ISSUE
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MAHLON ROMEO
GRABS CHANCE AFTER EARLY PROFESSIONAL BLOW 1
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CONTENTS NEWS
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PREVIEW
ROMEO GRABS CHANCE AFTER EARLY PROFESSIONAL BLOW
ROCHDALE
OPINION
STATS
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
HARRIS AMONG HEAVY HITTERS
FEATURE
NEWS
MILLWALL A TO Z
PLAYER PROFILE JIMMY ABDOU
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MILLWALL’S NELSON EARNS HARRIS’ PRAISE AFTER FEROCIOUS DISPLAY
MATCH REPORT WALSALL 0 MILLWALL 3 3
ŠMillwall FC
MILLWALL'S ROMEO GRABS CHANCE AFTER GILLS BLOW By John Kelly
Cup qualifiers last June, got his chance in Neil Harris’ senior side because of injuries to Carlos Edwards and Shaun Cummings.
OTENTIAL Millwall star Mahlon Romeo is determined to relish his second chance in professional football after the disappointment of being released by Gillingham last season.
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Romeo played only one game for Gillingham, alongside current Lions coach Andy Frampton in a 3-2 League Two defeat to Burton almost three years ago, and explained how his move to Millwall materialised soon after being told he had no future with the Gills last April.
Former Arsenal trainee Romeo made his Millwall debut last Saturday and scored in the 3-0 Sky Bet League One win over Walsall.
“It was about 10 days after I left Gillingham, I came here on trial and went from there,” he said. “There was a bit of back and forth because I was still under contract at Gillingham so technically I still had to be there. But they said I could go on trial to other places to an extent, so there was a bit of back and forth.
The 20-year-old right-back signed his first professional contract in the summer and has been a key member of Justin Skinner’s U21 side as they have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup. Romeo, who played for Antigua & Barbuda in their 2018 World
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“It was maybe the last two or three weeks of the season I was here for. “And it was literally the last week I had a meeting with the gaffer after training and he said: ‘We’re going to take you on for next season.’” Romeo was familiar with at least one player at his new club, having competed against Alfie Pavey in the Kent County Cup when the striker was with Maidstone United. “Obviously I know everything about Millwall, it’s a massive club,” Romeo said. “Everyone gets on really well. “I know when the gaffer took over last season, it was sort of a last-minute thing, if I can put it like that. This season he could start afresh and do everything he wanted to do. I found it easier to get into that because it’s a different environment with a fresh start in a fresh season.” Romeo found out last Friday he was in the starting XI for the Bescot Stadium fixture, and he revealed the messages his manager Harris had for him before and after the game as he vowed to keep working and keep his feet on the ground. “The gaffer said to me beforehand, ‘Do what you’re good at, don’t be nervous. Play your normal game’. And that’s what I did. “Afterwards he said ‘Just keep training hard, and keep humble. Don’t change’. I had the opportunity because of how I trained and how I worked, so that’s what I’ve got to do now.” 6
“OBVIOUSLY I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT MILLWALL, IT’S A MASSIVE CLUB”
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©Millwall FC
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PREVIEW:
ROCHDALE By John Kelly
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“John’s got to be patient. In the games we’ve won he’s come on and made a real contribution. He’s biding his time waiting for his opportunity to come and as ever it’s down to the players to make sure they’re fit and focussed to take that opportunity.”
AHLON Romeo should keep his place at right-back for Millwall after impressing on his debut against Walsall last weekend.
Mark Beevers is serving the second game of his two-game ban for his sending-off against Oxford, meaning Sid Nelson should continue his partnership with Byron Webster in the centre of defence.
Rochdale’s recent form, meanwhile, has been confounding. They have lost three of their last five league games but their two wins were against League One’s current top two sides, Burton and Walsall.
Carlos Edwards is back in training but hasn’t played any competitive football since the 2-1 defeat to Barnsley on January 2.
Dale manager Keith Hill will be without Donal McDermott and Scott Tanser for this weekend’s clash, while Callum Camps is also a doubt.
Shaun Cummings missed the 3-0 win over the Saddlers but boss Neil Harris should otherwise have a full squad to choose from. Aiden O’Brien could again be on the bench after Ed Upson impressed on the left side of midfield at the Bescot Stadium.
Millwall record against Rochdale: Played 9 Won 5 Drawn 2 Lost 2 Form guide (Last five league): Rochdale: WLLWL Millwall: WWWDW
Harris says another striker, John Marquis, is waiting for his chance to make an impact in the first team after four substitute appearances since his return from a loan spell at Leyton Orient.
Sky Bet odds: Rochdale 2/1 Draw 9/4 Millwall 7/5
“John’s part of the group, he’s played some U21 minutes since he came back from Leyton Orient and has been in every matchday squad,” Harris explained.
Probable Millwall team: 4-4-2: Archer; Romeo, Nelson, Webster, Ferguson; Wallace, Abdou, Williams, Upson; Morison, Gregory.
“At the moment he’s got Steve Morison and Lee Gregory in front of him playing really well and being a real handful as a pairing.
