minutes we were on top and you could hear the fans, they were right behind the boys but unfortunately we couldn’t get that goal and we were punished.”

“We lost concentration and we got punished.”

The 22-year-old goalkeeper is now the firmly established number one at Millwall having enjoyed an unbroken run of six games between the sticks after his debut against Scunthorpe, but he is still craving to experience the atmosphere that he knows will follow a first home league win of the season.

The Lions had made successive trips north to play Crewe and Port Vale in the previous seven days but Archer was adamant the hard work the squad got through over the summer break was precisely to prepare them for intense periods involving games in quick succession in a relentless League One season.

“I had a longer run at Northampton, 17 or 18 games,” he explained. “I’m quite laid back, but it has been good to get a run in the team, it’s enabled me to find my feet.

“The boys have been great, it had been a great last week,” he insisted. “On Thursday and Friday we prepared well and were full of confidence.

“We thought we were going to win but to concede two goals like that you can’t do that at home.

“It would be nice to get a league win at home, you can hear the fans when we’re on top and I’m sure it will be a great, great occasion when that does happen. That’s what everyone is striving for on Saturday at home to Rochdale.

“We worked hard in pre-season. It was two long journeys and we got back late both times so you could say that was a factor, but we’re professional athletes, we’re paid to deal with these situations so I wouldn’t use that as an excuse.”

“I was here last season and it was a difficult season, but I’ve seen snippets and heard when fans have been at full voice, it is amazing.

“We’d like more of that but at the same time we’ve got to produce on the pitch.”

Archer and his teammates face Rochdale on Saturday when they will be aiming for a first league win at home at the fifth attempt this season.

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JOE MARTIN RETURNS AS ALFIE PAVEY BAGS HAT-TRICK IN MILLWALL WIN

BY JOHN KELLY

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Road.

Marquis partnered Alfie Pavey up front.

OE Martin made his return to competitive action in this afternoon’s Elite Development Squad fixture against Coventry City at Calmont

The Coventry side featured three players who were in Tony Mowbray’s first-team squad for their 4-0 win at The Den in August.

The defender was part of a strong home side that included four players who have featured in the first team this season.

Centre-back Keaton Wood gave Millwall a 1-0 lead in the first half before Pavey scored a sensational seven-minute hat-trick after the break to take his personal tally to seven goals this season.

Martin, signed from Gillingham in the summer but yet to make his competitive firstteam debut following an ankle injury in pre-season, started the game at left-back.

Coventry responded with a late consolation but Justin Skinner’s side have now won four of their last five games in the second tier of the U21 Professional Development League.

Ben Thompson and Jack Powell were the central midfield pairing with Paris Cowan-Hall, who came on as a sub against Southend at the weekend, on the right. John

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ŠMillwallFC

WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SAYS MILLWALL BOSS HARRIS

BY JOHN KELLY

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EIL Harris feels his side need better execution in the attacking third if they are to break their league duck at The Den.

Harris was pleased with the effort of his players in the defeat to Southend on Saturday, but said the Lions wasted a number of good attacking positions.

Southend, by contrast, scored with their only two efforts on target through David Mooney and Adam Barrett.

©MillwallFC

The Millwall boss also felt it was two defensive lapses that cost his side.

Harris said: “The amount of balls we put in the box, yes it was good defending by a resolute side, but were we reactive or proactive (in reading where the ball was going)?

In a lot of front players we were reactive.

“I could never see a danger of them scoring a goal, so to get done like we did for the first goal was very disappointing. It was poor defending, and the boys have held their hands up.

“The second one was from a set play and we don’t mark very well. That’s not us. That’s not what I expect from my team.

had been excellent at Vale Park, as well as Fred Onyedinma in the second half.

And afterwards he wondered if he should have altered his line-up for Millwall’s third game in seven days.

“I praise the boys when they do really well, they know that. And if they’re wrong I expect them to stand up and be counted and they’ve done that.

He said: “For a couple of young lads maybe it was just a game too far, legs-wise for them.

“It’s hard to be disappointed with the players. They’re frustrated, they want to win for the fans.”

“I said at the start of the season that we won’t blame travelling in midweek to any away games for our performances.

Harris also admitted his side were not as sharp as they had been in recording two successive away league wins at Crewe and Port Vale, and says he has still to get the tactical blend right.

“Should I have freshened it up? Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We looked a little bit leggy and Southend had that freshness.

“Saturday showed we’re moving in the right direction, the fans supported the players, but we just lacked the quality,” he explained.

