ISSUE
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BACK ON Saturday 2nd JANuary
ALFIE PAVEY
LOAN MOVE COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR ALFIE
CONTENTS INTERVIEW
4 12 22 30
PREVIEW
ALFIE PAVEY: LOAN MOVE COULD PAVE WAY FOR ALFIE
GILLINGHAM
OPINION
INTERVIEW
8 16 26 34
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
LION-HEART SCOTT IN MASTERCHEF FINAL
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
FORDE: I HAD OFFERS TO LEAVE - BUT MILLWALL ARE DEAR TO MY HEART
HARRIS: CHANCE FOR MORE PREPARATION AHEAD OF GILLS VISIT
INTERVIEW
NEWS
BEEVERS: IT’S MASSIVE INCENTIVE TO PLAY AT WEMBLEY
HARRIS: CRAIG MORE ENTITLED THAN ANYONE TO HAVE HIS SAY 3
ŠCharlie Compitus
LOAN MOVE COULD PAVE WAY FOR ALFIE By John Kelly
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LFIE Pavey isn’t ruling out a loan move from Millwall to build up his experience of first-team football.
He made his Millwall debut in the last game of last season when he came on for fellow young prospect Jamie Philpot in the 4-2 defeat at Wolves.
The 20-year-old striker has made four substitute appearances this season and captains Justin Skinner’s U21 side.
His path to a regular first-team place with the Lions is currently blocked by the more experienced Steve Morison and Lee Gregory, who have 17 goals between them this season, and by Aiden O’Brien, who has played mostly on the wing but who is more of a natural striker.
Pavey spent time with Barnet in League Two in September and October last year where he made three substitute appearances.
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There was some interest in Pavey before the loan transfer window shut on November 25, but his boss Neil Harris decided that, with John Marquis already on loan at Leyton Orient, he would continue to develop the young centre-forward at the club. Pavey outlined the benefit of that loan experience at the Bees to Lions Live on Thursday night but said that, ultimately, it is the manager’s decision where his immediate future lies. “I had a loan move last year to Barnet. It was too good of a chance to turn down at the time,” Pavey admitted. “They were top of the league and doing well and when I went there it was more for the experience of being around the dressing, what it’s like to win three points. “Those players are playing for their families, those three points really mean something to them. “Experience-wise I learned a lot from it. I didn’t really get a lot of game time and I came back and carried on playing with the U21s. “It’s all about waiting. It’s up to the manager to see what he wants to do. I’ll have a chat with him and see what happens.” Pavey has come on in the 89th minute in each of his four appearances this season giving him little time to make an impact, but he is happy to wait for a longer chance to come along to impress. “As much as I want to be out on that pitch, it depends on how the game is going,” he said. “At the moment I’m not stressing, I’m relaxed and enjoying myself down at the club.” 6
ŠMillwall FC
PREVIEW:
GILLINGHAM By John Kelly
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But defender John Egan said that setback hasn’t dented their confidence.
PART from Tony Craig, Millwall are free of any other injuries or suspensions for this Saturday’s clash with Gillingham.
Egan told Kent Online: “From what I’ve seen in training, it doesn’t look like it has hurt the lads. Everyone was buzzing around and if we can put that to one side and get over it quickly, that is the way to be. We’ll put the disappointment to one side and go again.
Fred Onyedinma picked up a knock against Wycombe and missed the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win over Southend, but he was in the squad that travelled to Oldham last weekend.
“My attitude hasn’t changed. I am still fearless and don’t care who I am playing against. We can beat anyone in this league and hopefully we can go to Millwall, get our performance right and get something from the game.”
Midfielder Jimmy Abdou could also start his first game since the 5-3 defeat to Peterborough on October 3. Neil Harris watched Gillingham a number of times last season when John Marquis was on loan at the club, and the Millwall boss was left with a good impression of Justin Edinburgh’s side.
Striker Luke Norris could return to the Gillingham squad this weekend after two months out injured.
“I saw a lot of Gillingham towards the end of last season when they had a fantastic run,” Harris said. “They have a great work ethic and real energy in their team.
However, Edinburgh will be without captain Doug Loft for the clash after he was sent off against the Brewers. Form guide (Last five fixtures): Millwall: LWLLW Gillingham: WLWDL
“I knew watching them they were going to be a strong side this season. They are very well organised, very committed, and physically very strong.