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BYRON AND NELSON LORD IT AT THE BESCOT Byron Webster has grown into his role as a leader of Millwall’s defence this season. He has had five different central defensive partners (Including, briefly, Shaun Cummings and Joe Martin in the 1-0 win at Oxford) and where earlier he seemed to need the calm reassurance of Carlos Edwards to his right and Mark Beevers to his left, his performance at Walsall showed how much he has grown in confidence as the season has gone on.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR By John Kelly & Jay Taylor
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Webster is one of a number of players in the squad who have the experience of knowing what it takes in the last few weeks of the season to deal with the pressure of sustaining a top-six challenge. That accumulated wisdom and calmness to deal with either heightening expectation levels or unexpected blips, of which there have been plenty this season, will be crucial. In other words, it’s about perspective. The management and squad should know they have already shown they have the quality to secure at least a top-six place, now it’s about maintaining the current form. Webster played 53 times for Yeovil when they won promotion to the Championship via the play-offs in 2012-13, so little of this is new. The strength of his partnership with Sid Nelson against one of the best sides in League One this season was reassuring. They now need to follow it up with a performance this weekend against a team they are expected to beat. It’s a different type of pressure. JK
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT FOR ROMEO
If that’s the case then the 20-year-old offers something very different and that could make a crucial
Millwall fans at the Bescot Stadium last weekend would have been deeply impressed with the performance of Mahlon Romeo.
difference in the run-in. JK
CAN MILLWALL MAINTAIN THEIR IMPRESSIVE AWAY FROM?
Even before he scored his goal he had been playing with the assuredness of someone with many more senior appearances under his belt, showing how comfortable he is on the ball and his astute reading of the game in really tricky positions. At least twice he moved in from his right-back position closer to Nelson to make interceptions, and in the first half his positioning and anticipation was spot on to head away a cross with Rico Henry behind him waiting to gather possession.
The Lions go into a third successive fixture away from The Den on Saturday against Rochdale looking to make it a hat-trick of wins. If they take three points from Vale Park it would also be a fifth successive away win all competitions. Neil Harris’ men have been to Oxford and Walsall in the last 10 days and have won on both occasions. Rochdale, however, will provide a somewhat unpredictable challenge.
His goal showed his clarity of thought and his ability to think a couple of steps ahead. He said this week he knew what he was going to do after exchanging passes with Jed Wallace 40 yards out from goal on the right wing, and his execution was perfect.
Millwall have picked 27 points away from home so far this season, the second best record in Sky Bet League One – four points fewer than Walsall who are ranked first in away points gained this season.
Millwall haven’t really had an attacking threat from right-back this season. Cummings is a naturally conservative player – as only two goals in his professional career attests to – and while Edwards is still capable of the odd forward thrust, they come fewer and further between these days.
The awesome form away from SE16 has come by way of eight victories and three draws, having only lost four times. With 29 goals, the Lions have scored the most goals on the road this season. They have conceded 19.
Of course, we shouldn’t read too much into one performance, as his boss Neil Harris warned this week, and there will be tougher challenges ahead, dips in form and inevitable criticism from supporters. How he deals with all of that will ultimately reveal what type of character he is.
Conversely, Millwall will be up against a team who have a decent home record and Harris’ side will be in for a tough 90 minutes if they are to add to their 11 away wins this season in all competitions.
But the potential is clearly there. Indeed, watching him it’s not readily apparent why he wasn’t wanted by Gillingham, having been told last April that they wouldn’t be offering him a professional contract.
In their last outing at Spotland, the Dale saw off league leaders Burton Albion 2-1, so the Lions will know they are in for a fight after coming off the demolition of fellow promotion hopefuls Walsall.
Harris said he knew after one U21 game that Romeo had something to offer Millwall. The manager and academy boss Scott Fitzgerald deserve huge credit for recognising his quality so quickly.
In recent seasons, Millwall’s away form has eclipsed their form at The Den – and with less pressure away from fans to get a result, there is a sense of freedom to play that has made travelling away with the Lions a rewarding experience.
Of course, it may be that if after Edwards returns to full fitness he won’t figure again this season. It wouldn’t be a surprise, though, if he has moved ahead of Cummings in Harris’ thinking.
Can Harris’ men claim a ninth league win on the road and make it 12 away wins for the season in all competitions? Saturday afternoon at Spotland will give us all the answers. JT
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The most recent fixture between Millwall and Rochdale was at The Den on September 26, 2015 – the score on that occasion was 3-1 to the Lions. That was the first meeting between the two sides for 50 years.
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Stat's that... BY JOHN KELLY
9 1959
The first meeting between the two sides was in Division Four on August 29, 1959. The Lions won 1-0 on that occasion.
4-1
Millwall’s biggest margin of victory over Rochdale is 4-1, which they achieved on March 25, 1961.
4-0
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Rochdale and Millwall have met on just nine occasions, with the Lions having the historical upper hand with five victories to Rochdale’s two. There have been two draws.
Rochdale’s biggest margin of victory over Millwall is 4-0, which they achieved two months earlier on January 28, 1961.
2.77
Historically there has only been 1 nil-nil between the two sides. That aside these meetings average 2.77 goals per game.
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Ian Henderson is Rochdale’s leading goalscorer this season with 11 goals, all 11 of which have been scored in the league. Rochdale’s most creative player is arguably Callum 15
Camps, with six assists this season, five of them in the league. Camps has also scored two goals this season, but he is an injury doubt for this game.
3-0
Rochdale’s form has been contrasting and surprising, losing three of the last five, including defeats to lowly Crewe and a 6-1 drubbing by Barnsley. But then they can boast wins against table-topping Burton Albion and the same result as Millwall’s last weekend when they also won 3-0 away at second-placed Walsall.
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Millwall currently sit sixth in the League One table on 47 points, eight places and 10 points ahead of Keith Hill’s outfit, who are in 14th place.
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The Lions’ can also boast a goal difference that is 11 better than Rochdale’s: Millwall: +9; Rochdale: -2.
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The Lions have 56,500 followers on Twitter. Rochdale have 25,200. The Lions also have 136,000 likes on Facebook. Walsall have 28,600.
HARRIS AMONG HEAVY HITTERS By Josh French @ShedCreativeUK
EIL Harris has split opinions with his team’s style of play at times, as have contrasting results and performances.
