ISSUE
09
BARCA OR BERMONDSEY? Price of Football study reveals cost of supporting Millwall
CONTENTS NEWS
4 8 12 24
PREVIEW
PRICE OF FOOTBALL STUDY REVEALS COST OF SUPPORTING MILLWALL
SWINDON TOWN
OPINION
STATS
THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND
STATS THAT...
NEWS
NEWS
6 10 16 26
HARRIS WARY OF SWINDON - DESPITE ROBINS’ INJURIES
DEFENDER MARTING BELIEVES MILLWALL IN FALSE LEAGUE POSITION
MATCH REPORT
MATCH REPORT
2 MILLWALL
5 PETERBOROUGH
0 NORTHAMPTON
3 MILLWALL 3
PRICE OF FOOTBALL
STUDY REVEALS COST
OF SUPPORTING MILLWALL BY JOHN KELLY
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MILLWALL have the second most expensive highest priced season tickets in League One, 30% above the league average.
The most expensive season ticket at The Den, priced at £514, is £16 less than Chesterfield charge, while Millwall’s cheapest season tickets are more expensive than the cheapest at Manchester City and Stoke City in the Premier League. According to figures contained in the BBC Sport Price of Football study, Bradford City offer the cheapest season tickets in League One, at £149, which is also the cheapest across the top four leagues in England. The Bantams sold 18,000 season tickets this season, the highest of any club in the division. The study gathered data from 200 clubs in the UK and 27 from European leagues to examine how much it costs supporters to attend games. Supporters of Spanish giants Barcelona can pick up season tickets for £73.88, while the lowest priced season tickets at other super clubs such as Real Madrid (£166.42)
replica shirts.
and Bayern Munich (£104.48) are also lower than League One’s average of £285.81. Millwall froze season ticket prices for 2015-16 after relegation from the Championship.
The price of a matchday programme at The Den is £3, eight pence higher than the average across the division. A pie is priced at £3.40 and a cup of tea £2, together 61 pence above the league average.
The cheapest matchday ticket at Millwall is £22, with Bradford’s the highest in the division at £25. The most expensive matchday ticket at The Den is £30, 23% above the league average and second in the list of League One clubs behind Colchester who charge one pound more.
An adult replica Lions shirt will set fans back £43, with those at Bury and Sheffield United most expensive at £45. A junior shirt comes in at £35. The most expensive junior shirts in League One cost £36, an amount charged by five different clubs.
Last season, Lions supporters paid £13.32 to see a goal at home, based on 2014-15 prices and results. Fleetwood recorded the lowest cost per goal, at £6.41.
Ticket pricing policies have become more topical this season following the Twenty’s Plenty campaign, which urges clubs to cap the price of away tickets at £20.
The survey also examined the price of match programmes, food and drink, and 5
PREVIEW: BY JOHN KELLY
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SWINDON TOWN
ILLWALL will be missing Jimmy Abdou and Ed Upson for the visit of struggling Swindon to The Den this Saturday.
first-team regulars for the clash, and Jermaine Hylton and Jon Obika were the latest players to head to the treatment room this week.
Both are long-term absentees and it is a blow to manager Neil Harris as his squad faces into an October run of fixtures that offers an enticing chance to climb up the table. Four of the five clubs they play in the next 15 days are currently below them in the league.
Cooper, though, wasn’t letting the injury crisis get him down, joking that in training it’s currently “two-a-side”. He added: “It’s difficult to get any tempo in training. We don’t want any more (injuries), but we cannot keep crying about it. We have to get on with it and try and get a team on the field.”
After the last international break Millwall won four of their next seven games and Harris will be hoping they can up those performance levels another notch for the rest of this month.
To add to his injury concerns summer signing Jordan Stewart went back to Northern Ireland a fortnight ago because of homesickness, but he returned this week and Cooper could call on him at The Den.
If they do that then it would leave them in or close to the play-off spots and full of confidence going into the busy winter period. While there are worries about the lack of depth in midfield, Sid Nelson and Joe Martin are back to boost options in defence.
Cooper oversaw a summer of sweeping changes to his squad following their failure to gain promotion to the Championship when Swindon lost 4-0 to Preston in the League One play-off final.
Carlos Edwards will return after being rested for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Northampton, while Byron Webster and Mark Beevers should resume their partnership in the centre of Millwall’s defence.
He has signed 19 players either permanently or on loan this season, but has yet to find the right blend for a side currently in 19th place in League One, though they are only two points behind their opponents this weekend.
Shane Ferguson returned from international duty early in the week, with Shaun Cummings and David Forde arriving a little later.
Form guide (last five league games): Millwall: WLWDL Swindon: LLDLL
George Saville could start his second game in a row since his loan switch from Wolves to partner Shaun Williams, back from suspension, in midfield.