Sky Bet odds: Millwall 11/10 Draw 5/2 Gillingham 12/5
“It’s going to be another really tough challenge for us. We’ll have to put in a fully committed display and show our quality to come out on top in the game.”
Probable Millwall team: 4-4-2: Archer; Edwards, Webster, Beevers, J Martin; Upson, Williams, Saville, O’Brien; Gregory, Morison.
Gillingham surrendered their unbeaten home record last weekend when they lost 3-0 to Burton.
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©Charlie Compitus
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF? At this exact point in the 2009-10 season Millwall had 32 points and were in eighth place in the League One table. As Opta might put it: Synchronised. The current side are just a point off that total – but with a game less played, meaning in points-pergame terms they are ahead of where that side were. It was the run they embarked on when the league resumed in the New Year that really secured their play-off place and almost propelled them to automatic promotion: Just one defeat in 18 games, of which 13 were victories. They collected 43 points out of a possible 54. Are the current side equipped to go on that kind of a run and therefore, barring a freak sequence of results, clinch a place in at least the top six? A look at some of the key factors makes it doubtful. The 2009-10 season was Millwall’s fourth connective season in League One, so there was a certain amount of knowhow built up to what it took to sustain runs like that. Another thing is that Millwall will have to considerably tighten up their defence if they are to push into the top six. They have already leaked 28 goals this season. The 2009-10 side let in 44 goals in total, meaning the current side can only concede another 16 in the next 26 games to match that. That means a big improvement at the back.
By John Kelly
©Millwall FC
Kenny Jackett also had much more experience than Neil Harris does now. Harris has built an excellent team spirit, but experience of similar situations and how to react, or be proactive, is key as seasons reach crescendos.
JANUARY TRANSFERS? A lot could also depend on whether Millwall can add to the squad in the next transfer window. In January 2010, the club signed 21-year-old midfielder Liam Trotter, who went on to contribute significantly to the side and indeed scored the 94th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Southampton, the spark for that sequence of one loss in 18. Harris has already loaned out John Marquis, Jack Powell and Paris Cowan-Hall and it’s difficult to see any of those three making an impact at their parent club this season.
©Millwall FC
NOW OR NEVER?
Any transfer moves next month could be shaped by whether deals can be secured for George Saville and Shane Ferguson. Harris has made it clear he would like to keep both of them until at least the end of the season. He has also said they have both raised the overall quality of the squad.
It feels like Millwall need to make a real statement this weekend. Quite apart from probably feeling they owe fans a performance at The Den after the FA Cup defeat to Wycombe, they face a side who have been in the top six all season and who are seven points above them.
If Wolves decide to recall or even sell Saville then the likelihood is the Lions will return to the market to acquire another midfielder on loan, possibly from a Premier League side.
Joe Martin said earlier in the season he feels this Millwall squad is better than the one he left in the summer. He got a bit of stick for it from fans of his former club, but there is merit in what he said. Now he and his team-mates have the chance to demonstrate the veracity of those claims.
It’s to Harris and his squad’s credit that they are ahead of where the 2009-10 side were in terms of points given the disruptions to the season caused by international call-ups and, last week, a postponement.
Striker Steve Morison has also called this a “derby” and it should ensure a relatively large attendance on Saturday. The home side will be determined to put on a show for those fans ahead of another game on Boxing Day against another side, Walsall, who have been top or close to the top of the table all season.
At least that rearranged game falls on a Saturday. Millwall have played seven games away on Tuesday nights so far this season and have won three of the Saturday fixtures that have followed six of them (This weekend’s clash will be the seventh). The problem with a midweek fixture – exacerbated this season by the fact that so many of them are so far away – is that the squad leave for London immediately afterwards to arrive home in the early hours. That certainly disrupts preparations, with players only really fully recovered two days before the next fixture.
Of the five sides above them in the table who Millwall have played this season, they have won just one, at home against Bury. To be in the play-off spots that record needs to improve. Gillingham will be missing their captain this weekend and they are coming off the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Burton. Millwall should be buoyed by their progression to the JPT final and Harris has almost a fully fit squad to choose from.
It’s impossible to predict whether this side has the capabilities to go on such a commanding run, but at least they won’t be hindered by any more long coach journeys to and from faraway destinations in the second part of the season on Tuesday nights as, barring postponements, there are no other no other such games in the schedule.
The conditions seem to be suitable to start changing that record against the top sides.