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This season was always going to be a rebuilding process after the ultimately unsuccessful tenures of Steve Lomas and Ian Holloway, but with the ambitious nature of Harris and his squad, we find ourselves in the play-off places and looking strong. ©MillwallFC
For any doubters, if we compare the win percentages of Millwall under Harris to previous managers, we can’t complain at all. Looking at those stats, Harris is third of all time, behind only iconic managers Billy Gray and George Graham, though, that was over 137 and 201 games, respectively. Harris has thus far been in charge for 48 games.
Win Percentage 1st / Billy Gray 1963-1966
48.91%
2nd / George Graham 1982-1986
46.27%
3rd / Neil Harris 2015-Present
45.83%
4th / Mark McGhee 2000-2003
45.73%
Pld 137 Won 67
Pld 201 Won 93
Pld 48 Won 22
Pld 164 Won 75
5th / Keith Stevens & Alan McLeary 1999-2000 Pld 60 Won 27
45%
6th / Charlie Hewitt (1st Spell) 1936-1939
43.84%
7th / Charlie Hewitt (2nd Spell) 1948-1955
42.98%
8th / Kenny Jackett 2007-2013
42.81%
Pld 146 Won 64
Pld 363 Won 156
Pld 306 Won 131
*Up to February 12, 2016
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G
IS FOR GOALS By Mark Litchfield
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Harris, on the comeback trail from beating testicular cancer, took to the field as a late substitute, with Mark McGhee’s men 3-1 up and cruising. In injury time, the striker picked up the ball deep inside his own half and travelled unchallenged towards the edge of the Hornets’ box, before unleashing a curling effort past Alec Chamberlain, giving the Lions a 4-1 lead and scoring his first goal since returning to action in the process.
HEN it comes to goals, perhaps unsurprisingly, the name of Neil Harris is mentioned – a lot.
With 138 goals in 431 appearances, Millwall’s current manager sits at the top of the list of the Lions’ all-time goal-scorers. Teddy Sheringham occupies second spot, twenty-seven goals behind Harris, whilst the likes of Derek Possee, Jack Cock and Alex Rae also feature in the top ten.
It wasn’t just the goal that would stick in the memory of all Lions fans present; the subsequent celebration would, too. Every single Millwall player on the pitch – Tony Warner included – would lift Harris high into the air, parading him in front of the away stand; it was one of those ‘I was there’ moments.
Over the years, many truly great goals have been scored by Millwall players past and present – but what is the best? What has been great enough to be considered the cream of the crop? Many will agree that January 1st, 2002 produced one of the finest – and most significant – strikes ever seen, as the Lions took on Watford at Vicarage Road.
Other great goals from recent memory include Shane Lowry’s thunderbolt of a free-kick at Charlton Athletic in March 2013 (plus two efforts from Chris Wood and James Henry at 19
Blackburn Rovers earlier in the season) and an extraordinary left-footed injury-time strike from Alan Dunne against Walsall in the 2009/10 promotion season. Of course, Gary Alexander’s sensational goal at Wembley against Scunthorpe United must be mentioned, however, sadly, that did not result in a win for the Lions.
on ten goals or over for the first time since Steve Claridge, Richard Sadlier and Tim Cahill struck 17, 14 and 13 in the 2001/02 season, which saw Mark McGhee’s side narrowly miss out on promotion to the Premier League via the Division One play-offs. It’s only right to finish off with the most important goals of all-time; those that have meant so much with regards to progression on the field. Whether it’s Kevin O’Callaghan’s penalty at Hull City in 1988, Tim Cahill’s header at Wrexham in 2001 or Paul Robinson’s winner in the 2010 League One play-off final, there have been many crucial goals scored over the years, but Cahill’s strike in the 2004 FA Cup Semi Final against Sunderland must surely top them all.
Readers of a certain vintage will remember strikes such as Derek Possee’s wonder goal against Birmingham City in 1971, Paul Stephenson’s memorable effort against Liverpool in 1988 and Les Briley’s goal against Charlton later that year. Mark Kennedy’s solo strike against Arsenal in the 1995 FA Cup Third Round replay and Steve Claridge’s delicate chip in the 4-0 demolition of fellow promotion rivals, Rotherham United, also spring to mind.
What has been your greatest ever Millwall goal?
Fast forward to this season and it’s Lee Gregory that holds the title of leading goal-scorer as we go into the final few months of the season. With 18 goals in all competitions, Gregory will look to become the first twenty-goal man since Steve Morison in the 2009/10 season. With Gregory, Morison and their fellow strike partner, Aiden O’Brien, all in double figures (Morison and O’Brien have 10 and 11 respectively), the Lions have in their possession three players
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H
IS FOR HISTORY By Mark Litchfield
at The ‘Old’ Den in 1993.
N the summer of 1885, Millwall Rovers were formed by workers from Morton’s Jam Factory on the Isle of Dogs. A large majority of the workers were of Scottish descent, meaning that blue and white quickly became the newly-formed club’s colours; four different grounds were used in the early days, as the Rovers was replaced by Athletic, before everyone settled on plain Millwall, moving across the river to The Den in 1910.
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In 1928, the Lions won promotion to Division Two as champions of Division Three (South), but the Second World War intervened, just as they were beginning to become quite the force in English football. Before that, they became the first Division Three side to make the FA Cup Semi Finals; unfortunately, Sunderland’s 2-1 win meant that the wait for a place in the showpiece occasion would have to wait. 1945 saw Millwall’s first Wembley appearance as they took on Chelsea in the War Time Cup Final, losing 2-0, before they were relegated in 1948, becoming founder members of the newly-formed Division Four.
