ISSUE
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NEIL HARRIS
MILLWALL NEED TO DO MORE TO INSPIRE FANS 1
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CONTENTS NEWS
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PREVIEW
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HARRIS SAYS MILLWALL NEED TO DO MORE TO INSPIRE FANS
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
OPINION
FEATURE
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
MILLWALL A TO Z
PLAYER PROFILE
MATCH REPORT
GARY ALEXANDER
NEWS
MILLWALL 0 SCUNTHORPE
MATCH REPORT
ARCHER: MILLWALL FANS “A BIG HELP” IN IMPRESSIVE AWAY FORM
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HARRIS SAYS MILLWALL NEED TO DO MORE TO INSPIRE FANS By John Kelly
five as they were relegated to the third tier last season.
EIL Harris admits that Millwall haven’t done enough to put the “fire in the bellies” of fans at The Den this season.
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On Tuesday night Scunthorpe became the latest side to inflict defeat on Millwall at SE16, winning 2-0 through goals from Gary McSheffrey and Jim O’Brien.
Millwall have lost seven league games at home in 2015-16, in contrast to their form on the road where they have won nine of their 16 Sky Bet League One games and drawn three.
Harris recognises that form isn’t good enough, and admitted he knew it wouldn’t be easy to correct it this season. Harris said: “What comes first? A passionate opening to the game and the fans get behind the team and stay behind the team, or is a set of supporters that come in a real positive frame of mind and get the players at it if they’re not at it?
The last time the Lions recorded double figures for home wins was in their first season back in the Championship in 2010-11 when they won 12 times at The Den. They followed that with seven in 2011-12, eight the next season, six in 2013-14 and
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“It’s a bit of both, I think. “It’s my job to try and find that passion in the players and the supporters. It’s my responsibility as a manger to get the fanbase to turn up and want to see their football team play. I think such a large number of supporters travel to away games because they have that hunger to see their team. Maybe at home this season we haven’t quite put that fire in the bellies of the supporters yet. “When I took the job I wasn’t crazy enough to think it could happen overnight. I wanted it to happen overnight, but it’s going to take time. “I have a lot to learn about team selection and style of play. We will get it as a group, and we’ve had it at times this season, but we are going to learn. All I will say is the players will give their all for this football club. Anyone I put on the pitch will give their all, me included on the sideline. “I think our loyal supporters know that, that’s the main ingredient and the starting point. “After that then individual performances and team performances will slowly rekindle the spirit in the fanbase.”
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“I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT TEAM SELECTION AND STYLE OF PLAY. WE WILL GET IT AS A GROUP, AND WE’VE HAD IT AT TIMES THIS SEASON, BUT WE ARE GOING TO LEARN. ” 7
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PREVIEW: PETERBORO' By John Kelly
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HAUN Williams is banned and Ed Upson is an injury doubt for the visit of Peterborough to The Den this weekend.
the FA Cup. Graham Westley signed Tom Nichols from Exeter to replace Washington, and the striker scored the winner in their last away game in the league at Chesterfield.
Upson was injured at the end of the first half in the 2-0 defeat to Scunthorpe on Tuesday night and was being assessed by the club this week. Ben Thompson could start alongside Jimmy Abdou on Saturday.
However, the Posh were hammered 4-0 at home by Bradford last weekend. Westley says his side need to win the majority of their remaining 16 games to have a chance of promotion, starting on Saturday at Millwall whom he said he was impressed with despite their defeat to the Iron midweek.
Mark Beevers was left on the bench by manager Neil Harris after Sid Nelson’s good form in the wins at Walsall and Rochdale, but the young centre-back’s error that gifted Scunthorpe the chance to take the lead through Gary McSheffrey could convince Harris to restore the more experienced Beevers to his starting line-up.
“Millwall losing was probably the worst thing that could have happened in a way,” Westley told Peterborough Telegraph. “That result will steel them for our game. They obviously won’t want to lose at home twice in the same week.
Joe Martin could also come back in at leftback against the third top scorers in the league with Shane Ferguson then an option to start on the left wing in place of the outof-form Aiden O’Brien.
“Millwall actually played very well and had chances to get something from the game so they won’t be lacking confidence ahead of our game.
Harris wasn’t too despondent after the defeat to the Iron cost the Lions a chance to go fifth in the League One table, preferring instead to focus on the strides made this season.
“We have some ground to make up, but it’s a very close division and a string of wins will soon make the league table look very different.
Harris said: “As poor as I thought we were with the ball we had the odds moments of brilliance in our attacking play with defence-splitting passes, balls into wide areas, good balls into the box and good movement.
“It could be we need to win 10 or 11 our last 16 games to have a chance of going up. You can look at how many points have been needed in recent seasons, but no two seasons are the same.
“It was probably too few and far between to sustain any real pressure.
“To win promotion you have to win a lot of a games. It’s as simple as that. I wouldn’t call Millwall a must-win match though as there will still be plenty of points to play for after Saturday.
“But I just said to the boys, ‘You can’t get too carried away when you’re winning, and you can’t get too down when you get beaten’. “We have to remind ourselves that we’re sixth in the league and have come a hell of a long way this season.”