“But we do things in the right way. We recover in the right way, we give them time off at the right time, so did the midweek game take its toll?

“You can’t go direct all the time and you can’t make 15 passes all the time, we need a mix. We’ve got players who can play with the football and make passes, and we’ve got players with legs who can run.

“Well, we finished the game (on Saturday) attacking. Naturally as a team behind at home you end up on the front foot but I just thought we lacked that zip all over the park that we had previously.”

“So it’s trying to put it together to make it happen. At times it worked and we got in good positions but we didn’t have the quality in those positions.

Harris also paid tribute to the supporters, who will have to wait until next Saturday at least for the visit of Rochdale for a first league win at home this season.

“Aiden O’Brien has been linking the play, Ed Upson has been linking the play, Shaun Williams has the passing range, but we didn’t quite gel. There were too many mis-placed passes, too many tired decisions on the ball.”

“I thought they were excellent,” he said.

“They came to support their team. I think they saw the team trying to do everything that we want to achieve.

“They know it’s not a lack of effort. And we got into good positions… the amount of good crossing positions we got in but just lacked the final ball.”

Harris named an unchanged team for the clash with Phil Brown’s side but withdrew Upson and Mark Beevers, both of whom 25

ŠMillwallFC

MILLWALL'S HARRIS SAYS LIONS DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY DESERVED

BY JOHN KELLY

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EIL Harris felt Millwall didn’t deserve to lose after Southend became the fifth away side to emerge victorious at The Den this season.

This was Millwall’s third game in seven days but Harris felt the players who had produced Millwall’s best performance of the season at Vale Park deserved to stay in the side.

Goals either side of the break gave the Shrimpers a 2-0 win as the Lions endured another hugely frustrating afternoon at home.

“We had a terrific week, an excellent week,” he said. “We were so much looking forward to coming back here.”

Southend registered just two shots on target over the 90 minutes, but David Mooney and Adam Barrett gave Jordan Archer no chance with two clinically taken goals.

“We had spoken about setting standards, high standards with good quality.

“I can’t fault the boys on effort, the spirit is terrific. Jordan has not had to make a save the whole game and has to pick the ball out of the net twice.

Millwall, in contrast, had 13 efforts on goal, with six on target, but found Daniel Bentley in brilliant form for the away side.

“As ever at The Den everything seems to end up in our net. Going the other way our quality in the final third wasn’t as good as it has been recently.

And the Millwall boss felt the goalkeeper was the difference between the teams.

Harris said: “I’m frustrated because we’ve lost another home game. We weren’t excellent but we didn’t deserve to lose the game.

“That was clear to see and certainly a frustration and I hold my hands up, maybe I should have mixed it up today, maybe I should have put fresh legs out at the start.

We made two mistakes and switched off twice and that has cost us.

“We monitored the boys Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and they were good. So we wanted to reward good performances and try to keep a settled sided, which we have been craving.

“They have a top-class goalkeeper who will be gracing the Premier League very soon.

He has won them the game of football.”

Harris revealed afterwards that he possibly should have “mixed it up” after naming the same side that beat Port Vale last Tuesday night.

“But today maybe this was a game too far for some of the players.”

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MILLWALL SOUTHEND UNITED

0 2

©MillwallFC

S

OUTHEND brought Millwall’s winning streak to an end and also handed the Lions their fourth home league defeat with a 2-0 win at The Den.

through defender Adam Barrett. After Southend had won a set-piece on the left wing, Michael Timlin swung a dangerous cross into the box and Barrett, again unmarked, powered a header past the exposed Archer.

Goals in each half from the away side preserved their own unbeaten away run in the league and lifted them out of the relegation places.

Neil Harris immediately brought on Lee Gregory with O’Brien pushing wide left but it didn’t have the desired effect in terms of reducing the deficit.

Striker David Mooney put Southend ahead in the 37th minute when he rose unmarked in the box to head David Worrall’s cross past Jordan Archer.

Shane Ferguson and Paris Cowan-Hall came on soon after to provide better service into the box.

And while the home side did create a number of half chances, Southend were comfortable defending deep and trying to hit the hosts on the counter.

Aiden O’Brien had a great chance to put Millwall ahead in the first period but he was denied in a one-on-one against Daniel Bentley, who was superb throughout for Phil Brown’s side.

Millwall forced a flurry of corners late on but Bentley was solid and Southend were able to relatively comfortably hang on for the three points.