Sky Bet odds: Millwall 4/5 Draw 11/4 Swindon 16/5
Steve Morison and Aiden O’Brien have struck up a good understanding up front and will pose a danger to Mark Cooper’s injury-hit Robins.
Probable Millwall team: Archer; Edwards, Webster, Beevers, Craig; Onyedinma, Williams, Saville, Ferguson; Morison, O’Brien.
The Swindon boss could be missing up to 12 7
BY JOHN KELLY
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AN MILLWALL TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND TAKE THE THREE POINTS?
The last time Millwall played in the league at home against an injury-hit side they were expected to beat they lost 2-0 to Southend. They had six shots on goal compared to their opponents’ two. They have two choices this weekend: go for the jugular of a wounded and weakened outfit; or sit and wait for their opportunity on the break or by capitalising on a mistake. The Lions will be expected to take the initiative this weekend and press home their advantage against Mark Cooper’s side - who could be down to just one centre-back at The Den. Even against Northampton, a side a division below, Millwall were content to let the opponents have the ball and Neil Harris said afterwards that he was never nervous that Chris Wilder’s side had long spells of possession. While it is true that Northampton didn’t really threaten Jordan Archer to the extent their possession should have implied, it’s not entirely true to say that Harris was completely happy with the way the first half had gone. It was evident as soon as the second half began that Millwall’s midfielders pressed more urgently a little higher up the pitch to stop Northampton more at the source. Millwall’s most impressive wins this season have come when they have absorbed pressure, allowed the opponents have the ball (in non-dangerous areas) and then taken advantage of breaks and set-pieces. But with four games in the rest of this month against teams struggling below them in the league, will we see a different type of template emerge? One where Millwall are the dominant force? Time will tell.
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ILL HARRIS GO FOR OUT-AND-OUT WIDTH ON BOTH SIDES THIS SATURDAY?
AN SWINDON TROUBLE MILLWALL WITH THEIR POSSESSION GAME?
Carrying on the discussion slightly from the first point, in terms of the likely shape of the game, their injury problems would suggest no. But the setbacks won’t alter Cooper’s philosophy and he’ll have seen how Northampton had the ball for long spells. He’ll also have noted that Peterborough shot whenever they had the chance so if the Robins can work the ball to within 30 yards of Millwall’s goal he will surely have told his players to do the same.
The manager said as early as pre-season that he likes the option of using a central midfielder in a nominal wide role. With Fred Onyedinma firmly established as the first-choice right winger that has meant Ben Thompson and Ed Upson fulfilling the slightly narrower role on the left. Upson was showing he was acquiring some consistency and confidence before he went off injured at Peterborough.
Interestingly, Millwall have won only one game in which they’ve had 50% possession or more, against Shrewsbury on the opening day of the season. They’ve lost three (Chesterfield, Southend and Peterborough) and drawn one (Scunthorpe) of the other games in which they’ve shared or shaded possession.
Harris has only used two out-and-out wingers in three games this season. Lee Martin started against both Shrewsbury and then in the 4-0 defeat to Coventry but was withdrawn at half-time in the latter and hasn’t started a league game since.
Swindon had 60% possession in their last game away at Blackpool but couldn’t make it count as they lost 1-0. That dipped to 52% as they lost 2-1 at home to Peterborough last weekend, but they completed 84% of their passes indicating that maybe they are lacking real firepower up front or an incisiveness in the final third that would turn their nice approach play into tangible results.
Onyedinma and Shane Ferguson played in the wide midfield positions against Rochdale and the result was Millwall’s most comprehensive win of the season against a side that was in the play-off places at the time. Shaun Williams will be back from suspension on Saturday and should be partnered in midfield by George Saville. That will give Millwall security in the centre of the field and allow Onyedinma and Ferguson to hold the width.
The 539 passes they completed last weekend is three more than Millwall’s highest this season, at home to Southend. Still, for all the styles differ, there is essentially only one goal of a difference between the sides this season: Millwall and Swindon have both scored 17 times, while the Robins’ have conceded one more, albeit they’ve played one game more.
If Ferguson has returned fresh enough from his exertions (or, more precisely, his celebrations) with Northern Ireland he will give Millwall the added weapon of better quality crossing from the left. His pace will also worry a Swindon defence that will be missing a number of its regulars.
Shaun Williams and Joe Martin were among the players this week echoing Harris’ belief that Millwall have become more patient in their defending and cuter in knowing when and where to press. They might be expected to carry the initiative a bit more this weekend, though.
Swindon are vulnerable to attacks from wide areas – meaning Steve Morison and Aiden O’Brien might be licking their lips at the sight of the weakened Robins on Saturday.
The Robins are winless in seven games and it would be a surprise, with all their injuries, if they were to unduly worry their opponents this weekend.
