Ah well, that run was nice while it lasted. This was very much a Nationwide game and Millwall were definitely the better team.
Like a lot of the travelling red and white army, we went for a drink around London Bridge. It meant that we were part of the crowd that were the first to test the new secure walkway from South Bermondsey train station to the no-longer “New” Den. I can see why they have done this but it is going to keep Millwall trapped in the past. One of the main things that has improved away travel since the bad old days of the 70s/80s is the fact that ordinary supporters including women and bairns can go for a pint before the match in nearby pubs. It seems to me that Millwall are never going to have this, which is a pity.
Mick Mac was forced to change the team cos of Arca’s suspension (his third of the season – we all know what a disgracefully dirty player he is! Jeez!). Poom mercifully is staying fit. Babb and Jockie kept their CB places (at the start of the season I’d have put them fourth and fifth place CBs). Ringo stayed at LB and Plug at RB. Oster unfortunately was moved over to LW with Smith (potentially our “best” forward IMO, but that is damning with faint praise) moved back to RW. Trigger and Whitely in CM and Stew and Super(for a limited period only)Kev up front.
Deech was starting his loan period so would undoubtedly score the winning goal(s) (I’m sorry, have I ruined the ending for you? – I thought I’d do this report in the style of Quentin Tarrantino). I am known as an habitual Deech supporter so my opinion may not count but, god, he was in a different class to our forwards.
Millwall were on top from the start. How Deech didn’t have a hat-trick before we scored baffles me – he was getting quality chance after quality chance. It tells you something that our best players were Poom, PFB and Jockie – and yet still we conceded two. Plug was back to SAFC Plug after showing some signs of LFC Plug in recent games. Ringo is much better as a CB than a LB – bring Hhhuuullliiiooo back to that position. Trigger had one of his poorer games. Whitely did his usual tackling role but he is having to pick up the second ball, which is not his forte. Oster is a soft shite and so hid for large parts of the game. I can’t remember much of Smith but I bet he wasn’t very good. Kyle and Stew were woeful. We really, really, really need to get this Stead lad off Huddersfield.
The effects of the Guiness from the pub at London Bridge clicked in and I went down stairs – we scored. I haven’t suffered that misfortune for quite some time. I’d forgotten how comical the reaction is in the toilets, a mixture of joy at scoring but utter despondency at having missed it. Apparently it was Stew after some good work from Kyle. God only knows how it happened as we hadn’t been anywhere near their goal.
A little later they found acres of space on their left and a cross came in that even Deech couldn’t miss – give the lad credit though you have to be there (and our lot rarely are).
Second half wasn’t much different. We were attacking the end we were in so we were even more aware how little pressure we were applying. I’m not convinced their goalkeeper had to do one thing all game that I couldn’t have managed.
So, onwards and upwards (or downwards or sideways). This game is best forgotten. We are capable of much, much better but we know we are also capable of this. An SAFC with Arca and Thornton is going to be a lot more lively. However, we really do need something new up front.
I expect that a lot of people at the match would have expected me to have a go at Wise’s antics and the fact that he has the other players acting in his image, plus the performance of the referee. A lot could be said but it would be deluding ourselves if we tried to use that as an excuse. We have to be able to cope with such things if we are going to get promoted. Trigger knows the score and should be able to play refs and games as well as Wise does. Oster is no longer a bairn and needs to realise if he looks scared, he is just going to be given an even harder time.
We shouldn’t get downhearted by this defeat but we should make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes. I’d like to go to Cardiff come the end of the season – but for the FA Cup final – we can still make automatic promotion.