Millwall lacked an edge up front and it was Southend who doubled their lead on 50 minutes

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NO CHANGES FOR MILLWALL

It was the same story again at the other end again as O’Brien had arguably his side’s best chance to get back into it, but the ball just didn’t fall quite right for him and Bentley was able to save.

Unsurprisingly Harris opted to stick with the side that had performed so promisingly against Port Vale, with Sid Nelson again left out after he had failed to recover from his rib injury.

FRED OFF FORM

But the sharpness that was in evidence at Vale Park was absent in the opening 45 minutes, particularly on the edge of the opposition area.

The attacker was excellent in August when his side were going through a bad spell. But he hasn’t been as effective over the last number of weeks and sometimes he looks like he’s trying just a little too hard.

There were numerous times when an accurate final ball would have given a Millwall attacker a great opportunity to score. The most obvious was near the end of the half when Ed Upson did well to set up Tony Craig to cross, but with Steve Morison free six yards out Craig just couldn’t get the ball in quickly enough and ended up dragging it behind the striker.

Maybe a more experienced winger going through a difficult spell in the game would revert to basics and cross rather than try to beat his direct opponent. But Onyedinma is just 18 years old and that kind of nous will come in time.

Cowan-Hall came on for the winger in the second half and Ferguson also added pace from deep from left-back.

There were other occasions when players just didn’t seem on each other’s wavelengths. At one point Jimmy Abdou and Fred Onyedinma had a chance to break but just before Abdou attempted to pass to his winger, Onyedinma looked away and the ball ended up flicking off his heels.

Craig didn’t look altogether comfortable there, especially when he had the chance to deliver the ball into the box. Although there was a totally different shape to the game when Ferguson came on, he is much more suited to that role joining the attack from deep.

That summed up Millwall’s attacking fortunes in the first half.

SOUTHEND MORE CLINICAL THAN THE LIONS

But this was a missed opportunity for Millwall with another home game to come next Saturday against Rochdale, and hugely frustrating after such an encouraging last week.

Where Millwall struggled to get the final ball right, and then snatched at chances when they did have them, Southend were the definition of clinical in going 2-0 ahead.

Mooney was only a few yards out when he beat Archer but it still needed finishing and the quality of Worrall’s little dinked cross set him up perfectly.

The sharpness that was absent up front was also missing at the back as just before that Millwall had allowed a throw into the box to bounce before Shaun Williams cleared.

In the lead-up to Southend’s second goal the away side played a free-kick short before the ball found its way back to captain Timlin. The tactic worked because when the midfielder drove in the cross the Lions’ defence had taken a step forward to leave Barrett in space in the box. Again, he took his chance when it came, planting a header past Archer who could do little to keep it out. ©MillwallFC

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CLASSIC NEWSATDEN

MATCH REPORTS TWO YEARS AG0 28TH SEPTEMBER 2013

MILLWALL

W O O L F O R D 6 4 ’, M A L O N E 7 5 ’

FORDE DUNNE SHITTU ROBINSON MALONE TROTTER BAILEY ABDOU EASTER) WOOLFORD WAGHORN

M

2-0 1 2 5 15 22 6 8 18 36 11 44

1 2 3 5 28 6 10 26 8 11 29

LEEDS UNITED KENNY PELTIER PEARCE WARNOCK' ) WOOTTON MURPHY AUSTIN TONGE MOWATT VARNEY MCCORMACK

ILLWALL produced a rousing second-half performance to see off Leeds United and seal their third straight league win.

Beevers, whilst Jermaine Easter came in for Scott McDonald after the striker failed to recover from a knee injury picked up against Charlton.

After an uneventful opening, the Lions edged in front after the break when Martyn Woolford drilled in from 20 yards.

There was an early scare for the home side as Rodolph Austin seized on a moment of hesitancy in the Lions’ midfield and rifled a yard wide of the far post.

And Scott Malone finished off a slick move to make it 2-0 and secure the points.

But it was Millwall who came closest to breaking the deadlock in a scrappy opening 45 minutes when Martyn Waghorn’s shot came back off the woodwork and Woolford sliced

Danny Shittu returned to Millwall’s starting line up in the absence of the injured Mark 30

© SportsMole

And Millwall made the visitors pay for that glaring miss in the 64th minute when substitute Lee Martin picked out the run of Woolford, who steadied himself before slamming his shot into the bottom corner.

the rebound over from a tight angle.

In the 32nd minute, Shittu headed over from Waghorn’s corner before, at the other end, Luke Murphy’s first-time drive sailed over David Forde’s bar.