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STAT'S THAT... BY JOHN KELLY
2010
37 5 1-0 7
This is the first meeting of Millwall and Swindon since the 2010 League One play-off final when Paul Robinson’s goal in the 39th minute was enough for Kenny Jackett’s side to seal promotion to the Championship after a four-year absence from the second tier. The clubs have met on 94 previous occasions with Millwall holding the historical edge with 37 victories to Swindon’s 31. There have been 26 draws. The sides first met in Division Three (South) in November 1920 when the Lions won 5-0. Millwall are unbeaten in five games against Saturday’s opponents since Swindon won 2-1 at the County Ground in May 2008. Danny Senda gave Millwall the lead but Simon Cox equalised and Richard Shaw’s own goal gave the Robins victory.
went through to the area quarter-finals though, winning 3-2 on penalties.
3 19 60% 84% 42%
The most common results between the sides is 1-0. That scoreline has occurred 21 times (22%). There have only been seven 0-0 draws between the sides, the last coming in 2001 in the LDV Vans Trophy. Swindon
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If Millwall win on Saturday it will be the first time they have won three in a row at home for three years. Swindon have signed 19 players either permanently or on loan this season and 13 have left the club since they lost the League One play-off final 4-0 to Preston last May. In their last away game, at Blackpool, Swindon had 60% possession – the joint most of any side on matchday 11. The Robins were successful with 84% of their passes in that game – yet still lost 1-0. Millwall had just 42% possession in their last home game against Rochdale, and have averaged 47% per game in League One so far this season.
Ed Upson dribbled the ball seven times in the 5-3 win over Peterborough, and he was successful with each one of them.
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MILLWALL'S HARRIS WARY OF SWINDON
DESPITE ROBINS' INJURIES BY JOHN KELLY
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ILLWALL boss Neil Harris says his players will have to be patient against a Swindon team he expects to come to The Den to try to frustrate his side.
He said: “Swindon are a good football team. I saw them a few times last year, I’ve seen them this season a couple of times. “They play total football, they look to retain possession and keep the ball to frustrate the opposition.
The Robins are currently in 19th place in the Sky Bet League One table despite being one of the most active sides in the division in the transfer window this season.
“As ever, we need to be patient, but aggressive at the right times. They’ve got some good players, players that can hurt you.
Swindon have signed 19 players either permanently or on loan but will arrive in south London with a weakened squad.
“They’ve brought in some players on loan from some big clubs. They’ve got dangerous players so we have to be careful.”
They could be missing up to 12 players through injury and suspension and have just two centre-backs available this weekend.
Harris has injury concerns of his own ahead of the clash, with midfielders Jimmy Abdou and Ed Upson out and winger Paris Cowan-Hall still working his way back towards full fitness.
But manager Mark Cooper, who guided the club to the brink if the Championship last season before Preston defeated them 4-0 in the League One play-off final at Wembley, is remaining upbeat despite the injury crisis.
And the Lions manager will be keeping his fingers crossed his squad can avoid picking up any more knocks during a busy period of fixtures.
He told FLIC Wiltshire: “It is difficult to get that tempo in training because we are in a catch 22 where we don’t want any more injuries so it is difficult but we can’t keep crying about it – we have to try and get a team on the pitch for Saturday and have a right go at it.”
Harris said: “We’ve got five games in 15 days and hopefully we’ll have a bit of luck on the injury front, that we stay healthy. “It’s certainly an opportunity for me to use all the players available to me. It might be an opportunity for some of our youngsters to get minutes.”
Millwall faced a similar situation when Southend came to The Den in September missing a number of players. But Phil Brown’s side won 2-0 and Harris, who watched the Robins in action last weekend as they lost 2-1 at home to Peterborough, is wary of the threat Saturday’s opponents will pose.
The meeting will be the first between the sides since the 2010 League One play-off final when Paul Robinson’s goal sealed Millwall’s place in the Championship.
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MILLWALL BOSS HARRIS PAVES THE WAY TO FIRST TEAM FOR ALFIE BY JOHN KELLY
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LFIE Pavey could be given his chance in the Millwall first team after John Marquis joined Leyton Orient on loan last week.
a loan signing for a period of time then that means making sure we get the right player who fits with how we play, getting in the right character.
Neil Harris has stressed he wants four strikers in his first-team squad and Pavey has put himself in the frame to fill the gap with seven goals for the U21s so far this season.
“We’re mindful of the fact that we’ve got Alfie scoring goals in the U21s. He came into our academy late from the non-league so he’s still learning the game, but he has done well.
The 20-year-old centre-forward made his debut for Millwall in the 4-2 defeat to Wolves on the last day of last season.
“Obviously we’ve got Jamie who’s probably ready to be involved in the first team but is out injured for a similar sort of time as Jimmy (Abdou).
He joined the Lions in May 2013 from Maidstone United where he enjoyed a prolific final season in the youth ranks scoring 124 goals.
“So if it’s a loan for a period of time we’d certainly consider it but, as ever for me, it has to be the right person.