Sky Bet odds: Millwall 23/20 Draw 13/5 Peterborough 21/10
Peterborough have won only once in six games since losing top scorer Conor Washington to QPR in January, though two of those fixtures were against West Brom in
Probable Millwall team: 4-4-2: Archer; Romeo, Webster, Beevers, J Martin; Wallace, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson; Morison, Gregory. 9
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WILL THE LESSONS BE LEARNED FROM SCUNTHORPE DEFEAT? Jimmy Abdou can’t put his finger on it, Neil Harris admitted that his players haven’t put the “fire in the bellies” of Millwall supporters this season. It may be that Millwall’s philosophy is better suited to playing away from home than at The Den. Scunthopre’s win at SE16 on Tuesday night was the seventh loss for the Lions at home this season. It was very apparent just a few minutes into the game that the atmosphere was flat and there was almost an expectancy that if things didn’t immediately go the home sides way then the crowd were just waiting to get on the players’ backs. Scunthorpe played a similar way to Gillingham when they won 3-0 at The Den on December 19, with Stephen Dawson in the Bradley Dack role just in front of the base of midfield and providing the attacking hub around which Scunthorpe built their attacks.
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR By John Kelly
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The first goal came from a mistake from Sid Nelson trying to play out from the back, with Dawson then threading the ball through to Gary McSheffrey to finish. In that error from Nelson there was also some hint why Millwall’s form at home has been so poor this season. Away from home it’s doubtful he would have attempted to play the ball out of defence. Scunthorpe seemed to realise that if they could keep the ball for any sustained periods they could drive a wedge again between the players and the fans and that tension then transferred back onto the pitch to spread doubt and indecision in the home side. Harris again said that this was a “learning curve and that “naïve” mistakes had cost them. We’ll see whether or not those lessons have been learned this weekend. Nelson may not get a chance as he’s likely to be replaced with Mark Beevers, who has probably been the Lions’ most consistent defender this season.
CAN BEN THOMPSON GIVE THE SIDE PASSING IMPETUS?
It was difficult then coming into that game with Graham Westley’s side in prolific attacking form with Conor Washington spearheading that. At least Millwall won’t have to worry about Washington this weekend as he has since joined QPR in the Championship.
If Ed Upson is ruled out then Ben Thompson is likely to start in the centre of midfield beside Abdou. Thompson at least tried to pass the ball against Scunthorpe. He certainly has the technique to play that kind of game.
Abdou gives his side energy and can go from box to box but he is not able to dictate the game on the ball in the way Thompson potentially is. Thompson can also be a threat outside the box if he gets the chance to shoot, as he showed against Wycombe when he scored against them in the first round of the FA Cup.
But therein again lies the conundrum: Where is the line between being naïve and maybe losing the ball trying to be constructive; and being pragmatic, clearing a ball or getting it down the pitch to avoid giving it away in dangerous areas as Nelson did on Tuesday night? That’s something Thompson might have to decide against Peterborough – and he’ll have to forget his last league experience against the Posh when he came on for Abdou after the midfielder got injured five minutes into the 5-3 defeat at the ABAX Stadium on October 3.
It’s time for Thompson to step up and show he is capable of doing a job for his side as we get into the most critical part of the season. Williams, who gets so much criticism from fans despite his ability on the ball, was missed against the Iron, and Thompson has the chance to step into his boots and help drive Millwall towards a points total that they are likely to need to finish in the top six this
SO, HOW MANY POINTS IS THAT THEN?
of just over 86 points the side finishing in second place in the table has achieved in the last five seasons.
Yes, we’re getting down to these calculations now, however futile they might turn out to be.
With 15 games left Millwall would need to get another 36 points (12 wins) or 2.25 points per game. Unless there is a dip in form, or late-season surges from Southend, Bradford or Sheffield United, the sides who look best equipped to challenge, then Millwall are favourites to finish in the top six. Another factor that counts in their favour, as we’ve mentioned before, is that the first half of the season was more testing given the away games on Tuesday nights.
Graham Westley said Peterborough need to win ten or 11 games to secure a place in the play-offs. Eleven wins – and assuming no draw – would give Peterborough 77 points. That would have been enough to finish in fifth place in League One last season, with a 12-point cushion to Bradford City who finished seventh, missing out on the top-six by four points.
Last five seasons (Points totals of teams finishing sixth and seventh; points totals of teams finishing second and third):
But how many points can we predict Millwall are likely to need to secure a top-six place?
2014-15: Chesterfield 69 points Bradford City 65; MK Dons 91 Preston 89
Millwall have earned just over 1.6 points per game so far this season. Projected over 46 games that would leave them on 74 points – enough for a play-off place in each of the last five seasons since the Lions’ last promotion in 2010. (That points total would have meant Millwall missing out on their chance to gain promotion in 2009-10, leaving them in seventh behind Huddersfield who achieved 80 points.)
2013-14: Peterborough 74 Sheffield United 67; Brentford 94 Leyton Orient 86 2012-13 Swindon 74 Leyton Orient 71; Bournemouth 83 Brentford 79 2011-12 Stevenage 73 (+25 GD) Notts County 73 (+12); Sheffield Wednesday 93 Sheffield United 90
What about an automatic promotion spot? If Millwall do maintain their current points-to-game ratio it would leave them well short of the average
2010-11 Bournemouth 71 Leyton Orient 70; Southampton 92 Huddersfield 87
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Historically there have only been three 0-0 draws between the two sides. That aside, these meetings average 3.23 goals per game. Eight goals were scored in the last meeting in a 5-3 victory for the Posh on October 3 last year. 14
Stat's that... BY JOHN KELLY
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Millwall and Peterborough United have met on 30 occasions, with the Lions having the historical upper hand with 14 victories to Peterborough’s ten. There have been six draws.
season, five of them in the league. With his seven goals he has directly contributed in thirteen goals so far this campaign.