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Stat's that... BY JOHN KELLY
Shaun Williams has participated in more scoring attacks than any other Lions player this season. The midfielder has either scored or been involved in 15 of Millwall’s 31 goal this season. ŠMillwallFC
95 4-0
The Lions won that fixture 4-0, the same winning margin when the clubs last met in League One in April 2010 in Millwall’s successful promotion season.
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Millwall have won 48 games to Gillingham’s 26, with 21 draws. There have been just six 0-0 draws in those 95 games, the last one in the Championship in February 2005 (Eight games ago).
6-0 23 32
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Millwall and Gillingham have met 95 times in their history stretching all the way back to October 23, 1920.
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The biggest winning margin in the fixture is six – Millwall’s 6-0 victory in the Division Three (South) in April 1928. At this stage last season, in the Championship, Millwall had 23 points from 21 games. This time around it’s 31 from 20 games. Perhaps more relevantly, in the successful 2009-10 season Millwall had 32 points at this stage of the season before the Christmas fixtures, but with one more game played. So the current side is statistically ahead of where that side was, even if the league position this season (8th) is the same as it was on December 19, 2010.
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Gillingham lost 3-0 to Burton last Saturday, their first league defeat at home this season. That was a run of 12 games, and 15 in total in all competitions going back to a 1-0 defeat to Fleetwood last April. Fred Onyedinma has attempted 116 dribbles this season and has been successful with 56 of them. Next is Aiden O’Brien (77/48).
50 295
Steve Morison has had more shots on goal this season (50) than any other Millwall player.
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Gillingham have won three times away from home this season, while Millwall haven’t lost at home in the league since a 2-0 defeat to Southend on September 19.
27k
Gillingham have 27,700 followers on Twitter. Millwall have 54,100.
Millwall and Gillingham have completed the fewest average passes per game of any sides in League One. The Lions complete on average 295 passes per game to the Gills’ 284. Swindon, who complete 479 passes per game, top that statistic chart.
ŠMillwallFC
LION-HEART SCOTT IN MASTERCHEF FINAL By John Kelly
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EWSATDEN this week caught up with Scott Barnard, a Millwall fan who has reached the final of the BBC Two series MasterChef: The Professionals.
He had already made his way through three rounds of the competition before negotiating the semi-final and taking his place alongside four other chefs in the decider, which will be aired next week.
SB: I can’t remember the first match I went to, it was definitely at the old Den, though. I remember Millwall versus Swindon when Mick McCarthy was in charge. Teddy Sheringham was my hero, and Tony Cascarino. As a chef I work Tuesdays through to Saturdays, I work every weekend so I don’t get to see them very often, but I still support them and follow them.
Scott, 33, is a chef at The Grove in Hertfordshire and has been a Millwall fan all his life. He tells us a little bit about that background and what he’d cook for Neil Harris if he invited him round to his house…
NAD: There must be similarities between being in a competition like the one you’re in and the pressure of playing football in front of a demanding crowd, I guess?
NewsAtDen: So, where did the Millwall connection come from? Scott Barnard: My parents were brought up in New Cross and Bermondsey. I was born in 1982 and always loved football as a kid and supported my local team. My parents and all my family supported Millwall as well. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Typical Millwall fan, it’s a rollercoaster, isn’t it? But I’d never support anyone else.
SB: You can’t explain the pressure when you walk through that MasterChef kitchen. It’s not like your full restaurant at work, it’s completely different. You forget how to cook, you make silly mistakes so it’s not until you find your feet you feel a little bit more comfortable. For me the competition was a little bit up and down but as we’ve got into the back end I’ve started to get a little bit stronger.
NAD: What’s your first memory of the club?
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NAD: If you could invite three Millwall players, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite?
with all that lot on my back I need to do well now! One of them said, ‘If you don’t win you’ll have to smash the place up’!
SB: It’d have to be Neil Harris, because he’s an absolute legend. Teddy Sheringham and I guess it would have to be Steve Morison. Apparently he’s a big fan of mine!
NAD: Crikey. Have you cooked for anyone famous, apart from this experience? SB: Yeah, I’ve been cooking a long time now. There’s a long list but I’ve cooked for Kylie Minogue and Vinnie Jones…
NAD: What would you cook for them? SB: I’d cook them pie and mash! No, I wouldn’t. I’d give them a 10-course tasting menu and pull out all the stops, they deserve it.