However, Jamie Philpot, another striker honing his craft with the Elite Development Squad, but who has suffered bad luck since his debut in the same game at Molineux lasted just eight minutes before he went off, could have to wait until the new year for his chance as he recovers from an injury he picked up in an U21 game against Leeds.
“He needs to be slightly different to what we’ve got. We almost had John Marquis vying with Steve Morison and Lee Gregory and playing similar to them, or trying to mould him to be like Aiden O’Brien. But no one’s Aiden O’Brien, he’s a unique player. “So it might be someone who can give us a little bit more height, or somebody who can play a little bit similar to Aiden in that deeper role but also gives us a different threat going forward. It’s just making sure we don’t get the same sort of player to what we already have.”
Harris is also not ruling out looking to the transfer market to add to his attacking options. He said: “I think that’s where, again, we have to ask are we going to boost the ranks. If it’s
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DEFENDER MARTIN BELIEVES MILLWALL IN FALSE LEAGUE POSITION BY JOHN KELLY
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OE Martin is surprised by the form of former club Gillingham – and he insisted Millwall have more quality in their squad.
Martin left the Gills to join Millwall in the summer but had to wait more than three months for his competitive debut after picking up an ankle injury in pre-season.
string while playing for Gillingham against Chesterfield last March. And he is looking forward to sampling a noisier Den than the relatively subdued atmosphere that accompanied his debut.
Justin Edinburgh’s side finished in 12th place in League One last season but are part of an unexpected pack that includes Walsall, Burton and Bury setting the pace at the front this season.
He said: “Even though there were only about 2,000 at the Northampton game, when they get going they still have a bit about them. “In the league you’re playing in front of 8,000 so hopefully I’ll get there and experience the real Den atmosphere.”
Gillingham are just a point off the top of the table having already won almost half as many games as they did in the entire of last season, and they are 10 points ahead of Millwall.
Martin made a couple of important interceptions against Chris Wilder’s side and, with Swindon expected to play a possession-based game this Saturday, the 26-year-old believes it’s crucial that Millwall don’t deviate from their own approach.
The sides won’t clash in the league until December but by that stage Martin thinks the table could have a different complexion. “It is a little bit of a surprise,” the defender admitted. “I’d be honest and say that coming to Millwall there is quite a difference in the standard of players that are here.
He explained: “It’s tempting if the other team has the ball to leave your shape and go chasing it, especially at The Den where you want to be putting tackles in and you don’t want other teams to just come and have the ball.
“They’ve been on a good run and have had a bit of luck and they’ve got a good team, but their squad is nowhere near as good as ours. I think by Christmas or maybe a bit after that it’ll probably level itself out and you’ll have a better perspective of where clubs really are.”
“Teams will come here and try and frustrate us and use the crowd against us. But I think the gaffer’s right in what he’s saying – that we’ve got to stick to our game plan and not let teams frustrate us.”
Martin is back in contention to start a league game for the first time since damaging a ham17
STRIKER MARQUIS “FRUSTRATED”
AT MILLWALL BEFORE LOAN MOVE BY JOHN KELLY
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EIL Harris said frustration at the lack of first-team opportunities was a decisive factor in John Marquis’ move to Leyton Orient last week.
Marquis, 23, signed a one-year deal in the summer to extend his stay at Millwall but has found himself behind Steve Morison, Aiden O’Brien and Lee Gregory in the pecking order this season.
ed at times because he wants to play.
The striker made his Lions debut over six years ago but has been out on loan at a number of clubs since, most productively at Gillingham last season.
“We sort of said to him when he re-signed: ‘Have a go, give it a right good go, but if you’re not playing regularly and you’re frustrated then come and see me.’
However, he started just two of fourteen games before his loan switch to Ian Hendon’s side and and failed to score in six appearances.
“We spoke at various times in the last few weeks where he just said, ‘I’m frustrated’.
“He had a taste last year and played quite a lot of games on a couple of loan spells and wants to play every week.
“He really enjoys it here, we do a lot of striker stuff but ultimately he wants to play on a Saturday.
Marquis made his debut as a half-time substitute in Orient’s 3-2 defeat at Crawley last Saturday and he will now hope to rediscover the form that saw him score eight goals in 18 appearances at Gillingham last season.
“Obviously Orient had shown a strong interest and it fit nicely for John that he knew a couple of players there, that it’s in London and it’s an opportunity for three months to go and get some rhythm to his play and then we can reassess it in January where it goes from there.”
Harris says a decision could be made on his long-term future after the end of his current deal. He explained: “John has given his all, every day he gives his all. But he just got frustrat-
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MILLWALL BOSS HARRIS:
JIMMY'S SORE AFTER OP BUT IN GOOD FORM BY JOHN KELLY
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ILLWALL boss Neil Harris says it will be a “bonus” if midfielder Jimmy Abdou makes a return to the first team before Christmas. “Hopefully from today we’re looking at about 10 or 11 weeks.