Adopting the nickname ‘The Lions’, Millwall spent their early days in the Southern League, before becoming joint founding members of Football League Division Three, beating Bristol Rovers in their opening game; coincidentally, Rovers were Millwall’s last opponents
In 1962, Ron Gray oversaw promotion back to the third tier, but 22
it proved to be a false dawn, as the Lions were relegated back to Division Four just two seasons later. However, the resurgence began almost immediately, as under Billy Gray, Millwall went from Division Four to Division Two in two seasons, sealing back-to-back promotions – with a 59-match unbeaten run at home in the process.
the sack, as the Lions were relegated back to Division Three. Keith Stevens made the first of over 550 appearances against Oxford United in 1981, before George Graham took over in the 1982/83 season, handing a debut to a young Teddy Sheringham the following season. In 1985, the Lions would grace the Second Division once more, finishing as Third Division runners-up.
From a 2-2 draw with Torquay United on August 24th, 1964, the Lions spent the next two seasons unbeaten at home, finally succumbing to Plymouth Argyle on September 10th, 1966, as they lost 3-1.
Graham’s departure to take the Arsenal job proved to be just a blip for the Lions, as John Docherty’s reign saw a historic promotion to the First Division in 1988, as the club won the Division Two title. Sheringham and Tony Cascarino provided the fire-power as Millwall topped the tree early in the 1988/89 season, eventually finishing 10th, but their stay in the top tier was brief, as they suffered relegation back to Division Two in 1989/90, failing to win any of their last twenty games in the league.
Under the stewardship of Benny Fenton, Millwall spent the next nine seasons in the second tier, forming quite the side, with players like Barry Kitchener, Derek Possee, Harry Cripps and Keith Weller coming to the fore. Lions fans thought they had won promotion to the top tier in the 1971/72 season, as inaccurate reports filtered through from Birmingham’s game with Sheffield Wednesday after the 2-0 win over Preston North End; the Lions had finished third in the table – not enough for promotion.
Bruce Rioch nearly led the club back to the promised land during the next campaign, but lost out to Brighton and Hove Albion in the play-offs, before the 1992/93 season saw the league re-structured, with the Premier League being introduced.
The 1974/75 season saw the side fall apart and Fenton was given
The 1993/94 season saw the Lions
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move to their brand-new home, The ‘New’ Den, on Senegal Fields. John Kerr became the first man to net at the new place, as Millwall lost 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon, managed by Bobby Robson, in a friendly to open the ground to the public.
Bonds as his first manager. No immediate upturn in fortunes on the pitch – the signing of Neil Harris aside – meant that Bonds was replaced by club legends, Keith Stevens and Alan McLeary, in 1998. The duo led the Lions to a Wembley final in the Auto Windscreen Shield and began to bring through the next crop of Lion cubs, in the likes of Tim Cahill, Richard Sadlier and Paul Ifill, before being sacked in unfortunate circumstances at the beginning of the 2001/01 season.
Under Mick McCarthy, the 1994/95 season produced a trio of cup shocks, with Nottingham Forest being dumped out of the Coca-Cola Cup, thanks to a Greg Berry double, before Arsenal and Chelsea were both shocked by the Lions in the FA Cup, who went through after replays in both ties, with the Stamford Bridge tie decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Mark McGhee took over and led the Lions to Division One in style, as the club won Division Two, boasting some of the best players outside the Premier League, but news of Neil Harris’ cancer scare cast a huge cloud over everyone, as Millwall embarked on life back in the second tier. However, Harris was to overcome his illness and return to action, scoring a memorable goal in a 4-1 win at Watford – unfortunately, the Lions were to narrowly miss out on back-toback promotions, losing in devastating circumstances to Birmingham City in the play-offs.
The next year proved to be an extraordinary one in SE16, as after being top of the table at Christmas, Millwall catastrophically tumbled down the table in the second half of the season, suffering relegation to Division Two on the final day at Ipswich Town, after McCarthy left to take the Republic of Ireland job. The next couple of seasons proved tricky, as the sale of key players plus a lack of funds led to the Lions struggling in Division Two and in administration, but on May 20th, 1997, a rescue package was in place, with Theo Paphitis installed as chairman, naming Billy
After finishing 10th in 2002/03, McGhee became the latest man to join the unemployment line after a disastrous start to the
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2003/04 season, which included a 6-0 defeat at home to Rotherham United. Dennis Wise took over – initially on a caretaker basis – and led the club to its first ever FA Cup Final, where they were defeated 3-0 by Manchester United.
Steve Lomas was installed as Jackett’s replacement at the beginning of 2013/14, but never got going and was given the sack on Boxing Day, with Ian Holloway becoming the man charged with managing Millwall Football Club from January 2014 onwards.
UEFA Cup football came to The Den as a result in the 2004/05 season and with the Lions seeded in the draw, a favourable tie was expected. However, in what could be seen by some as fate, Millwall drew twenty-seven time Hungarian champions, Ferencvaros in the First Round. After a 1-1 draw at The Den, the Hungarians eased to a 3-1 win on their home ground, knocking the Lions out.
With the Lions in trouble at the foot of the Championship, Holloway managed to keep the club up in his first season – just – but disastrous tactical selections and a lack of goals meant that his time was up in March 2015, as he left the club to the tune of £1million. Neil Harris and David Livermore took charge of the club on a temporary basis for the final two months of the season, but couldn’t keep the club up – the damage had already been done. The beginning of the 2015/16 season saw Harris take full charge with Livermore as his assistant and, at the time of writing, the Lions sit in sixth spot in League One, having just been knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the Area Final stage.
The 2005/06 campaign was an eventful one for all the wrong reasons, as the Lions went through five managers and were relegated to League One, courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at Southampton. The tumultuous times continued over the next few seasons, as Nigel Spackman and Willie Donachie came and went, but Kenny Jackett’s appointment in November 2007 proved to be a shrewd one, as over his five and a half seasons in charge, the Lions reached two play-off finals – one ending in promotion – and an FA Cup semi-final; Jackett left the club at the end of the 2012/13 season.