Spurred on by a vociferous Den crowd, the Lions soon added a second goal as Malone dispatched Trotter’s cut back beyond Paddy Kenny.

The Lions thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Malone broke into the area and was brought down by Austin, but referee Chris Foy waived away their appeals.

Malone nearly undid his good work with a bizarre own goal moments later, but, having knocked the ball past goalkeeper Forde, he scampered back to make a vital clearance on the line.

United defender Jason Pearce stabbed over from close range just before half time as the sides went in level at the break.

Forde made his first meaningful save of the afternoon in the 83rd minute when Austin latched onto McCormack’s pass, but the Republic of Ireland stopper smothered the Jamaican’s effort.

Liam Trotter had a chance to open the scoring within 90 seconds of the restart when the ball ricocheted into his path on the edge of the area but the midfielder curled over.

Leeds should have gone ahead when Alex Mowatt picked out Ross McCormack inside the six yard box, but the Scotland international somehow glanced wide with the goal at his mercy.

Woolford could have added his second and the Lions’ third goal when he lifted Trotter’s pass over the advancing Kenny, but the ball bounced agonisingly off the post.

31

STEVEN

REID

© Millwall FC

© Reading FC

‘SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS’

LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT 1 B ur t o n A l bi on 8 6 0 2 1 0 6 4 18

2 Wa ls a l l 8 5 2 1 1 4 5 9 17 3 Gilling h a m 8 5 2 1 1 4 6 8 17 4 C o v en t r y C i t y 8 5 1 2 1 5 8 7 16

5 Ro c h da l e 8 4 2 2 11 5 6 14

6 B ur y 8 3 4 1 1 5 12 3 13 7 Sh e f f i e l d U n i t e d

8 4 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 13

8 W iga n A t h l e t i c 8 4 1 3 1 1 1 0 1 13 9 C h e s t e r fi e l d 8 3 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 10 Sw in don Tow n 8 3 2 3 1 3 1 3 0 1 1 1 1 B ar n s l e y 8 3 2 3 1 1 1 2 -1 1 1 1 2 B r a d for d C i t y 8 2 4 2 9 1 1 -2 10 13 C o lche s t e r U n i t e d

8 2 4 2 1 3 1 6 -3 10

14 Millw a l l 8 3 1 4 9 1 3 -4 10 15 F le e t w ood Tow n 8 2 3 3 1 2 1 1 1 9 16 P o r t Va l e 8 2 3 3 9 9 0 9 17 So ut he n d U n i t e d 8 2 3 3 7 8 -1 9 18 P e t e r borou g h U n i t e d 8 2 2 4 1 2 1 3 -1 8 19 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n 8 2 2 4 7 9 -2 8 20 Scun t h or p e U n i t e d 8 2 2 4 7 1 0 -3 8 21 O ld h a m A t h l e t i c 8 1 5 2 7 1 1 -4 8 2 2 D o n c a s t e r R ove r s 8 1 4 3 4 8 -4 7 23 C re w e A l exa n dr a 8 1 2 5 8 1 5 -7 5 24 B lack p ool 8 1 2 5 6 1 5 -9 5

FIXTURES ROCHDALE T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 26 T H S E P T E M B E R

W IGAN ATHLETIC DW STAD I UM TUESDAY 29TH S E P T E M BE R

PETERBOROUGH UNITED LONDO N ROAD S ATU RDAY 3 R D OC TOBE R

NORTHAMPTON TOWN T HE DEN TUESDAY 6T H OC TOBE R

DONCASTER ROVERS T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 1 0T H OC TOBE 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 5 5 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 5 5 0 0 T. Cr a i g 8 8 0 0 S. Ne l s on 4 4 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 7 7 0 1 B. We bs t e r 6 4 0 0 S. Fe r g u s on 6 1 1 0 M. R ome o 0 0 0 0 C . Pa r r 0 0 0 0 C . Edw a r ds 3 3 0 0 J. M a r t i n 0 0 0 0 S. Wi l l i a ms 7 7 1 0 E . U p s on 6 6 1 0 L . M a r t i n 3 2 1 0 J. P o w e l l 1 1 0 0 B. T homp s on 4 2 0 0 N. A bdou 6 6 0 0 J. P hi l p ot 0 0 0 0 K . Tw a r de k 0 0 0 0 K . Fa r re l l 0 0 0 0 P. Cow a n H a l l 3 0 0 0 L . G re g or y 8 5 0 2 F. O ny e di n ma 8 8 1 2 J. M a r q u i s 3 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 8 8 1 1 A. O ’ B r i e n 6 3 0 3 A. P a ve y 0 0 0 0