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The first meeting between the two sides was in Division Four on December 3, 1960. The Lions lost 4-2 on that occasion. Millwall’s biggest margin of victory over Peterborough is 4-0, which they achieved on January 27, 1993. Phil Barber, Tony McCarthy, Alex Rae and Jon Goodman were the goalscorers on that day.
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Peterborough’s biggest margin of victory over Millwall is 6-0, which they achieved on November 17, 1962.
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Lee Angol is Peterborough’s leading league goalscorer this season with seven goals. Jon Taylor and Marcus Maddison are also on seven goals but both have five in the league and two in cup competitions. Peterborough’s most creative player is arguably Maddison, with six assists this
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Peterborough’s form has been disappointing but not surprising. They’ve lost three of their last four, including defeats to high-flying Gillingham and Burton Albion, plus a 4-0 drubbing by Bradford last week at home. But they did get a creditable away win at Chesterfield. Peterborough appear to be another team that travel well. Millwall currently sit sixth in the League One table on 50 points, five places and six points ahead of Graham Westley’s outfit, who are in 11th place and have played a game less than the Lions. Peterborough have a better goal difference than Millwall, though (+9 versus +8). The Lions have 56,800 followers on Twitter. Peterborough have 44,400. The Lions also have 137,000 likes on Facebook. Peterborough have 41,500.
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IS FOR INTERNATIONALS By Mark Litchfield
Lions over the years, with two Steve’s, Lowndes and Lovell, earning caps during their time in SE16, with Steve Morison and Jermaine Easter also being selected as Millwall players. Shane Ferguson and Josh McQuoid act as the clubs most recent Northern Ireland internationals, with Chris McGrath, Bryan Hamilton and Ian Stewart also lending their weight, should you wish to go back a few decades.
ELIEVE it or not, but in their history, Millwall Football Club have possessed eight full England internationals. OK, the last one was James Smith in 1938, with the first being Herbert Banks in 1901, but that’s not the point.
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When it comes to internationals, the Lions have produced many a player to turn out for their country – most notably from across the water in the Republic of Ireland.
Away from the British Isles, only two players from the USA have earned full international caps whilst being the property of Millwall. John Kerr – the first man to score at The ‘New’ Den in 1993 – earned six caps, scoring once, during his time, whilst Kasey Keller proved to be a bit more successful, playing twice as much as Kerr, with twelve caps to his name, including appearances in the Olympic Games and the Gold Cup.
Pat Saward’s appearance for the ‘Emerald Isle’ in a 1954 World Cup Qualifier against Luxembourg started the ball rolling and over 100 caps later, the club still possess an Irish international in goalkeeper, David Forde. The likes of of Eamon Dunphy, Steven Reid, Tony Cascarino and Mick McCarthy have also pulled on the green jersey whilst plying their trade week in, week out at The Den.
Lucas Neill dominates the list of Australians to achieve international ap-
Wales have also benefited from the 17
son are Millwall’s trio of Canadian internationals, whilst the more obscure overseas call-ups have seen the likes of Hamer Bouazza, Michael Gilkes, Bobby Bowry and Shaun Cummings turn out for Algeria, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis and Jamaica respectively.
pearances as a Millwall player with ten caps, but another Aussie perhaps holds the title of the most famous international to have been a Lions player - Tim Cahill. Cahill only won four caps in his time at The Den – the first being in a friendly with South Africa in London in 2004 – but his hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Fiji three months later ensured his name would be in the history books as, to date, he is the only player to have scored an international treble as a Millwall player.
Of course, along with Forde, Ferguson and Cummings, the Lions currently possess a fourth international in Jimmy Abdou, who has made a number of appearances for the Comoros Islands. Can you remember any other internationals to have played for Millwall?
Marc Bircham, long-throw specialist Adrian Serioux and Josh Simp-
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IS FOR JACKETT By Mark Litchfield
E arrived at the club as an unknown during testing times, but he departed as a legend and one of the greatest managers in Den history. Kenny Jackett became Millwall boss in November 2007, after a turbulent period lasting two years – and seven managers – had seen the Lions tumble into League One, with seemingly no way back.
from the League One drop zone in the process.
A hard-fought 2-1 FA Cup First Round win at Altrincham in Jackett’s first game did little to calm the discerning voices from the stands over his appointment, with a last-minute defeat of the same scoreline at Bristol Rovers a week later only adding fuel to the fire, but three consecutive wins over Yeovil, Bournemouth and Leyton Orient steadied the ship, pulling the Lions away
Jackett’s first full season saw the Lions reach the League One playoff final, losing out to Scunthorpe United in heart-breaking circumstances. After a shaky start to the campaign, a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town on September 20th saw the club enter the top six – a place that they did not leave for the remainder of the season.
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An indifferent few months saw the club finish 17th in League One, but the summer of 2008 allowed Jackett to work his magic for the first time, bringing in the likes of David Forde, Tony Craig and Jimmy Abdou – three players that would go on to be a huge part of later successes under the former Swansea manager.