Abdou had surgery last Thursday to repair the dislocated collarbone he suffered in the fourth minute of the 5-3 defeat to Peterborough on October 3.
“Realistically that’s taking us to round about the Christmas period. If we got Jimmy back around Christmas it would be a good bonus, it would be a good boost.
The procedure was Abdou’s first ever operation and the 31-year-old is back at Millwall’s training ground where he joins Ed Upson, out after damaging medial knee ligaments in the same game, to begin a period of recuperation.
Meanwhile Harris confirmed that right-back Shaun Cummings should be available for Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Swindon at The Den.
Harris said: “Jimmy’s sore, but he’s good.
Cummings won his third cap for Jamaica in their friendly against South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday and will challenge Carlos Edwards for a place in the Lions side should he return unscathed from the trip.
“He’s a big loss for us, but no one’s more frustrated than Jimmy Abdou because he wants to be on that pitch. “Typical Jimmy, all he wants to do is apologise for not being fit. “We can’t put a specific timescale on it because of the nature of the injury, it’s a bit different.
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SHAUN WILLIAMS WILL RISK MORE BOOKINGS IF IT HELPS MILLWALL BY JOHN KELLY
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that it has helped his own form as well as boosting overall confidence and results.
HAUN Williams says he has no intention of curbing the aggression in his game – even if it means risking accumulating more yellow cards.
He explained: “We have a bit of a different game plan now and we’re actually playing a bit more football whereas before it was a bit more get it forward and get after it and run around.
The midfielder became the first Lions player to pick up five bookings this season, meaning he missed the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Northampton through suspension. Williams believes a number of those cautions were necessary as they benefitted the team. He said: “It was probably a better game to miss than a league game.
“But there wouldn’t really be much point in me playing if we weren’t passing the football. I’m not the type rattle around and chase other people, I’m more effective when we have the ball rather than when we’re without it.
“I think three or four out of the five yellow cards were when I was taking one for the team. I’m not really too fussed – if I’ve to do it five more times I will.”
“I think (that change) is going to help us. Obviously we’ve won more games so confidence is a bit higher, people seem a bit more relaxed on the ball and tend to pass it a bit more.”
Meanwhile the 28-year-old feels Millwall are now playing a more constructive game, and
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mentum.’ That’s what we’ve done. We’ve got a game plan, as ever. The boys know their jobs inside-out. They know I want to win every game. In no uncertain terms they know that, so in the next round we want to win again.”
ILLWALL ARE potentially just four games away from Wembley after beating Northampton at The Den on Tuesday night.
Just as they did after the 1-0 win over Peterborough on September 1 they entered their second international break of the season buoyed by progression in the Football League Trophy.
Two goals from Aiden O’Brien and Lee Gregory gave Millwall an ultimately comfortable victory after Northampton had threatened to make it an awkward evening in front 2,254 supporters at The Den.
The draw for the area quarter-finals will take place on Saturday morning, but Neil Harris didn’t allow himself to be tempted to think of a return to a showpiece final for the first time since 2010.
Harris handed debuts to George Saville and Joe Martin while Jack Powell and Lee Martin came back into the side with Millwall missing six first-team players through injury, suspension and international call-ups.
The Lions boss said: “We’re just going to think about the next game, I know that’s really boring! It’s two good wins in this competition but it’s early days and there are some really good teams left in it as well. There’s a long way to go and we look forward to the next one.
Carlos Edwards was rested having played every minute of seven games since his comeback after almost a year out injured. Fred Onyedinma was also on the bench with O’Brien starting on the right of midfield and Lee Gregory partnering Steve Mor-
“What I can do with this competition is say to the players: ‘Go and enjoy yourselves and build mo-
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ison - making his 150th appearance for Millwall - up front.
accomplished display with a goal. In the first half he narrowed the angle when Morison found space to shoot in the box and then re-positioned himself brilliantly to block the follow-up with the opening goal looking a certainty.
Northampton didn’t play like a side a division below their opponents and started with the same confidence and swagger that had seen them knock League One Colchester and Blackpool out of cup competitions already this season,
To his credit, Morison didn’t let those misses dull his performance and it was he who laid on the second goal for Gregory when he sprinted onto his strike partner’s pass in the left channel with Northampton’s defence out of position and then curled a perfect left-footed cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Gregory arrived at pace to tap home. Harris now feels the centre-forward he signed from Leeds in the summer is setting the example for some of his younger colleagues.
But for all their pretty passing football and dominance of possession, they lacked incision in key attacking areas and Jordan Archer was rarely troubled in the Millwall goal. He was lucky when Lawson D’Ath smacked a ball of the angle of crossbar and post in the second half but by that stage Millwall were two goals up and, as on Saturday, they came in another three-minute spell with less than 20 minutes to go and the prospect of penalties feeling ever more real.