ACADEMY ROUND-UP

UNDER 21S

LAST GAME

Millwall 4-1 COVENTRY CITY MFC Scorers: WOOD, PAVEY (3)

Under 21s RESULTS: AUGUST

MILLWALL LINE UP: Girling,

Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey)

Romeo,

Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot)

Martin,

Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo)

Thompson, Wood,

Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)

Mbulu, Cowan-Hall, SEPTEMBER

Powell, Marquis,

Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood)

Pavey,

Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2

Farrell.

21 Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3)

SUBS: Chris Parr,

TOP SCORERS:

Ryan Sandford,

Alfie Pavey - 7

Noah Chesmain, Alex Wiles,

Jamie Philpot - 2

Mikael Ndjoli.

Keaton Wood - 2 39

LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E

18 -A u g -15

2 2 -Au g -1 5

2 9-Au g-15

CO MP E T IT IO N

L e a g u e One

Lea g u e One

Lea g u e O ne

OPPO N E N T

Barnsley (H)

Scu nthor p e ( A)

Chesterfield (H)

RESU LT

2-3 L

0 -0 D

0-2 L

G O AL K E E P E R

For de

Ar cher

Archer

DEFEN DE R S

C u mmi n g s

Cu mmi ng s

Cu mmings (86)

N e l s on

Nel son ( 61 )

Nel son

Craig

B eevers

B eevers

Fe r g u s on (92 )

Cr a i g

Cra i g

U p s on ( 6 1)

Thompson

Thomps o n

W i l l i a ms ( 6 1 )

Wi l l i a ms

Pow el l (7 6)

A bdou

Ab d ou

Ab d ou

Onyed i nma

Onyedinm a

G re g or y

G reg or y ( 71 )

G reg or y (46)

M or i s on

M or i son

M ori so n

S UB

Archer

For d e

Ford e

S UB

We bs t e r

Cow a n-H a l l

Wi l l i a m s

S UB

T h omp s on ( 61 )

Upson

Up son

S UB

C ow a n - H a l l

L M a r ti n

Web ster

S UB

L Martin (92)

Marquis

M a rqu is (86)

S UB

O’ B r i e n ( 6 1 )

Web ster ( 61 )

Cow a n-Hall (7 6)

S UB

Marquis

O’ B ri en ( 71 )

O’ B r i end (46)

M IDFIE L DE R S

Ony e di n ma AT TAC K E R S

01-S e p -1 5

1 2 - S e p -15

1 5-Sep -1 5

1 9-Sep -1 5

JPT

L e a g u e On e

Lea g u e One

Lea g u e One

Pe te rbo ro ’ ( H)

C re w e A l ex ( A )

Por t Va l e ( A)

Sou thend (H)

1-0 W

1- 3 W

0 -2 W

0 -2 L

A rch e r

Archer

Ar cher

Ar cher

Ed ward s

E dw a r ds

Ed w a rd s

Ed w a rd s

N e lso n

N e l s on ( 5 1)

Web ster

Web ster

Beevers

B e e ve r s

B eevers

B eevers (69)

C raig

Craig

Cr a i g

Cr a i g

O nyedin m a ( 94 )

Ony e di n ma ( 69)

Onyed i nma ( 76)

Onyed i nma (68)

W illiams

W i l l i a ms

Wi l l i a ms

Wi l l i a ms

Thompson

A bdou

Ab d ou

Ab d ou

Upson

U p s on

Upson

Upson ( 51)

M a rqu is (69)

O’ B r i e n ( 8 4 )

O’ B ri en ( 8 3)

O’ B ri en

O ’Brie n ( 81 )

M or i s on

M or i son ( 67)

M or i son

G i rl in g

For de

For d e

For d e

We b ste r ( 94)

C ow a n - H a l l

M a r ti n

M a r ti n

Po we ll

G re g or y ( 8 4 )

Cow a n-H a l l

Cow a n-Hall (68)

G re go r y ( 69)

Marquis

G reg or y ( 67)

G reg or y (51)

C owan - Hall ( 81 )

We bs t e r ( 5 1)

M a r q u i s ( 8 3)

Marquis

Fe r g u s on ( 6 9 )

Fer g u son ( 76)

Fer g u son (69)

T h omp s on

Thompson

Thompson

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