NAD: Woah, that must have been a lot of pressure, what did he have?
NAD: Let’s see if that’s true in May! If you were going to cook Christmas dinner for the squad, what would you cook?
SB: I think he had roast chicken, he said he wanted something really simple, he didn’t want any poncey stuff because what we cook is a bit poncey. He said he just wanted a roast chicken so that’s what we did for him, we weren’t going to argue.
SB: I can’t stand turkey, it’s always tasteless and dry whenever my mum cooks it! I think I’d do a roast rib of beef, nice and rare, get some nice crispy potatoes cooked in beef fat. I’d keep it traditional, but cook it perfectly for them.
NAD: And Kylie? SB: I think she had a 10-course tasting menu, actually. It’s quite well balanced so she was able to see it to the end.
NAD: Mmm, now we’re hungry. If Millwall were a dish, what would they be?
NAD: Aw, so cute. Finally Scott, what’s your ultimate ambition?
SB: Jeez, that’s a tough one. Let’s go pie and mash, it’s a fans favourite and they’d all enjoy it. Simple but tasty!
SB: The ultimate aim for me is to express myself on the plate and hopefully get the opportunity to run my own kitchen. I want to develop my own food style. I learned my trade, I’ve learned my craft so I want to take that next step and run my own kitchen.
NAD: Agreed. Have you had support from fans? SB: The Millwall fans have been brilliant, as they always are. They really get behind their own. I tweeted Millwall and said, ‘Give me a little shoutout, I’m in the semi-finals’ and the response has been phenomenal.
NAD: Right, we’re off to get our pie and mash. Best of luck in the final, Scott.
Like I say, we look after our own and they’ve been fantastic. And of course
SB: Thank you very much.
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ABDOU IN FRAME AS MILLWALL WAIT ON SAVILLE AND FERGUSON DEALS By John Kelly
©Millwall FC
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EIL HARRIS is pleased to have the experience of midfielder Jimmy Abdou to call on over a busy Christmas period when Millwall will play three games in nine days, starting with Gillingham at The Den this Saturday.
Meanwhile, it could be after this run of games before the futures of on-loan duo George Saville and Shane Ferguson are known. Harris would like Wolves and Newcastle to extend the deals, but said he understands the positions those clubs are in.
Abdou, 31, hasn’t started in a senior Lions shirt since suffering serious damage to his collarbone in early October.
He explained: “We’ve got players out on loan and the idea was to give them experience and games that they’re not getting at their parent club, so Newcastle are exactly the same. Sometimes it’s not a decision that can be made weeks or months in advance.
But he played the full 90 minutes in the U21 side’s 1-0 win at Watford last Monday and Harris is happy with his progress. “He came through okay and he did well,” Harris said. “He travelled to Oldham last weekend and he’s certainly in my thinking this Saturday.
“Sometimes you want to see how your squad is shaping up prior to a renewal date, so those clubs are doing the same. They’re going to wait until after the Christmas period to see the size of their squads and if everyone’s fit and available before deciding whether they’re going to be extending their loans.
“With the amount of games we have in a short space of time over the Christmas period and also with the sustained run in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, Jimmy being back in the squad is a real bonus and a welcome addition.
“Both players have done well for us and been good additions to our squad, they’ve made us a better squad. We’ll weigh everything up at the turn of the year and see their availability before seeing if they’ll be staying with us.”
“The players who have been playing have done really well but every manager would love to have a player of Jimmy’s athleticism and quality available.”
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ŠMillwall FC
F O RDE: I HAD OF FERS T O L EA VE - BUT MI LLWAL L IS DEA R TO MY HE ART By John Kelly
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AVID Forde admits he had offers to leave Millwall last summer – but none convinced him to end his seven-year association with the club.
Forde began the season as the Lions’ first-choice goalkeeper with 22-year-old Jordan Archer signed from Tottenham Hotspur to provide the competition.
in France, Forde insists he will “see what happens” when the question of a potential move to secure firstteam football with that tournament in mind was raised.
Millwall endured a difficult start to the campaign, losing their first three home games in which they conceded nine goals, before Neil Harris gave Archer his first competitive start in the 0-0 draw at Scunthorpe in August.
And with the January transfer window looming, those questions will likely surface again. He admits, though, that he “loves it” at his current club. “It came to the summer and I had some offers but nothing enticed me away from Millwall, so that’s the situation I was in,” the 35-year-old told NewsAtDen.