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MILLWALL'S NELSON EARNS HARRIS' PRAISE AFTER FEROCIOUS DISPLAY By John Kelly
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ILLLWALL manager Neil Harris felt Sid Nelson’s performance against Walsall last Saturday typified the courage of his side. They caused us problems in the first half and we had to defend the area really well.
Harris handed Nelson his first start since he made the mistake that gave Walsall their winning goal at The Den in December and the Lions boss was rewarded with a typically committed display from the centre-back.
“And in the second half young Sid Nelson made two vital blocks , I think one hit him in the face (above). It was 2-0 at the time and that’s courage and that’s desire. It’s a strong mentality to keep a clean sheet. I was really pleased with our defensive display and coupled with the goals we scored it was a good day for us.”
Nelson, 20, made numerous blocks in the box against the Saddlers, and his bravery resulted in a bloody nose in the first half that required him to leave the pitch to receive attention from club physio Bobby Bacic.
Nelson should keep his place at Rochdale next Saturday with Mark Beevers suspended. Millwall defeated Keith Hill’s side 3-1 in September, and another win will keep the pressure on the sides above them in the race for the automatic promotion places.
Nelson also stood firm after the break when Walsall sought to fight their way back into the contest. “I think Walsall create chances in every game they play,” Harris said. “They’ve got some really good, attacking players and they’re clever in the way they play. They got into some good areas in both halves.
“We’re certainly not thinking that far
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ahead, but what we can say is we’re capable of competing with the best sides in the league,” Harris said. “We’ve shown on a number of occasions that on our day we’re a top side at this level. We can certainly focus on trying to consolidate where we are in the playoff positions but also maybe start looking at the teams that are just above us. “I’ve got a good group of players. If we saw anything (on Saturday) we saw a really honest Millwall performance added to some quality in the second half. “But the players don’t get carried away. They’re professionals and they work hard every single day. They give me everything they’ve got. Win, lose or draw they give me everything.” Harris did admit that Millwall’s victory over second-placed Walsall would make other sides sit up and take notice of their current form. “It had been pointed out to me we hadn’t beaten a topsix side this season so that’s an important win for us,” he said. “Does it send a message to the rest of the league? It should do. Our results of late should send that message. “We know we’re a good team but we also know, and I make it very clear to the players, you’re only a good team if you’ve got a strong bond and a real work ethic. When you play for our football club you have to have that desire and that hunger and your quality will shine through in the end. “What’s important is we’ve had good results away all season. Even the games we’ve lost we’ve lost narrowly by a goal and probably been the better team in those games. “It’s important that we keep doing what we’re doing on the road but really find a way to impose ourselves in home fixtures. The belief that the fanbase have in us away from home, it’s important they have that when they come to the home games.” 28 ©MillwallFC
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ŠMillwall FC
P LAYER PROF I L E :
JIM MY ABDOU By Mark Litchfield
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APTURED by Kenny Jackett in the summer of 2008, Nadjim ‘Jimmy’ Abdou arrived on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle, making his Millwall debut in the 4-3 loss to Oldham Athletic on the opening the scores on aggregate. But, with just sixteen minutes to go, Dave Martin’s cross was touched into the path of Abdou by Lewis Grabban, allowing the midfielder to slot home, sending the travelling support – and Lions fans around the world – into raptures. Kenny Jackett’s side were to miss out on promotion to the Championship in the Final, losing 3-2 to Scunthorpe United in a classic, but Millwall were not finished – and neither was Abdou.
After a quiet start to his career, the Comoros internationals Lions career exploded into life in October, as he scored his first goal in a 3-1 win over Tranmere Rovers, before being an integral part of the side in a victory at The Den over bitter rivals, Leeds United, by the same scoreline, as the Lions ascended to the top of the League One table. Abdou quickly endeared himself to the Den faithful with performances full of energy and desire week in, week out, adding another two goals to his total at Bristol Rovers as the Lions looked to secure a playoff place, before writing his name into the history books for the first time during the infamous Play-Off Semi-Final against Leeds at Elland Road in May 2009.
The following season saw Jimmy make 53 appearances in a side that went one better, defeating Swindon Town at Wembley in the PlayOff Final after a two-legged Semi-Final victory over Huddersfield Town. Abdou scored Millwall’s first – and his only – goal of the season on the opening day against Southampton, but his heart and desire in the engine room was an absolutely vital part of the Lions’ success in the 09/10 season.
After Neil Harris’ strike had given the Lions a slender lead in the first leg at The Den, Luciano Becchio’s 53rd minute opener had levelled
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relegation at the end of the campaign, but the fans recognised Abdou’s efforts once more, crowning him Player of the Year for a second time, becoming only the fourth player in the history of the trophy to win it twice, following Alf Wood, Barry Kitchener and Darren Ward into the elite club.
Abdou adapted well to life in the Championship, taking home the Player of the Year crown at the end of the 11/12 season, before scoring his first goal in over three seasons on April 9th, 2013, at home to Sheffield Wednesday, as the Lions suffered a 2-1 defeat. Despite the occupant of the hot-seat changing, with Kenny Jackett making way for Steve Lomas, Jimmy still regularly took his place in the starting eleven, but the arrival of Ian Holloway and his rotational madness saw Abdou slip down the pecking order, making only six appearances during ‘Ollie’’s first six months of management.
The 2015/16 season has seen Abdou become a regular part of Harris’ midfield, making 18 appearances in a campaign that has only been blighted by an injury against Peterborough on October 3rd. The midfielder made his 300th Lions appearance on January 17th against Port Vale, edging him into the top 20 appearance makers list in the process.