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Memorable moments were created along the way, such as a 3-1 Den win over bitter rivals, Leeds United (with another victory over them in the play-off semi finals), Neil Harris’ record-breaking moment in the FA Cup at Crewe Alexandra and a spell of six wins in seven games just before Christmas, but unfortunately, the opportunity of promotion was to be taken away within the final five minutes of the season, as Martyn Woolford’s winner ensured that the Iron would play Championship football the following season.
with their sights set on the top two. However, a crazy final day of the regular season saw Leeds United take second spot, consigning the Lions and their opponents that day – Swindon Town – to the play-offs. A two-legged victory over Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals set up a showdown with the Robins at the Home of Football and with the Scunthorpe defeat fully in the mind of everyone present, the Lions meant business as they arrived at Wembley once more. On a day that could have been so different had Charlie Austin’s attempt on goal not taken a massive bobble, the Lions skipper ensured that the club – and Jackett especially – would erase the demons of the previous season and play in the Championship once again.
However, just twelve months later, the Lions would be joining them. Players such as Steve Morison, Jason Price, Danny Schofield and Darren Ward would arrive before and during the 2009/10 season and would add to the already blooming mix of youth and experience at The Den, as the Lions made the Wembley play-off final once more, this time going one better with a 1-0 defeat of Swindon Town, courtesy of Paul Robinson’s first-half goal.
The 2010/11 season provided many twists and turns as Millwall finished in a respectable 9th place, after a brief flirtation with the play-offs. The lows of a 6-1 defeat at home to Watford and being given a football master-class by Swansea City – Jackett’s former club – were matched and bettered with the highs of a superb 3-0 opening day win at Bristol City, a double over local rivals, Crystal Palace,
Just three defeats in twenty-three league games in the second half of the campaign saw Millwall launch themselves in the top six,
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plus wins over QPR, Burnley and Leeds United.
resign after the defeat to Blackburn in mid-April, but was persuaded to stay on until the end of the season. The former manager finally achieved his aim of a cup run in his final days as the boss, as the Lions reached the FA Cup Semi Final, but defeat to Wigan Athletic, coupled with the trouble on the day, proved to be the final straw; Jackett handed in his resignation shortly after the whistle blew on the season.
Jackett’s second season in the second tier saw the Lions fighting at the foot of the table, with only a seven match unbeaten run at the climax of the campaign securing their Championship survival. Harry Kane, a loan signing from Spurs and Andy Keogh found form at the right time, as the club pushed itself away from trouble – but that was to be just the beginning of the relegation worries.
Kenny Jackett’s final season at Millwall was tainted for many reasons, which meant as a result, he left in difficult circumstances. However, we should not forget what he did in his time at the club. From the genuine threat of Fourth Division football, Jackett took us to the brink of a shot at the Premier League and an FA Cup Semi Final.
The 2012/13 season proved to be Jackett’s last in charge at The Den. In spite of a 13-match unbeaten run, which put the Lions on the cusp of the play-offs, a disastrous second half to the season saw Millwall descend down the table, just staying up on the final day, despite a 1-0 defeat at Derby County.
For that reason alone, he should rightly take his place among Millwall’s greatest managers of alltime.
One of the factors behind the collapse was the disastrous home form; Jackett actually wanted to
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ABDOU CAN'T EXPLAIN MYSTERY OF MILLWALL HOME FORM By John Kelly
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IMMY ABDOU was the latest player sent out in front of the media to attempt to explain Millwall’s poor home form – and the latest player to fail to give an adequate reason for it. first half and Jim O’Brien in injury time and in between Millwall never really looked like they were going to get anything from the game.
Millwall lost 2-0 to Scunthorpe at The Den on Tuesday night, their seventh defeat at home in the league this season and tenth in all competitions.
The Lions face Peterborough this weekend when they will have another chance to get just a second win at the Den in 2016.
It’s probably unreasonable to expect Abdou to explain in five minutes what has been a problem for more than five seasons, and he struggled to put his finger on why Millwall can win three successive away games and then lose so meekly when they return to The Den.
“We lost again at home and of course we’re disappointed,” Abdou said. “But we just have to work again and try to come back Saturday and win that game.
They have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions at home since November and there was something predictable about how events unfolded against the Iron, now on a four-game winning streak under caretaker bosses Nick Daws and Andy Dawson.
“Like I’ve said before we have to make sure we score first and it can be a different game. (Scunthorpe) scored first and we had to chase the game again. “I don’t know if we deserved to win but I think we had enough chances to at least draw.
Gary McSheffrey scored early in the 25
“The way they play they had more players in midfield so they probably get more of the second balls than us.
he says that won’t play on his mind as Millwall look to protect their place in the top six.
“I think we probably didn’t adapt well to that. Sometimes it’s difficult but we have to react now and try to do better.
“I’ve forgotten about that game,” Abdou stressed. “But hopefully I’ll be ready for this one,
“I think the manager is going to see that and try to fix that for the next game.”
“They’re a good team and they showed early in the season how good they are.
Abdou damaged his collarbone in the 5-3 defeat to Peterborough in October, an injury that kept him out of competitive action for almost three months. But
“It’s going to be tough, playing at home again we need to a reaction after (Tuesday).”