Archer has since established himself as Harris’ first choice. With the Republic of Ireland having qualified for Euro 2016, however, and a starting spot between the sticks for Martin O’Neill’s side still up for grabs ahead of the competition
“I love it here at Millwall. I’ve had some fantastic times here, some of my best times in football. My family is settled here and everything else
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so let’s see what happens.” Forde, who will turn 36 on December 20, held talks with Fulham during the closed season but decided to stay with the club he joined from Cardiff City in 2008 and for whom he has played 333 times. He also hasn’t given up hope of reclaiming the number one jersey from his younger rival Archer, who credits the Irishman as having a big influence on the formative stages of his career. “It just didn’t entice me away,” Forde said of the prospect of switching to Craven Cottage. “I didn’t feel it was right. This is a club that’s very dear to my heart. “Hopefully I can get back into the Millwall side.”
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©Millwall FC
MILLWALL BOSS: CHANCE FOR MORE PREPARATION BEFORE GILLS VISIT By John Kelly
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ILLWALL boss Neil Harris was looking at the positives after Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture at Oldham was rained off.
the boys an opportunity to recover from those games, spend a bit more time with their families leading up to Christmas and a busy schedule for us. “It gives me and my staff a bit more of an opportunity to prepare for Gillingham. What it does do, though, is put another fixture into the calendar in January or February for both sides.”
The players were scheduled to have Monday off before they begin their preparations for their second-last home game of the year against Gillingham on Saturday.
Details of that rearranged game have yet to be finalised, but a slot could open up on January 9 when Millwall are scheduled to play Scunthorpe and Oldham are due to face Shrewsbury.
Harris and his management team usually pore over the footage from the previous game to prepare specific clips with head of analysis Dan McLoone before the squad arrives for training the following week.
However, if Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury both win their second round FA Cup replays on Tuesday night – at home to Leyton Orient and Grimsby, respectively – then their involvement in the third round of the competition would free up that Saturday date for Millwall and Oldham to play their postponed game.
But that extra time will have been given to further study of Justin Edinburgh’s side. “We’ll stick to our plan, stick to our schedule,” Harris said. “We’ve a lot of games in a small space of time. What this does is give 26
ŠMillwall FC
BOSS DISAPPOINTED FOR MILLWALL FANS BUT ACCEPTS REF DECISION By John Kelly
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ration we put into the game and the momentum we had from Tuesday night,” Harris said.
NEIL Harris and Oldham boss David Dunn asked referee Richard Clark to consider allowing Millwall’s fixture at Boundary Park to go ahead on Saturday afternoon.
“And of course the cost and time spent for our fans travelling up here. I ask could we learn from this, is there anything different we could do? It’s hard because you can see the rain coming down, the pitch isn’t going to get any better.
Clark deemed the surface unplayable after an inspection just an hour and a half before the scheduled kick-off time following several hours of heavy rainfall.
“And that was one aspect of the referee’s decision, the weather report was saying it was going to rain non-stop right through the game.
But Millwall manager Harris said he understood the referee’s decision, and he also felt sympathy for the Lions fans who had made the long trip north.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing because we’d like to have played.”
“It’s disappointing for ourselves, the travelling, the time and prepa-
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ŠMillwall FC
ŠMillwall FC
MILLWALL'S BEEVERS: IT'S “MASSIVE INCENTIVE” TO PLAY AT WEMBLEY By John Kelly
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“Obviously the fans want us to go all the way, we understand that. When you’ve got this far in the competition it’s a massive incentive to play at Wembley. We want to do that, we’re just two games away now so hopefully we can pull through those games and we’re there and we’ll enjoy the day.”
ILLWALL’S Mark Beevers is looking forward to the first ever final of his career.
The Lions will play Oxford United at The Den in the first leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy southern section final the week commencing January 11 before travelling to the Kassam Stadium for the second leg in February.
Beevers was part of a back four under pressure in the opening 20 minutes of the 2-0 win at Roots Hall on Tuesday night and said he felt the effects afterwards of a fastpaced contest.
Beevers returned to the side on Tuesday night after a one-game ban as goals from Steve Morison and Shaun Williams against Southend sent Millwall through to face League Two opponents for the fifth time in cup competitions this season.
