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Millwall (h) - Tuesday 19:45 - What Can We Expect?


Davefevs

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If ever there was a team to play at home (other than Preston) after two exciting wins that might be a typical “after the Lord Mayor’s show”, it’s MIllwall!!  In recent years uninspiring draws, frustrated performances have been the order of the day, as we’ve failed to “mix it” with a team who specialise in “mixing it”.  However that was under Neil Harris, and perhaps the Pato and Fam smash and grab at the New Den last season was a turning point.  Harris is no more, he’s at Cardiff, and a new man installed in October...Gary Rowett.  His 8 games in charge have seen 3W 4D 1L, but 3 successive draws have seen a top 10 position drop to mid-table.  This won’t be an easy game, but it feels different this time!

How do they line-up:

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4-4-1-1 predominantly under Rowett but he has gone 3 at the back too.  I will go into their players next, but they have enough with technical ability to play more football than previous Millwall elevens dependent on Morison up top winning ball for Gregory to get onto.  I gave t seen them play 90 minutes under Rowett to comment on the way they play.

The Players:

GK: Bartosz Bialkowski (32) - experienced Polish international shot stopper on loan from Ipswich.  During his time in Suffolk he established himself as one of the Championship’s top keeper, as we found out to our cost on occasion.  However the last couple of seasons has seen him become very erratic, and he no longer looks the keeper he was.

RB: Mahlon Romeo (24) - Antiguan international who came through Gillingham’s ranks, before arriving on a free transfer in summer 2015.  I really rate him, as a modern day right back at this level he’s right up there imho.  Good energy and good feet, who can defend.  Looking forward to seeing him cope with Eliasson.

LB: Murray Wallace (26) - former Scotland u21 international who ventured south of the border from Falkirk to Huddersfield in 2012.  Played well over 100 games at Scunthorpe before signing for Millwall last summer.  Solid full-back, who does like to join in with the attack.

CB: Alex Pearce (31) - experienced ROI Centre-Back, who signed on a free from Derby in the summer having joined on loan in the winter window.  Former Reading man who has a loan spell with City during LJ’s first season here.  Another one of those players that you’re not convinced is that great until he marks your CF out of the game....let’s hope not tomorrow!

CB: Jake Cooper (24) - another ex-Reading man, who like a Pearce turned a loan move into a permanent deal in the summer.  A threat from set-pieces (6’5”), but yet to open his account this season.  Ever present this season, and closing in on 150 games at this level.

RM: Jed Wallace (25) - ex-Wolves and Portsmouth wide-man / creator who once again was a loan turned permie.  Remember a mate of mine speaking highly of him during his time at Wolves but he has really been one of their key players over the last 18 months.  7 goals and 5 assists this season already.  My Dangerman, another test for Rowe, he certainly picks them!

CM: Jayson Molumby (20) - Irish u21 international on loan from Brighton, who’s started to make the centre midfield spot his own, 11 starts this season.  And that’s as much as I know!

CM: Shaun Williams (33) - long serving Irish midfielders formerly of MKD signed in Jan 2014.  Got a good all-round game but usually the player to sit in and provide a shield for his back line.  250 appearances for Millwall who has a decent goal return for a DM.

LW: Jiri Skalak (27) - Teammate of Kalas in Czech Republic national team, formerly of Brighton, who signed last summer for best part of £1m. Exciting player on his day, who can be a bit niggly too.  Hardworking winger, who’s found a more regular spot under Rowett.

AM: Ben Thompson (24) - exciting attacking player who has come through the Millwall youth ranks.  Surprise loan spell at Portsmouth last season brought his skills to back to the fore, prompting a Jan recall, where he had a good rest of the season.  Only 1 goal in 20 is disappointing for the no10 role he has been given, but very capable on his day.

CF: Matt Smith (30) - another former City loanee who signed from QPR in the summer.  OTIB write-off legend when he joined us on loan, but showed he was a very capable striker at Lg1 level, and has gone on to score at a decent rate at this level, despite never really being a regular.  Spells at Leeds and Fulham previously, and 5 goals this season, and closing in on 50 in the Champ.

Other players of note:

The one and only Frankie Fielding, who moved on a free in the summer.  Currently injured.

Another ex-City goalie, Luke Steele, who’s on loan from Forest.

Shaun Hutchinson, experienced and physical CB or DM.  May return from injury.

Shane Ferguson, ex-Newcastle man who can play LB/LM.  On his way back from injury.

Aiden O’Brien, Irish wideman, surprised he’s not a regular starter.

Connor Mahoney, another talented wideman, on loan from Bournemouth

Tom Bradshaw, ex Barnsley and Walsall man, who could start instead of Smith.

Jon-Dadi Bödvarsson, Icelandic striker without a goal since this summer move.

Tom Elliott, big old unit up top, currently injured.

All in all, they have a pretty talented squad, who are getting it together under Rowett.

How do we pick up the 3 points:

A difficult one to call having not seen them under their new manager.  They have enough talent to cause us problems, so all about us winning enough individual battles and playing at the quicker tempo we’ve seen in the last two games.  Think fatigue nay play a part if we keep the same starting eleven, so might be key for our management trio to spot any drop-offs and subs used accordingly.  We can inject energy and momentum from the bench, and it might be here that instead of having to search out a last 10-15 minute win that we use subs to consolidate a lead.

Prediction:

Home win - 2-1.

 

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As I wrote in another Millwall thread, their record since changing manager is decent but other than a draw with Forest , they have had a favourable run of games against average teams and those in free fall. 
 

No Championship match is easy but we should have enough to take the three points if the team give it the same level of intensity that they brought to the Fulham game. 
 

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After 2 good wins on the bounce, really looking forward to a good game under the lights tonight. Hope Lee sticks with an unchanged team for this one. He can always change it from the bench if he needs to.

With the cheap tickets being available, I hope we can make the gate rock with yet another 20k plus crowd (hell, I almost became a Gashead then adding an extra 0 by mistake).

Keep giving the ball to Eliasson and get bodies into the box is all Lee needs to be saying in his pre-match team talk ?

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2 hours ago, cidercity1987 said:

Gavin Ward referee, ducking hell he's the last sort you want running the show against a team like Wall

He’s in the playoffs position in my crap referees league.

Its a tough refs league, with Eltringham, Langford, Stroud, Bankes vying for automatic promotion to the Prem....that’s where they go next isn’t it? ?

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Only just finished work. Was looking out the window and had a real sense of, 'it's on the red button, can I be arsed?' about me.

But then thought... well, I've already paid for my season ticket.

Also, before I go back in to wavering mode, as this is the first home game since the tragic news for the Afobe family was announced, does anyone know if a similar applause to the one against Fulham is planned?

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3 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

Only just finished work. Was looking out the window and had a real sense of, 'it's on the red button, can I be arsed?' about me.

But then thought... well, I've already paid for my season ticket.

Also, before I go back in to wavering mode, as this is the first home game since the tragic news for the Afobe family was announced, does anyone know if a similar applause to the one against Fulham is planned?

 

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