The departure of Holloway in March 2015 saw the midfielder begin to feature more prominently once more under the guidance of Neil Harris – and in a relegation showdown against Wigan Athletic, the fans favourite produced the goods once more, sending a diving header past Scott Carson, opening the scoring in a 2-0 win that would give the Lions the upper hand in the race for safety.
When it comes to footballing ability, there are many better than Jimmy Abdou. However, when you talk about the ‘Millwall spirit’, the heart, the desire, the never-say-die attitude and the commitment to the cause, Jimmy Abdou is at the top of the list. If we had a team of Jimmy Abdou’s, we wouldn’t concede many – then again, we wouldn’t score many either!
Unfortunately, Millwall would suffer
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ŠMillwall FC
HARRIS PRAISES YOUNGSTER ROMEO AFTER BRILLIANT MILLWALL DEBUT By John Kelly
EIL Harris hailed the performance of Mahlon Romeo after the defender scored on his senior competitive debut to help Millwall to a superb 3-0 at Walsall.
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ris said. “It was lovely because he had a really difficult first 25 minutes against a really good player. He got dealt a really harsh decision with the yellow card, it was probably the best tackle of the game.
Romeo was named in the team with Shaun Cummings and Carlos Edwards out injured and though he was booked early on for a foul on Rico Henry he put in an eye-catching performance.
“So he had to stand strong. To be thrown in for your Millwall debut away at Walsall who are flying high near the top of the league is a tough challenge.” Millwall took the lead in the 61st minute through Lee Gregory’s 17th goal of the season and the striker got his 18th seven minutes after Romeo had run into the Walsall area to shoot low to the far corner past Liam Roberts.
And he capped it with a stunning goal in the 70th minute as Millwall made it four wins in their last five league games to stay sixth in the League One table and close the gap to the Saddlers in the automatic promotion spots to nine points.
In awful conditions at the Bescot Stadium, Millwall had to defend resolutely, typified by the display of Sid Nelson, making his first
“My right-back scored one of the goals of the season for us,” Har-
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start for the Lions since his mistake gifted Walsall their winning goal at The Den on Boxing Day. “I thought on that side of the park, Sid Nelson, Mahlon Romeo and Jed Wallace, three young men, I thought the three of them were excellent today,” Harris said. “Like I said it was a difficult first 25 minutes (for Romeo). We readjusted slightly around the half-hour mark to try and help him, to make it easier against Rico Henry. We readjusted as well at half-time, just minor adjustments to our shape and organisation and I thought it was really effective in the second half. “We knew we’d have to be disciplined, to be organised and withstand a lot of pressure and possession from a good side. But we also saw enough in the first half in spells to know that when we had the football in open play in wide areas or on the counterattack that we’d create opportunities. “I think we’ve been very good away from home, that’s 11 away wins for us and we’re very proud of that fact. We’re set up to withstand pressure, and a little bit of luck helps as well, the woodwork saved us today. “But with the pace and the athleticism that we’ve got and the quality that we possess that we can really cause teams damage when we move forward.” 38
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WALSALL MILLWALL
0 3
©MillwallFC
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bled the advantage nine minutes later.
EE Gregory hit a double and Mahlon Romeo scored on his debut as Millwall comprehensively defeated high-flying Walsall 3-0 at the Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was 3-0 to the Lions in the 77th minute when Gregory scored his 18th goal of an increasingly prolific season with a confident finish past Roberts.
The result means Millwall stay in the top six with 47 points from 29 games, nine points behind the Saddlers in second place in the Sky Bet League One table.
MONKEY OFF THE BACK Millwall hadn’t beaten any of the sides above them in the table before Saturday’s trip to Walsall. And if ever there was a game where the phrase ‘the side that wants it more’ could apply, then this was it. It really was a horrible afternoon in incessant rain and swirling wind.
In difficult conditions, Gregory had a good chance to put Millwall ahead in the 37th minute but Liam Roberts was quickly off his line to block and then save Ed Upson’s follow-up. Anthony Forde then saw his shot hit the woodwork just before the break after Romeo had a shot blocked by Roberts at the near post.
Even before Gregory put Millwall ahead with his 17th goal of the season the side was performing with immense credit. And as the pitch became more cut up Millwall’s belief seemed to grow.