He explained: “Steve Morison is Steve Morison, he shows flashes of brilliance and he leads the line well. He played with me and I like to think he learned from me how to be a senior Millwall striker: how you can control the crowd with what you do; how you can set the tempo for your teammates with what you do. He’s certainly been starting to do that.”
On 71 minutes referee Iain Williamson declined to award a free-kick for what looked like a clear foul on substitute Onyedinma as he raced into the Northampton half. With most of the home crowd jumping to their feet, for one of the first times in the evening, in protest the ball ended up at the feet of O’Brien 25 yards out and he instantly sized up the target before pinging a fizzing drive that beat goalkeeper Ryan Clarke low at his near post.
Harris wasn’t making any predictions about what the victory would do for their season, but he did acknowledge its importance. He said: “What this does, we’ve not got an eleven-day break, and it gives us focus, energy and positivity because our last home game going into the next one against Swindon was a win and a clean sheet. I think it’s a big, big win for us.”
The Cobblers shot stopper seemed to be locked into a personal duel with Steve Morison for much of the evening, producing four fine stops to prevent Millwall’s 32-year striker from garnishing an
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PETERBOROUGH MILLWALL
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ILLWALL’S UNBEATEN away record this season came to a spectacular end at London Road last Saturday as they lost an eight-goal thriller against Peterborough.
ball to former Lions youth player Michael Bostwick and when he passed to Taylor the winger evaded a tackle before arrowing a drive into the top corner from 25 yards.
The Lions were 2-0 down with just eighteen minutes gone but were level ten minutes after the break.
Neil Harris’ side had fallen behind three minutes earlier when Lee Angol was quickest to react in the box after Taylor’s shot had come back off the post. Peterborough had clearly been directed by their manager to shoot whenever they were within 30 yards of Millwall’s goal and Taylor and Marcus Maddison, especially, were clearly following the instructions to the letter with the latter fizzing another effort just past Archer’s post.
Graham Westley’s side went 4-2 up on 72 minutes before Mark Beevers halved the deficit two minutes later in a breathless game. But nine minutes from time Jon Taylor was allowed to work his way into the box unchallenged to smash his second of the game past Jordan Archer.
But if Millwall were shocked by the concessions they showed commendable composure to stick to the game plan and they dominated the rest of the half.
Millwall lost Jimmy Abdou to injury after just four minutes and that turned out to be a crucial factor in Peterborough’s second goal. His replacement Ben Thompson, on his twentieth birthday, lost the
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Peterborough lost their goalkeeper Ben Alnwick after 30 minutes and his replacement, eighteenyear-old rookie Dion-Curtis Henry, had to pick the ball out of the back of his net twice before the 55th minute after headers from Byron Webster and Tony Craig. Millwall were on top at that point but an injury to Ed Upson, who was putting in his best performance of the season, disrupted the momentum and Chris Forrester reacted quickest in the box to put the Posh 3-2 up in the 69th minute. With the away side pushing up and leaving space at the back Conor Washington sprinted onto a through ball to finish coolly past Archer before Taylor had the final word.
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CLASSIC NEWSATDEN
MATCH REPORTS A YEAR AGO 18TH OCTOBER 2014
MILLWALL
3-3
G R E G O R Y 6 7, F U L L E R 8 2 , 8 7
FORDE DUNNE WEBSTER WILLIAMS BRIGGS (L MARTIN) O'BRIEN (MALONE) CHAPLOW (FULLER) ABDOU WOOLFORD MCDONALD GREGORY
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WOLVES
B AT T H 2 3, EB A N K S - L A N D EL L 6 1 , S A KO 6 4
1 2 6 23 15 17 14 11 10 4 40
1 2 17 6 14 22 30 26 11 27 9
ILLWALL produced a heroic comeback from 3-0 down to salvage an unlikely point against Kenny Jackett’s Wolves in an absorbing six-goal thriller.
IKEME DOHERTY BATTH EBANKS-LANDELL ROWE VAN LA PARRA ) EVANS MCDONALD SAKO EDWARDS DICKO
before Bakary Sako rifled in a free kick over the head of David Forde. But Lee Gregory pulled one back with a composed low finish and then substitute Ricardo Fuller crashed in a half-volley to reduce the deficit to one.
Former Den boss Jackett was set to cause an upset on his old stomping ground as his side opened up what looked an unassailable lead with only 25 minutes remaining.
And with three minutes remaining, sub Lee Martin fired a pass into the feet of Fuller, who span on the edge of the box before drilling inside the near post to spark wild celebrations.
The visitors went in front before half time when Danny Batth scored from a corner and then two goals in four minutes after the break seemingly put the result beyond doubt. First, Ethan Ebanks-Landell bundled in from close range after James Henry’s set piece struck a post
That wasn’t the end of the drama, however, as Shaun Williams was shown a straight red card in the eighth minute of stoppage time for tripping
28
© Millwall FC
the goal-bound Lee Evans.
stabbed the ball through to Jimmy Abdou who side-footed wide with the goal gaping.