And he also felt front pair Morison and Lee Gregory were crucial to the win. “I was tired, but it was a good win,” he said, before joking: “I’ve only had a week off! It was a tough game, it was a heavy pitch. We had a to dig in at times and we defended well from back to front. I
“I haven’t been in a final before, this will be my first one. I’ve been in the semi-final of the FA Cup against Wigan,” Beevers said.
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thought the two lads up top were really good (Tuesday), they held it up really well. “If they can hold it up it helps us to get up the pitch and it almost gives the back eight or six a little bit of a breather. So it was good throughout the team. “Southend away is a tight ground, the fans are almost sat on top of you. We expected a fast start from them but we weathered the storm. “I felt after that first 10 or 15 minutes we grew into the game and we managed to get the goal. I think we had a few more chances as well that we could have put away. “We restricted them to chances from outside the box. We know they’ve got ability shooting but Jordan (Archer) pulled off a couple of saves and thankfully we’re through to the area final.” The winners of that southern section final will face either Fleetwood or Barnsley in the overall decider at Wembley in April.
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ŠMillwall FC
MILLWALL BOSS: CRAIG MORE ENTITLED THAN ANYONE TO HAVE HIS SAY By John Kelly
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ILLWALL boss Neil Harris revealed club captain Tony Craig made his feelings known to the squad after the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Wycombe.
Craig is still on crutches and in a knee brace after suffering a serious injury against Bradford in October and he is expected to be out for most if not all of the rest of the season.
Harris was very critical of his team’s performance against the League Two side, publicly questioning their attitude after Michael Harriman’s shock late winner at The Den last Saturday.
Experienced striker Steve Morison is wearing the armband in Craig’s absence, but Harris stressed the defender’s input is still crucial to the spirit of the squad.
The squad was brought back into the training ground the following day for a meeting in which management and players had their say and Harris re-emphasised the standards he expects of them.
“He’s club captain and he’s more entitled to an opinion in the dressing room than any other player,” Harris said. “Steve wears the armband during the week but Tony’s the club captain and that’s not just a Saturday three-to-five role.
Harris said he was “delighted” with the response of the side in the 2-0 win over Southend in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.
“That’s the link between the management and the players. With the respect he holds in the dressing room he’s entitled to his opinion all the time.”
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ŠCharlie Compitus
CLASSIC NEWSATDEN
MATCH REPORTS A YEAR AGO 12TH DECEMBER 2014
BRIGHTON STOCKDALE BRUNO HALFORD DUNK CHICKSEN FORSTER-CASKEY GARDNER E BENNETT MARCH J. TEIXEIRA BENT
L
0-1 1 29 3 16 28 31 6 18 27 11 9
13 2 33 5 15 18 19 32 27 17 39
MILLWALL GR EG O RY 13 ’
FORDE WILKINSON SHITTU BEEVERS MALONE MARTINEZ (DUNNE) WILLIAMS GUEYE (ABDOU)) MCDONALD WOOLFORD GREGORY (FULLER) -
appearance at the Amex Stadium and his inclusion was one of five changes made by Ian Holloway to the starting XI.
EE Gregory’s fourth goal of the season earned Millwall a vital win at Brighton.
Gregory tucked away one of few clear-cut chances in a scrappy match to move the Lions up to 17th in the Championship table.
Magaye Gueye, Martyn Woolford, Danny Shittu and Mark Beevers also came into the side as the Lions went with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Both sides have been on miserable runs of form in recent weeks but Millwall made the markedly better start on the south coast.
The visitors were holding onto their lead for long spells but Danny Shittu marshalled the back four to a hard-earned clean sheet – just a week after Millwall conceded five to Middlesbrough.
After Solly March saw a deflected shot held by David Forde, the Lions took a grip on the early proceedings with some sharp passing and neat interplay.
It wasn’t pretty but the three points were all that mattered for the Lions. Spaniard Angel Martinez made his first Millwall
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By the end of the half, the visitors were sitting deeper and deeper inside their own half but they took their 1-0 advantage into the break.
A clever reverse pass from Martyn Woolford found the run of Gregory inside the box but the striker’s snapshot was deflected behind for a corner.
The second period began in a similar fashion, with Brighton on the front foot and looking the more dangerous of the two sides.
Scott McDonald then fired over the bar from long range after a quickly-taken free kick before successive Scott Malone crosses were scrambled clear by the Seagulls.