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AMBLER THANKS MILLWALL FANS AFTER PETITION DELAYS LAND DECISION By John Kelly
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NDY Ambler has thanked Millwall fans for their support after Lewisham Council deferred a decision on a Compulsory Purchase Order on land around The Den. Millwall chief executive Ambler was present at the cabinet meeting and said he was “delighted” with the decision adding: “I would like to thank the fans for the huge amount of support they’ve given us – and I would urge them to keep signing the petition.”
More than 15,000 people opposing the move signed a petition which was given to Labour councillor Joe Dromey before Wednesday night’s meeting at Lewisham Town Hall. After a dramatic last-minute legal challenge, councillor Chris Best said the CPO needed “further investigation” and urged Millwall and Renewal, the company who want to buy the land for redevelopment, to meet to try to resolve their differences.
He also confirmed the club’s offer to cabinet members to come to The Den to discuss how Millwall can be involved in any regeneration scheme in the area still stands.
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P LAYER PROF I L E :
G ARY ALEXANDER By Mark Litchfield
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T is regarded by some as the greatest goal Wembley Stadium has ever seen. on, but with a chest of the ball and a simple turn, the former Leyton Orient striker ferociously struck the ball towards the goal, beating the despairing dive of Iron ‘keeper, Joe Murphy, finding the top corner of the far post, putting the Lions back on level terms.
May 24th, 2009 saw Millwall take on Scunthorpe United in the League One play-off final. After defeating Leeds United and MK Dons respectively in the semi-finals, both clubs arrived at the Home of Football on a baking hot day, determined to secure Championship football for the following season.
It was a goal that had to be seen to be believed – it was that good. These days, if Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi scores it, the world’s media would dedicate pages and hours of content towards it. The Lions fans were expectedly wild in celebration, but just two minutes later, Alexander’s header found its way past Murphy, giving the Lions the lead, sparking euphoria rarely seen before at any ground, let alone the greatest of them all.
The weather did not deter the players; the game was played at a rapid pace, with the Iron racing into an early lead, courtesy of Matt Sparrow. However, in the 37th minute, the day took on extra meaning, thanks to Gary Alexander. With Millwall looking for a way back into the game, a Scunthorpe throw-in made its way to Zak Whitbread, who headed into the path of Alexander. With the striker about 30 yards out and with his back to goal, there looked to be nothing
Unfortunately, Alexander turned from hero to villain in the second half, as at 2-2, he sent a header wide with the goal at his mercy, but he
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had provided a moment that would stick in the brain of all Lions fans forever with his first goal.
win, which cemented Millwall’s place in the top six. Two goals in his first fifteen appearances of the 2009/10 campaign suggested that Alexander would continue his form, but injuries began to play their part, causing him to miss a large part of the season; he didn’t feature between October 31st and April 5th, by which time the Lions were pushing for the play-offs once more.
Bought to the club by Willie Donachie in the summer of 2007, Alexander made his debut for the Lions in a goalless draw at Doncaster Rovers on the opening day of the 2007/08 season. Despite his position and industrious nature, the striker could not find the net on numerous occasions and with Christmas approaching, was still to get off the mark for his new side.
Alexander did appear off the bench in the 1-0 loss at Huddersfield Town on April 16th as he made his comeback, but he did not start another game between then and the end of the season, having to make do with bit-part appearances as a substitute.
However, on Boxing Day, that all changed, as Alexander bagged a hattrick in a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, finally laying his hoodoo to rest. That appeared to open the floodgates for the frontman, as he netted three times in his next four games, but he was to score just once more (in a 2-1 victory over Southend United) before his season finished prematurely due to injury in March, as the Lions ended the season in 17th place under Kenny Jackett.
His final appearance was as a last minute substitute for Neil Harris in the playoff semi-final second leg against Huddersfield, as the Lions were assured of a place at Wembley. After being a non-playing substitute during the final, Alexander left the club for Brentford in the summer of 2010, for a fee in the region of £100,000.
The 2008/09 season saw Alexander find his shooting boots, as thirteen goals very nearly contributed to promotion to the Championship; unfortunately, that play-off final against Scunthorpe ended the season with a crashing halt. Apart from the double at Wembley, perhaps the sweetest strikes for the frontman came against his former club, Leyton Orient, in the penultimate game of the regular season, as he bagged both goals in a 2-1
Gary Alexander wasn’t as prolific as some Lions strikers over the years, but his heart, desire, commitment and attitude endeared him to the Den faithful from the very beginning to the very end of his Millwall career. The fact Alexander is a Millwall fan probably helped his cause, too – oh, and that goal at Wembley!
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the midfielder.
CUNTHORPE ended Millwall’s six-game unbeaten league run after Gary McSheffrey’s goal in the first half and substitute Jim O’Brien’s late strike gave them a deserved win at The Den.
Five minutes into the second half Daniels was quickly off his line to save from Aiden O’Brien.
The Iron could have gone ahead early on when Tom Hopper found space to turn six yards out but shot wide.
Just before the hour mark Gregory thought he had dragged Millwall level after he ran onto Wallace’s brilliant pass, but the striker was inches wide after lifting the ball over Daniels.
The away side went in front in the 17th minute when veteran McSheffrey finished left-footed past Jordan Archer from Stephen Dawson’s pass.
But Scunthorpe’s O’Brien, who scored for Coventry at The Den earlier in the season, guaranteed the points for his new side in injury time.