Millwall were unchanged from their 0-0 stalemate at Derby County before the international break, with Aiden O’Brien making only his second league start for the club.
Five minutes before half time, Gregory was tripped as he turned on the ball inside the area but referee Darren Drysdale waved away the hosts’ penalty appeals.
The visitors, meanwhile, dropped Richard Stearman and Scott Goldbourne from their back four after a run of eight goals conceded in just three games.
After the restart, O’Brien cut inside from the left flank and shot into the arms of Ikeme before McDonald’s header from Gregory’s cross bounced off the post.
As expected, Jackett received a standing ovation from the home crowd when he appeared on the touchline for the first time of the afternoon.
But quick-fire goals from Ebanks-Landell and Sako put Wolves in a commanding position and prompted a mass exodus from the stands.
His side nearly fell behind in the fourth minute when Millwall won the ball back high up the field before Scott McDonald sliced a half-volley over the bar. Williams then attempted an ambitious chip from a free-kick on the halfway line which only just cleared Carl Ikeme’s crossbar.
Gregory’s 67th minute strike looked to be little more than a consolation until Fuller collected McDonald’s knock-down and swept a half-volley into the top corner to make it 3-2. It should have been 3-3 when sub Lee Martin picked out the run of Gregory with an inch-perfect cross, only for the striker to stab the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box.
The Lions were doing most of the early pressing and in the 20th minute, Richard Chaplow’s corner evaded Gregory before curling inches wide of the far post.
There was still time for another Millwall chance, though, and it came when Martin’s pass found Fuller, who turned as he controlled the ball before drilling a shot beyond Ikeme.
But it was the hosts took the lead from a setpiece opportunity at the other end.
In the eighth minute of added time, Wolves sprung a quick counter attack and Williams was left with no choice other than to bring down Evans, who was through on goal.
There was some debate as to whether Matthew Briggs’ clearance had in fact gone out for a throw in but Sako whipped in the corner and Batth converted from eight yards. Millwall responded well to the goal and after McDonald’s drive was tipped behind, Gregory
From the resulting free kick, Forde produced a strong one-handed save to keep out Sako and ensure the Lions enjoyed a share of the spoils.
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JOSH
WRIGHT
© Millwall FC
Š Gillingham FC
LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT
1 Wa ls a l l 1 2 7 4 1 1 8 6 12 25
2 B ur t o n A l bi on 1 2 8 1 3 1 3 9 4 25 3 Gilling h a m
1 2 7 3 2 2 5 1 3 1 2 24
4 B ur y 1 2 6 5 1 2 3 1 7 6 23 5 C o v e n t r y C i t y
1 1 7 1 3 2 0 1 0 1 0 22
6 Sh e f fi e l d U n i t e d 1 2 6 2 4 2 1 1 8 3 20 7 So ut h e n d U n i t e d
1 2 5 3 4 1 2 1 1 1 18
8 P e t e r borou g h U n i t e d 1 2 5 2 5 2 3 2 0 3 17
9 Ro c h da l e 1 2 5 2 5 18 1 6 2 17 10
W iga n A t h l e t i c
12
4
5
3
1 6
1 5
1
17
1 1 P o r t Va l e 1 2 4 4 4 1 4 1 3 1 16 1 2 C o lc h e s t e r U n i t e d 1 2 4 4 4 1 9 2 2 -3 16
13 B a r n s l e y 1 1 4 2 5 1 5 1 6 -1 14 14 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
1 2 4 2 6 1 5 1 7 -2 14
15 Sc unt h or p e U n i t e d
1 2 4 2 6 1 3 1 5 -2 14
16 C h e s t e r fi e l d
1 2 4 2 6 1 6 1 9 -3 14
17 Millw a l l 1 1 4 2 5 1 7 21 -4 14 18 B r a d for d C i t y 1 1 3 4 4 1 2 1 6 -4 13 19 Swindon Tow n 1 2 3 3 6 1 7 2 0 -3 1 2 20 Do n c a s t e r R ove r s 1 1 2 5 4 9 1 4 -5 1 1 21
O ld ha m A t h l e t i c
12
1
8
3
14
2 0
-6
1 1
22 B la ck p ool 1 1 3 2 6 9 1 7 -8 1 1 23
F le e t w ood Tow n
12
2
3
7
14
2 0
-6
9
24
C re w e A l exa n dr a
12
2
3
7
1 3
21
-8
9
FIXTURES SWINDON TOWN T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 1 7 T H OC TOB E R
BLACKPOOL B LOO MFI E LD ROA D TUESDAY 20 T H OC TOBE R
SHEFFIELD UNITED B R AMAL L LA NE S ATU RDAY 24 T H OC TOB E R
DONCASTER ROVERS T HE DEN TUESDAY 27 T H OC TOB E R
BRADFORD CITY T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 3 1S T 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 8 8 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 5 5 0 0 T. Cr a i g 1 1 1 1 0 1 S. Ne l s on 4 4 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 1 0 1 0 0 3 B. We bs t e r 9 7 0 1 S. Fe r g u s on 9 3 2 0 M. R ome o 0 0 0 0 C . Pa r r 0 0 0 0 C . Edw a r ds 6 6 1 0 J. M a r t i n 0 0 0 0 S. Wi l l i a ms 1 0 1 0 2 0 E . U p s on 9 8 1 0 L . M a r t i n 4 2 1 0 J. P o w e l l 1 1 0 0 B. T homp s on 6 2 0 0 N. A bdou 9 9 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 1 0 6 0 2 F. O ny e di n ma 1 1 1 0 1 3 J. M a r q u i s 4 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 1 1 1 0 1 2 A. O ’ B r i e n 9 6 3 3 A. P a ve y 0 0 0 0
ACADEMY ROUND-UP
UNDER 21S
LAST GAME
MILLWALL 0-2 HUDDERSFIELD Under 21s RESULTS: MILLWALL LINE UP:
AUGUST
Girling,
Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey)
Romeo,
Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot)
Chesmain,
Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo)
Powell (Parr),
Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)
Nelson, Mbulu,
SEPTEMBER
L. Martin (Eze),
Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood)
Wood,
Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2
Pavey,
Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3)
Ndjoli,
Hull City (A) 0-0
Twardek.