Darren Bent, who had been anonymous in the opening 45 minutes, suddenly had two chances in quick succession but shot into the side netting before heading wide.
But the Lions deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute when Gueye’s miss-hit fell kindly to Gregory, who steered his shot across goal and inside the far post.
The Seagulls then carved out their best opportunity so far when Adam Chicksen crossed for March, who was unmarked but fired wide on the half-volley.
Brighton’s nerves were evident but Millwall failed to ram home their advantage after going in front.
At the other end, Gueye’s free kick drifted over and Martinez’s low drive was pushed away by Stockdale as Millwall finally generated a bit of forward momentum.
Instead, Sami Hyypia’s side edged their way back into the game, with Gary Gardner going close from a free kick and Forde denying Jake Forster-Caskey.
Five minutes were added on by the fourth official but the Lions dug deep to clear a flurry of crosses and corners into their box and claim a crucial victory.
Gardner side-footed over in the 33rd minute before Forde palmed behind Joao Teixeira’s drive at his near post.
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LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT
1 B ur t o n A l bi on 2 1 14 2 5 2 7 1 6 11 44
2 C o v e n t r y C i t y 2 1 11 6 4 38 22 1 6 39
3 Wa ls a l l 2 0 11 6 3 35 1 9 1 6 39 4 Gilling h a m 2 1 1 1 5 5 39 2 8 1 1 38 5
P e t e rborou g h U n i t e d
21
10
4
7
47
32
1 5
34
6 W iga n A t h l e t i c 2 1 9 7 5 2 9 2 0 9 34
7 B ur y 2 1 9 6 6 32 30 2 33
8 Millw a l l 2 0 9 4 7 31 28 3 31 9
So ut he n d U n i t e d
2 0
8
7
5
2 5
22
3
31
10 B r ad for d C i t y
2 0 8 7 5 2 2 2 0 2 31
1 1 Sh e f fi e l d U n i t e d
2 1 8 6 7 33 30 3 30
12 P o r t Va l e 2 1 8 6 7 2 7 24 3 30
13 Ro c h da l e 2 1 7 6 8 2 5 2 5 0 27 14
Sc unt h or p e U n i t e d
21
8
3
10
2 5
28
-3
27
15
D o n c a s t e r R ove r s
21
7
6
8
2 3
28
-5
27
16
Sw in don Tow n
21
7
4
10
31
35
-4
25
17 C h e s t e r fi e l d 2 1 7 2 12 2 5 36 -1 1 23 18
Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
21
6
4
11
2 7
32
-5
22
19 B lack p ool
2 1 6 4 1 1 1 7 2 8 -1 1 22
20 F le e t w ood Tow n
2 0 6 3 1 1 2 7 2 9 -2 21
2 1 B a r n s l e y
2 1 6 3 1 2 2 8 36 -8 21
2 2 C o lche s t e r U n i t e d 2 1 5 5 1 1 32 52 -2 0 20 23 O ld ha m A t h l e t i c
2 0 3 1 0 7 2 2 32 -1 0 19
24 C re w e A l exa n dr a
2 1 5 4 1 2 2 1 36 -1 5 19
FIXTURES GILLINHAM T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 1 9 T H D E C E M BE R
W ALSALL T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 26 T H D E C E M BE R
ROOTS H ALL M O N D AY 2 8TH D E C E M BE R
BARNSLEY OAK WELL S ATU RDAY 2N D JA N UA RY
OXFORD UNITED T HE DEN THU RSD AY 1 4 T H JA N UA RY
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 7 1 7 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 1 1 1 0 1 0 T. Cr a i g 1 6 1 6 0 1 S. Ne l s on 5 5 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 1 9 1 9 1 4 B. We bs t e r 1 5 1 0 0 3 S. Fe r g u s on 1 8 1 1 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 8 8 0 1 S. Wi l l i a ms 1 7 1 7 2 2 E . U p s on 1 3 9 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 1 1 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 9 9 0 0 P. Cow a n H a l l 3 0 0 0 L . G re g or y 1 9 1 4 1 4 F. O ny e di n ma 2 0 1 3 1 3 J. M a r q u i s 4 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 2 0 1 8 2 4 A. O ’ B r i e n 1 8 1 5 4 6 A. P a ve y 2 0 0 0