Gregory put Millwall ahead with a close-range finish in the 61st minute before defender Romeo dou-
Gregory has an instinctive ability to find space in the opposition box and the way he slid in to finish Jed
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Wallace’s cross was probably as satisfying as any of his strikes this season. His second of the game was a composed finish one-on-one with Roberts from Shaun Williams’ pass. In between those goals, in the 70th minute, there was a superb burst of pace and touch from Romeo before he planted a low shot to the far post past Roberts. If Millwall aren’t to go up this season, and this is what a transition period looks like, then there is plenty that would give confidence. The performances of Romeo and a heroic effort from Sid Nelson only enhance that feeling. WALSALL SHADE FIRST-HALF POSSESSION; MILLWALL HAVE THE BETTER CHANCES At one point in the first half Neil Harris could be seen shouting to his captain Steve Morison to drop deeper as Jordan Archer prepared to take a kickout. Facing the strong wind, the goalkeeper was just about reaching the halfway line and that was putting immediate pressure on the away defence. Sean O’Driscoll’s side carried a significant threat in the wide positions. Left-back Andy Taylor tested the strength of Archer’s wrists when he drove a shot in from 35 yards. Archer then had to quickly readjust his feet to tip over the crossbar as Forde’s free-kick caught and dipped in the breeze. Yet, with Walsall having more of the ball, Millwall should have been ahead at the break. Gregory had to stretch to get possession as he suddenly found himself one-on-one with Roberts in the box but the keeper slid in to divert the ball to Upson. The midfielder took a touch and shot left-footed but Roberts was behind that, too. Moments before that Archer’s clearance was half-charged down by Tom Bradshaw and spun away to safety. It was a game of uncertainties on an unforgiving surface. Romeo, in for the injured Shaun Cummings, could have enjoyed a dream competitive debut even earlier but Roberts saved with his legs at the near post before Forde’s shot from outside the box hit the top of the crossbar and bounced away. DEFENSIVE RESHUFFLE – AND YOUNGSTERS’ COMPOSURE Millwall included six players who have come through the academy in their matchday squad. One of them, centre-back Nelson, was making his first start since the 1-0 defeat to Walsall on Boxing Day when it was his misjudgement of a long ball over the top that let in Milan Lalkovic to score the decisive goal. He more than made up for it with a
wildly committed performance. It’s probably fair to assume that Harris wouldn’t have chosen to give Romeo his senior first-team competitive debut away at the side second in League One before kick-off. Romeo was on international duty with Antigua & Barbuda in the summer when his teammates started pre-season training, but Walsall in February with the rain teeming down on the Bescot is a different challenge to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean in June. Romeo joined Millwall in May from Gillingham where he appeared once for them, as a 17-yearold in a 3-2 defeat to Burton in League Two in April 2013. One of his team-mates then was current Millwall coach Andy Frampton. Even without his goal the former defender and current coach would have been impressed by an assured and mature performance. If the 20-year-old wanted to convey to Millwall fans in the away end what kind of player he is he delivered a good early indication when he upended Rico Henry with a robust challenge. It was risky, particularly with so long remaining in the game, and it drew a booking from referee Trevor Kettle. Later in the half he showed the more subtle side of his game, delicately controlling an awkward bouncing ball before later intercepting with the dangerous Henry lurking outside him and chipping a neat pass onto Gregory’s chest. Nelson was, as Millwall fans have come to expect, delivering a more blood-and-gut performance – literally so on 15 minutes, as he had to jog to the touchline for club physio Bobby Bacic to treat a bloody nose. Romeo showed his instinct in recognising danger and intercepting a through ball midway through the second half when substitute Jordan Cook looked to scurry through. And then Nelson showed the kind of determination and bravery that is sure to elevate him to hero status if he avoids injury and maintains his career focus. When it looked as though Romaine Sawyers was about to level for Walsall, Nelson flung himself at the shot and then blocked another before getting to his feet to shout encouragement at his team-mates. It was that kind of day – and one on which Millwall laid down a marker for the rest of the season.
LEAGUE ONE TABLE P W D L F A G D PT 1 B ur t o n A l bi on
2 9 1 9 3 7 4 0 24 1 6 60
2 Wa ls a l l 2 9 1 6 8 5 47 30 1 7 56 3
W iga n A t h l e t i c
30
1 5
10
5
50
2 9
21
55
4 Gillin g h a m
30 1 6 7 7 55 36 1 9 55
5 C o v e n t r y C i t y
30 1 3 1 0 7 4 9 33 1 6 49
6
2 9 1 4 5 1 0 47 38 9 47
MIL LWA L L
7 So ut he n d U n i t e d 2 9 1 3 8 8 4 1 35 6 47 8 P e t e rborou g h U n i t e d 2 9 1 3 5 1 1 54 4 1 1 3 44