Lee Gregory and then Jed Wallace tested Luke Daniels but the Scunthorpe goalkeeper was comfortably behind their efforts.
POSSESSION QUESTION Neil Harris mentioned the league positions of Leicester, Hull and Burnley as proof low possession stats don’t necessarily mean a lowly status.
Millwall lost Ed Upson just before the break when he seemed to injure himself taking a free-kick that Gregory headed over. Ben Thompson came on for
The message was perhaps with Millwall fans in mind, particularly at home, stressing the need for
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patience. After all, Millwall had more possession than Rochdale but less than Walsall, if only slightly, and won both games. In the first half, though, the fans weren’t that receptive to the idea. And with justification as Scunthorpe looked much more purposeful when they had possession and bullied their opponents off the ball when they didn’t. Just after Gregory had shot wide of Daniels’ near post Millwall were in possession when they lost it, Dawson shifting the ball quickly to McSheffrey who inflicted maximum damage when he shot past Archer to the far post. Millwall were often outnumbered and outfought in midfield in the opening 45 minutes, Dawson and Neal Bishop epitomising that with snarling performances that clearly set the tone for their teammates.
Harris brought on John Marquis for Abdou as Millwall went all out to rescue at least a point. In the last minute of the 90 Byron Webster shot from inside the box but Daniels got down smartly to his left to save. Millwall desperately tried to get the ball into their opponents’ box as the clock ticked on, but instead it was Scunthorpe who kept their cool and the ball and after Archer had saved brilliantly from Bishop, O’Brien was there to slot home and send Millwall fans home wondering how it can be all so different from their performances on the road. NEXT UP? The Lions face Peterborough next Saturday. The Posh beat Millwall 5-3 in October in a frenetic contest, but the cavalier approach that characterised their displays when Graham Westley first took over have diminished slightly, not helped by the loss of Conor Washington.
The home side actually shaded possession in the opening period, but as has been the case so often this season, not just in this game, it was the opposition who created the more clear-cut chances. ROUGH DIAMOND Dawson, as Bradley Dack had when Gillingham won 3-0 at The Den before Christmas, started at the attacking tip of a midfield diamond for Scunthorpe. In fact, Scunthorpe’s formation was almost a 4-2-22 at times as they set out to dominate midfield. Dawson has the shape of a boxer and at times the short temper of someone about to swing a punch, but he has a creative touch and possesses clever movement. Millwall had nothing like the same control, with Jimmy Abdou struggling to impose himself.
©MillwallFC
Thompson tried to give his side a more measured approach after the break, and Gregory was so close to levelling from that sumptuous Wallace through ball. The striker looked like he had done everything right but the ball bounced inches wide of Daniels’ right-hand post. But there was just not the same cohesion to Millwall’s attacks as there was to Scunthorpe’s. And, indeed, they did to their opponents what Millwall had done to Rochdale last weekend, slowing down and breaking up the play with experienced players like Bishop and David Mirfin taking their time getting to their feet after collisions. The frustration was very audible among the home fans.
©MillwallFC
ŠMillwall FC
ARCHER: MILLWALL FANS “A BIG HELP” IN IMPRESSIVE AWAY FORM By John Kelly
J
ORDAN Archer was refusing to take all the plaudits for a third consecutive clean sheet after the 1-0 win over Rochdale on Saturday, highlighting the contribution of two of his younger colleagues to Millwall’s recent defensive resilience.
the break as Millwall won their fifth consecutive game on the road this year.
It was the 12th of the season for Archer, 22, and helped Millwall extend their unbeaten league run to six.
“Sid and Mahlon have come in and been absolutely first class, Webbie has helped marshal then through it as well. But they’re more than capable even at their age of playing the way they have. I’ve got nothing but praise for them the way they’ve come in and played.”
“The back four and the rest of the team have been outstanding, so I can’t take all the credit, a lot of it has to go to them as well,” Archer said.
The former Tottenham man was tested early against Rochdale, getting a hand on Callum Camps’ cross and then watching as Mahlon Romeo, 20, tidied up to clear the ball away from danger.
Archer had to be fully concentrated at the end of the first half to keep the game scoreless when after a succession of Millwall corners and with the clock showing 75 seconds past the allotted
Sid Nelson and Byron Webster were also in dominant form to restrict Rochdale to a couple of efforts from outside the box after
39
three minutes added time, Rochdale broke with Ian Henderson getting a shot away at the near post. “That was a funny one,” he said. “I’ve seen it loads of times before in football where you’ve got heaps of pressure on the opposition goal and all of a sudden they’re down at your end. But that’s what I’m paid to do. I’m happy to keep the ball out of the back of the net and contribute to the win. “It’s easy to switch off when there’s something like five or six corners, but you’ve always got to be aware of things like that. That’s something that I’m improving on and that comes with experience and with game time.” The win over Keith Hill’s side was the Lions’ ninth on the road in League One this season, which only Burton and Walsall have matched, and Archer explained a combination of their meticulous preparation and the support they get from fans, more than 800 of whom made the trip to Rochdale, is the reason for that impressive return. Archer said: “We’ve got a great bunch of lads. Training is sharp and intense and the gaffer, coaches and Kevin Pressman have got to take credit for that. That sharpness in training carries into Saturdays and we’ve been performing well. “We’ve been fantastic away from home and have to carry on these performances at home. I’m sure the fans will come out and support us and it’s just about making The Den a fortress, which it has been. “I’ve got to give credit to the fans. There have been some long away journeys this season and they’ve always come out in their numbers. “I think in most games they’ve always out-sang the home fans and I have to give them credit for that, it does help.” 40
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ROCHDALE MILLWALL
0 1
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M
pleased Neil Harris. Millwall frustrated their opponents, responding to Harris’ loud prompts to “watch the second ball”. It was from one such piece of play that the Lions went ahead. After Gregory had almost found himself through on goal the ball broke to Jed Wallace. He feigned to shoot but brilliantly flicked the ball inside to Morison, whose scuffed shot was going wide only for Gregory to appear and finish at the back post for his 19th of the season. It was a real poacher’s goal.