OCTOBER
Subs not used:
Plymouth Argyle (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Parr,
Huddersfield Town (H) 0-2
Sandford, Brown.
TOP SCORERS: Alfie Pavey - 7 Keaton Wood - 3 Jamie Philpot - 2
35
LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E
1 2 - S e p -15
1 5-Sep-1 5
1 9-Sep-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
C re w e A l ex ( A)
Por t Va l e ( A)
Sou thend (H)
RESU LT
1- 3 W
0-2 W
0-2 L
G O AL K E E P E R
Archer
Archer
Archer
DEFEN DE R S
E dw a r ds
Ed w a r d s
Ed w a r ds
N e l s on ( 5 1)
Web ster
Web ster
Be e ve r s
B eever s
B eever s (69)
Craig
Cra i g
Cra i g
Ony e di n ma ( 69)
Onyed i nma ( 76)
Onyed i nm a (68)
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a m s
A bdou
Ab d ou
Ab d ou
U p s on
Up son
Up son (51)
O’ Br i e n ( 8 4 )
O’ B r i en ( 8 3)
O’ B r i en
M or i s on
M ori son ( 67)
M ori son
S UB
For de
Ford e
Ford e
S UB
C ow a n - H a l l
M a r ti n
M a r ti n
S UB
G re g or y ( 8 4)
Cow a n-H a l l
Cow a n-Hall (68)
S UB
Marquis
G reg or y ( 67)
G reg or y (51)
S UB
We bs t e r ( 5 1)
M a rqu i s ( 8 3)
M a rqu i s
S UB
Fe r g u s on ( 69)
Ferg u son ( 76)
Ferg u so n (69)
S UB
T h omp s on
Thomp son
Thomp s o n
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
26-S e p -1 5
2 9 - S e p -15
3-Oct-1 5
6-Oct-1 5
L eag ue O n e
L e a g u e On e
Lea g u e One
J PT
Ro ch d a le ( H)
Wigan (A)
Peter b orou g h ( A)
Nor tha m pto n (H)
3-1 W
2-2 D
5-3 L
2 -0 W
Archer
Archer
Ar cher
Archer
Edward s
E dw a r ds
Ed w a rd s
Cu mmi ngs
Webste r
We bs t e r
Web ster
Cra i g
B ee v e r s
B e e ve r s
B eevers
B eever s
C rai g
Craig
Cr a i g
J M a r ti n
O nyedin m a ( 61 )
U p s on ( 6 3 )
Onyed i nma
L M a r ti n (60)
Wi lliams
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Sa vi l l e
Ab d o u
A bdou
Ab d ou ( 5)
Pow el l ( 6 0)
Fe rguson ( 80 )
Fe r g u s on ( 6 4 )
Upson ( 62 )
O’ B r i en
O ’ Brie n ( 7 6)
O’ B r i e n ( 8 3 )
O’ B ri en
M ori son
M o ri so n
G re g or y
M or i son
G reg or y
Fo rd e
For de
For d e
G i r l i ng
J.Mar tin
J. M a r t i n
J.M a r ti n
Nel son
L . Mar tin (8 0 )
L.Martin
L.M a r ti n
Thomp son (60)
Upso n (61 )
M or i s on ( 6 4 )
G reg or y ( 75)
Onyed i nm a (60)
M arqui s (76)
Ony e di n ma ( 63)
Fer g u son ( 62 )
M a rqu i s
Greg o r y
Marquis
Marquis
Th omp s o n
T h omp s on ( 8 3)
Thompson ( 5) ( 75)
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