9 P o r t Va l e 31 12 8 11 35 36 -1 44
10 B a r n s l e y 2 9 1 3 3 1 3 48 42 6 42 1 1 Sh e f f i e l d U n i t e d 2 9 1 1 9 9 4 5 4 1 4 42
12 B r a d for d C i t y 2 8 11 8 9 2 9 32 -3 41 13
Sc unt h or p e U n i t e d
28
11
5
12
33
37
-4
38
14 Ro c h da l e 2 8 10 7 11 37 39 -2 37
15 B ur y 2 8 10 7 11 36 4 3 -7 37 16 Do n c a s t e r R ove r s
2 9 9 9 1 1 35 39 -4 36
17
30
Swindon Tow n
1 0
6
14
42
47
-5
36
18 B la ck p ool 2 9 9 6 1 4 2 8 35 -7 33
19 C h e s t e r fi e l d 2 9 9 3 1 7 38 4 9 -1 1 30 20 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
30 8 6 1 6 34 4 9 -1 5 30
21
28
F le e t w ood Tow n
7
8
1 3
34
37
-3
29
22 C re w e A l exa n dr a
2 9 6 8 1 5 30 50 -2 0 26
23
O ld ha m A t h l e t i c
2 7
4
12
11
2 7
40
-1 3 24
24
C o lc h e s t e r U n i t e d
2 9
5
7
1 7
36
68
-32 22
42
FIXTURES ROCHDALE SPOTL AND STA D I UM S ATU RDAY 1 3T H FE BR UA RY
SCUNTHORPE UNITED T HE DEN TUESDAY 1 6T H FE B R UA RY
PETERBOROUGH UNITED T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 20 T H FE BR UA RY
DOnCASTER ROVERS KE EPMOAT STA D I UM S ATU RDAY 27 T H FE B R UA RY
W IGAN ATHLETIC T HE DEN TUESDAY 1 ST M A R C H 43
PLAYER STATS LEAGUE ONE
Ap p
Sta r ts
Assi sts
Go als
D. F or de 8 7 0 0 J. Ar c h e r 2 2 2 2 0 0 S. Cu mmi n g s 1 6 1 5 1 1 T. Cr a i g 1 6 1 6 0 1 S. Ne l s on 7 7 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 2 7 2 7 1 4 B. We bs t e r 2 3 1 8 0 3 S. Fe r g u s on 2 7 1 7 6 2 M. R ome o 1 1 0 1 J. Wa l l a c e 5 5 4 0 C . Edw a r ds 1 3 1 3 1 0 J. M a r t i n 1 4 1 3 0 2 S. Wi l l i a ms 2 6 2 6 3 2 E . U p s on 1 9 1 3 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 2 4 1 0 N. A bdou 1 6 1 5 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 1 2 1 2 0 0 P. Cow a n H a l l 3 0 0 0 L . G re g or y 2 6 2 0 1 1 1 F. O ny e di n ma 2 6 1 6 1 4 J. M a r q u i s 7 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 2 9 2 7 3 7 A. O ’ B r i e n 2 7 2 2 4 8 A. P a ve y 4 0 0 0 44
UNDER 21S AUGUST Nottingham Forest (A) 3-1 (Pavey) Crewe Alexandra (H) 1-0 (Philpot) Charlton Athletic (A) 0-1 (Abandoned) (Romeo) Ipswich Town (H) 3-0 (Philpot, Pavey, Okenabirhie)
ACADEMY ROUND-UP LAST GAME
BRISTOL CITY 0-1 MILLWALL
SEPTEMBER Leeds United H 3-1 (Pavey 2, Wood) Bolton Wanderers (A) 0-2 Coventry City (H) 4-1 (Wood, Pavey 3) Hull City (A) 0-0
MFC GOALSCORERS: GARITA OG MILLWALL SQUAD:
OCTOBER Plymouth Argyle (H) 1-0 (Wood) Huddersfield Town (H) 0-2 QPR (A) 0-4 (Eze 3, Ndjoli)
King Brown
Colchester United (H) 1-0 (Wood)
Parr
NOVEMBER
Bray
Palace (H) 5-1 (Martin 2, Upson, Thompson, Powell) Swansea (A) 1-2 (Ndjoli 2)
Wood Eze
DECEMBER
Donovan
Brentford (H) 1-0 (Martin) Watford (A) 0-1 (Ndjoli) Wolves (A) 1-3 (Onyedinma, Romeo, Cowan-Hall)
Powell Farrell
JANUARY
Philpot
Cardiff City (H) 1-1 (Twardek) Charlton (A) 1-1 (Marquis) Palace (A) 3-3 (Powell, Onyedinma, Twardek)
Ndjoli Sandford White
FEBRUARY
Mulrooney-Skinner
Bristol City (A) 0-1 (Garita OG)
TOP SCORERS: Alfie Pavey - 7 Keaton Wood / Mikael Ndjoli - 4 Lee Martin / Ebere Eze - 3
O’Donnell Ebuzoeme
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LAST SEVEN GAMES DAT E
9 -Ja n -16
1 4 -J a n-1 6
1 7-J a n-1 6
CO MP E T IT IO N
L e a g u e On e
J PT
Lea g u e O ne
OPPO N E N T
Ol dh a m ( A )
Ox ford Utd ( H )
Por t Va le (H)
RESU LT
1- 2 W
0-2 L
3-1 W
G O AL K E E P E R
For de
Ford e
Archer
DEFEN DE R S
C u mmi n g s
Cu mmi ng s
Cu mmi ngs
We bs t e r
Web ster
Web ster
Be e ve r s
B eever s
B eever s
J Martin
J M a r ti n ( 64 )
Ferg u so n
Wa l l a c e ( 6 5 )
Wa l l a ce
Wa l l a ce (63)
A bdou
Ab d ou
Ab d ou
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms ( 78 )
Wi l l i a m s
Fe r g u s on
Ferg u son
O’ B r i en (88)
M or i s on ( 8 7 )
M ori son
M ori son
G re g or y ( 7 7 )
G reg or y ( 8 5)
G reg or y (88)
S UB
Archer
Archer
Ford e
S UB
N e l s on
Nel son
Nel son
S UB
U p s on
Up son ( 78 )
J M a r ti n
S UB
T h omp s on
Onyed i nma ( 8 5)
Thomp s o n
S UB
Ony e di n ma ( 7 7)
O’ B r i en ( 64 )
Up son (63)
S UB
O’ Br i e n ( 6 5 )
Onyed i nm a (87 )
S UB
Marquis (87)
M a rqu i s (88)
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
23-J an-1 6
3 0 -Ja n -16
2 -Feb -1 6
6-Feb -1 6
Le ague O n e
L e a g u e On e
J PT
Lea g u e O ne
C hester f ie ld ( A)
C re w e ( H )
Ox ford Utd ( A)
Wa l sa l l (A )
1-2 W
1-1 D
0-1 W
0-3 W
A rch e r
Archer
Archer
Archer
C um m in gs
C u mmi n g s
Cu mmi ng s ( 68 )
Romeo
We b ste r
We bs t e r
Web ster
Nel son
Be evers
B e e ve r s
B eever s
Web ster
Fe rg uson ( 7 6)
Fe r g u s on
Ferg u son
Ferg u son
Wal lace ( 63 )
Wa l l a c e
Wa l l a ce
Wa l l a ce (7 5)
A b do u
A bdou
Ab d ou
Ab d ou
W i ll iams
W i l l i a ms
Up son ( 8 2 )
Wi l l i a ms
O ’Brie n (78)
O’ B r i e n
O’ B r i en
Up son
M ori so n
M or i s on
M ori son
M ori son (88)
G re go r y (8 8)
G re g or y
G reg or y
G reg or y (88)
F o rde
For de
Ford e
Ford e
N e lso n
N e l s on
M a r ti n ( 68 )
Wood
J M ar tin ( 7 6)
J Martin
Thomp son
M a r ti n ( 7 5)
T h o m ps o n
T h omp s on
Onyed i nma ( 8 2 )
Thomp son
Upson ( 7 8)
U p s on
M a rqu i s
Onyed i nm a
O nyedin m a ( 88 )
Ony e di n ma
O’ B r i en (88)
M a rqu is
Marquis
M a rqu i s (88)
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