ILLWALL won their fifth consecutive game on the road to keep the pressure on the sides ahead of them in Sky Bet League One after a professional and disciplined performance against Rochdale at Spotland. Lee Gregory put Millwall ahead in the 54th minute when he tapped in from close range after a scramble in the box and a suspicion of offside. Minutes later Jordan Archer almost dropped a Callum Camps cross over the line but gathered at the second attempt.
A measure of the frustration in the stands could be taken when, after a break in play, Shaun Williams decided to send the drop-ball into the corner. It probably should have incensed the home side, but it didn’t really provoke much of a furious response.
Millwall hung on relatively comfortably to keep a second consecutive clean sheet in the league ahead of their meeting with Scunthorpe on Tuesday night.
There was another incident midway through the second half when it seemed Sid Nelson had shown his inexperience by going forehead to forehead with Ian Henderson having thought there
MILLWALL FRUSTRATE THEIR HOSTS This was one of those messy games that will have
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was something cynical in the attacker’s trip on him. Nelson received a booking, but he didn’t let it put him off and he effected a number of clearances. His moment of indiscipline could have roused the home side and their supporters. Nothing better summed up the away side’s discipline and commitment better than Mahlon Romeo’s block from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s shot in added time. Millwall were simply immovable as they professionally closed out the game. HORSES FOR COURSES Harris made one change to his starting XI from the side that won so convincingly against Walsall last week, with Joe Martin replacing Shane Ferguson at left-back. It was easy to see what his thinking was. Martin brings more height to the side and with Rochdale targeting Calvin Andrew and Joe Bunney it was needed. Andrew looked like he had the beating of Byron Webster, and Bunney was profiting on the right early on from the ball breaking off his teammate.
anger had Archer not saved from Henderson well over the allotted three minutes added time and just before the half-time whistle. After the break, as he was at Walsall last week, Gregory was clinical to fire his side to a fifth successive away win. MAN OF THE MATCH Gregory pinches it – but only just. His value is in his constant sniffing out of chances in the box. The former Halifax striker has praised Harris for his work with the strikers, but Gregory also possess a positional nous that is difficult to teach. Mention should also go to Shaun Williams. The midfielder has his critics but he was calmness personified in the second half and one sumptuous ball over the top could have resulted in a second goal for Gregory but Lillis palmed away.
It was that combination that lead to one of Rochdale’s best chances in the first half – but also resulted in a blow for Keith Hill. After Bunney had cut back inside Martin and swung a cross to the back post, Andrew rose above Nelson but couldn’t direct his header on target. The former Millwall player also couldn’t get back to his feet after falling awkwardly and Nelson and Webster were probably happy to see him go off to be replaced with Peter Vincenti. A number of Rochdale players were reportedly ill during the week but they weren’t playing with any evident sluggishness. Indeed, they probably should have been ahead inside five minutes but Romeo, starting his second successive game, was in the right place to clear Camps’ ball across the six-yard box.