ACADEMY ROUND-UP
UNDER 21S
LAST GAME
WATFORD 0-1 MILLWALL
AUGUST Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey)
MFC GOALSCORERS:
Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot)
NDJOLI
Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo) Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)
MILLWALL LINE UP: King
SEPTEMBER Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood) Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2
Romeo
Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3)
Wood
Hull City (A) 0-0
Mbulu Chesmain
OCTOBER Plymouth Argyle (H) 1-0 (Wood) Huddersfield Town (H) 0-2
Abdou
QPR (A) 0-4 (Eze 3, Ndjoli)
Farrell
Colchester United (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Eze Twardek
NOVEMBER Palace (H) 5-1 (Martin 2, Upson, Thompson, Powell)
Ndjoli
Swansea (A) 1-2 (Ndjoli 2)
Pavey (Mulrooney-Skinner, 80mins) DECEMBER Brentford (H) 1-0 (Martin)
Subs not used:
Watford (A) 0-1 (Ndjoli)
Parr Girling
TOP SCORERS:
Donovan
Alfie Pavey - 7 Keaton Wood / Mikael Ndjoli - 4 Lee Martin / Ebere Eze - 3
45
Brown
LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E
10 - N ov-15
2 1 -Nov-1 5
24 -Nov-15
CO MP E T IT IO N
JP T
Lea g u e One
Lea g u e O ne
OPPO N E N T
P l y mou t h ( A)
Col chester Utd ( H ) Fl eet w oo d (A )
RESU LT
5-3 W
4 -1 W
2 -1 L
G O AL K E E P E R
Archer
Ar cher
Ar cher
DEFEN DE R S
E dw a r ds ( 3 3 )
Cu mmi ng s
Cu mmi ngs
We bs t e r
Web ster
Web ster
Be e ve r s
B eevers
B eevers
J Martin
J M a r ti n
J M a r ti n
O’ Br i e n ( 8 3 )
O’ B ri en ( 78 )
O’ B ri en
S a vi l l e
Sa vi l l e
Sa vi l l e (80)
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Ony e di n ma ( 8 6)
Fer g u son ( 71 )
Fer g u son (63)
M or i s on
M or i son
M or i son
G re g or y ( 9 0)
G reg or y ( 8 3)
G reg or y
S UB
Girling
For d e
For d e
S UB
N e l s on ( 3 3 )
Nel son
Nel son
S UB
T h omp s on ( 8 6)
Romeo
Romeo
S UB
U p s on ( 8 3 )
Thompson
Thomps o n
S UB
P a ve y
L M a r ti n ( 8 3)
L M a r ti n
S UB
Upson ( 78 )
Upson ( 63)
S UB
Onyed i nma ( 71 )
Onyed i nm a (80)
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
2 8-N o v -1 5
1- D e c -15
5-Dec-1 5
8 -Dec-1 5
L e ague O n e
L e a g u e On e
FA Cu p
J PT
Bu r y F C (H )
Bu r t on A l bi on ( A)
Wycomb e ( H )
Sou thend (A )
1- 0 W
2 -1 L
1 -2 L
0-2 W
A r ch e r
Archer
Ar cher
Archer
Cu m m in gs
C u mmi n g s ( 8 9 )
Ed w a rd s
Ed w a r d s
Webste r
N e l s on
Web ster
Web ster
Be evers
Be e ve r s
Nel son
B eever s
Ferguson (8 3 )
J Martin
J M a r ti n
J M a r ti n
Onyedin m a ( 61 )
Ony e di n ma
Upson ( 69)
Up son
S a vi lle
S a vi l l e ( 4 6 )
Thompson
Sa vi l l e
W il li ams
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
U pson ( 81 )
Fe r g u s on ( 4 6 )
O’ B ri en ( 8 3)
O’ B r i en (92)
O’ Brie n
M or i s on
M or i son
M ori son ()7 1
G re go r y
O’ Br i e n
G reg or y
G reg or y
F ord e
For de
For d e
Ford e
N el so n
Wood
Wood
Nel son ( 9 2)
Ch esma in ( 83 )
E dw a r ds
Cu mmi ng s
Ferg u son (7 1)
L Mar ti n
L Martin
Ab d ou
Thomp son
T homps o n ( 81 )
T h omp s on ( 4 6)
L M a r ti n ( 8 3)
Pa vey
Mo ri so n ( 61 )
U p s on ( 8 9 )
Onyed i nma ( 69) ( 95)
P avey
G re g or y ( 4 6 )
Pa vey ( 95)
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