©MillwallFC
At the other end Wallace put Morison through in the box, but the striker’s first touch was heavy and he couldn’t get his cross past Josh Lillis who anticipated Gregory’s position at the far post. There was a Groundhog Day feel to the end of the first half. Millwall won a succession of corners – 10 in total in the opening 45 minutes – but couldn’t make anything from Ed Upson’s deliveries from the left and Shaun Williams’ in-swingers from the opposite side. Harris could be seen wheeling away in frustration as Rochdale finally cleared the ball. And that annoyance would have deepened and turned to
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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 30 2 0 3 7 4 1 24 1 7 63 2 Gilling h a m 31 1 7 7 7 57 37 2 0 58
3 Wa ls a l l 30 1 6 9 5 48 31 1 7 57 4
W iga n A t h l e t i c
31
1 5
11
5
50
2 9
21
56
5 C o v e n t r y C i t y 31 14 10 7 55 33 22 52
6 Millw a l l 31 1 5 5 11 48 40 8 50 7
So ut he n d U n i t e d
31
1 3
8
10
41
38
3
47
8 B r ad for d C i t y 30 1 3 8 9 35 32 3 47 9 Sh e f fi e l d U n i t e d 31 1 2 9 1 0 4 6 42 4 45
10 P o r t Va l e 32 12 9 11 35 36 -1 45 1 1 P e t e r borou g h U n i t e d 30 1 3 5 1 2 54 4 5 9 44 1 2 Scun t h or p e U n i t e d
30 1 3 5 1 2 36 37 -1 44
13 B a r n s l e y 30 1 3 3 14 4 9 44 5 42
14 B ur y 30 11 7 12 37 4 9 -1 2 40 15
Sw in don Tow n
31
11
6
14
4 6
48
-2
39
16 Ro c h da l e 30 10 8 12 39 42 -3 38 17 Do n c a s t e r R ove r s 30 9 9 1 2 35 40 -5 36
18 B la ck p ool 31 9 7 15 30 38 -8 34 19 Sh re w s bu r y Tow n
31 9 6 1 6 37 51 -1 4 33
20 C h e s t e r fi e l d
31 9 4 1 8 39 51 -1 2 31
21
F le e t w ood Tow n
2 9
7
9
1 3
34
37
-3
22
C re w e A l exa n dr a
31
6
10
1 5
33
53
-2 0 28
23
O ld ha m A t h l e t i c
2 9
4
14
11
2 7
40
-1 3 26
24
C o lc h e s t e r U n i t e d
31
5
8
18
38
73
-35 23
44
30
FIXTURES 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
Blackpool T HE DEN S ATU RDAY 5TH M A R C H
Swindon Town CO UNTY GROUND S ATU RDAY 1 2 T H M A R C H 45
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 24 24 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 9 9 0 0 M. B e e ve r s 2 7 2 7 1 4 B. We bs t e r 2 5 2 0 0 3 S. Fe r g u s on 2 8 1 8 6 2 M. R ome o 3 3 0 1 J. Wa l l a c e 7 7 4 0 C . Edw a r ds 1 3 1 3 1 0 J. M a r t i n 1 5 1 4 0 2 S. Wi l l i a ms 2 7 2 7 3 2 E . U p s on 2 1 1 5 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 3 4 1 0 N. A bdou 1 8 1 7 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 7 2 1 1 1 2 F. O ny e di n ma 2 6 1 6 1 4 J. M a r q u i s 9 0 0 0 S. M or i s on 31 2 9 4 7 A. O ’ B r i e n 2 8 2 3 4 8 A. P a ve y 4 0 0 0 46
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
17-Ja n -16
2 3-J a n-1 6
30-J a n-16
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
P or t Va l e ( H )
Chesterf i el d ( A)
Crew e (H)
RESU LT
3 -1 W
1 -2 W
1 -1 D
G O AL K E E P E R
Archer
Ar cher
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
B e e ve r s
B eevers
B eever s
Fe r g u s on
Fer g u son ( 76)
Ferg u so n
Wa l l a c e ( 6 3 )
Wa l l a ce ( 63)
Wa l l a ce
A bdou
Ab d ou
Ab d ou
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
O’ B r i e n ( 8 8 )
O’ B ri en ( 78 )
O’ B r i en
M or i s on
M or i son
M ori son
G re g or y ( 8 8 )
G reg or y ( 8 8 )
G reg or y
S UB
For de
For d e
Ford e
S UB
N e l s on
Nel son
Nel son
S UB
J Martin
J M a r ti n ( 76)
J M a r ti n
S UB
T h omp s on
Thompson
Thomp s o n
S UB
U p s on ( 6 3 )
Upson ( 78 )
Up son
S UB
Ony e di n ma ( 8 7)
Onyed i nma ( 8 8 )
Onyed i nm a
S UB
Marquis (88)
Marquis
M a rqu i s
M IDFIE L DE R S
AT TAC K E R S
2- Fe b -16
6 - Fe b-16
1 3-Feb -1 6
1 6-Feb -1 6
JPT
L e a g u e On e
Lea g u e One
Lea g u e O ne
O xfo rd Ut d (A)
Wa l s a l l ( A )
Rochd a l e ( A)
Scu nthorpe (H)
0-1 W
0-3 W
0 -1 W
0-2 L
A rch e r
Archer
Ar cher
Archer
C um m in gs ( 68 )
R ome o
Romeo
Romeo
We b ste r
N e l s on
Nel son
Nel son
Be evers
We bs t e r
Web ster
Web ster
Fe rg uson
Fe r g u s on
M a r ti n
Ferg u son
Wal lace
Wa l l a c e ( 7 5 )
Wa l l a ce
Wa l l a ce
A bd o u
A bdou
Ab d ou
Ab d ou ( 81)
Upson ( 82 )
W i l l i a ms
Wi l l i a ms
Up son ( 4 5)
O ’Brie n
U p s on
Upson
O’ B r i en
M ori so n
M or i s on ( 8 8 )
M or i son
M ori son
G re go r y
G re g or y ( 8 8 )
G reg or y ( 8 6)
G reg or y
F o rde
For de
For d e
Ford e
M a r ti n ( 68 )
Wood
Ed w a rd s
B eever s
T h o m ps o n
Martin (75)
Fer g u son
M a r ti n
O nyedin m a ( 82 )
T h omp s on
Thompson
Thomp son (45)
M a rqu is
Ony e di n ma
Onyed i nma
Onyed i nm a
O’ B r i e n ( 8 8 )
O’ B ri en
O’ B r i en
Marquis (88)
M a r q u i s ( 8 6)
M a rqu i s (81)
50
EDITORIAL NewsAtDen is the exclusive home of latest Millwall Football Club news, with the latest interviews, expert opinions, stats, graphics and much more. For more information about NewsAtDen or to speak to us about this magazine, advertising opportunities and more, please contact josh@newsatden.co.uk
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