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New boys point to a brighter future: Millwall 1 - 1 Brighton: Report
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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Patience is in short supply in football and it remains to be seen whether Russell Slade will be given the time he needs to mould a decent side.
In a battling performance at The New Den, there were signs that players he has brought in to the club could provide genuine good times ahead.
Liam Dickinson in particular looks to be a really exciting capture with, dare I say it, hints of the Zamora influence we saw earlier this decade.
He certainly has pace and strength, looks comfortable on the ball, and shows plenty of signs that he could perform at a higher level.
The most recent capture, Elliott Bennett, likewise displayed glimpses of a bright future as a pacy winger with ability to get past people and cross accurately.
He could be quite justifiably pleased with his contribution in what was only his second game, even though a horrible slice when put clean through by Dickinson's sublime pass was a disappointment.
Another significant thing to note from the 1-1 draw with Millwall was the quite amazing voluble craving for Gary Dicker.
After the central midfielder's impressive contribution as a substitute in the Stockport game, few could have expected him to start on the bench at Millwall.
And when Alan Navarro had extended treatment midway through the first half and then limped towards the touchline, Albion's supporters chorused "There's only one Gary Dicker" to let Slade know who they thought should have started.
They got their way when the second half got under way and Dicker duly obliged with a typically busy and energetic performance which will surely see him retain the shirt against Wycombe.
Albion got off to the worst of starts when one-time transfer target David Martin raided down Millwall's left wing and whipped in a hard and low cross which Jason Price converted from inside the six-yard box.
Moments later Michel Kuipers, back in goal following his suspension, kept Albion in it with a point-blank stop from Gary Alexander.
Andrew Whing started at right back, picked up a yellow card as Martin ran him ragged, and ended up swapping full back berths with stand-in left back Adam El-Abd to avoid an early bath.
But the former Coventry man was very lucky to stay on the pitch with a cynical block as Millwall broke from their own half. It was probably only the length of the passage of play that followed as Millwall marauded forward that enabled him to escape with a lengthy lecture rather than a red card.
Kuipers as well could easily have seen his second red card of the season when he quite obviously gathered a long ball outside the left side of his penalty area and quickly snatched it back into the safety zone. How the referee didn't see it was a mystery.
The major positive of the evening was Albion's equalising goal, Nicky Forster's bullet header from a delightful whipped-in cross from Adam Virgo going in off David Forde.
Millwall, who had bossed the first half, suddenly looked tired after their marathon League Cup game at West Ham on Tuesday but Albion failed to press home their upper hand which moments before Forster's goal had seen a neat chip from Dean Cox come back off the bar and Forster's follow-up header skim the post.
Dickinson might have done better squaring a ball to the unmarked sub Mark Wright in the closing stages but shot rather tamely instead and as the game drew to a close Millwall suddenly found a second wind, roared on by their fans, and Albion had James Tunnicliffe to thank for clearing near the goal-line.
But Albion could be satisfied with the point; it's not yet September, and there's plenty to build on.
Player ratings:
Kuipers - 8. Made two vital saves but could have picked up red card.
Whing - 5. Better second half but nightmare opening 45 minutes. Should have been sent off.
Virgo - 8. Towering performance and brilliant cross for Forster's goal.
Tunnicliffe - 7. Bit static at times but good goal-saving clearance at the death.
El-Abd - 7. Probably restored a bit of his confidence with a workmanlike contribution.
Bennett - 8. Showed a lot of promise and should have capped it with a goal.
Crofts - 7. Got through a huge amount of work which tends to go unnoticed.
Navarro - 5. Picked up an injury as Albion were under the cosh in the first half. Replaced at half time.
Cox - 7. Exquisite chip on to bar deserved a goal but not in the game enough.
Dickinson - 8. Tireless performance and a real handful for Millwall.
Forster - 8. Excellent goal and won a good share of flick-ons. Fitness is a worry.
Subs
Dicker - 8. Popular replacement for Navarro at half-time. At the heart of Albion's better 2nd half performance.
Hart - 5. Never really got into it after replacing Forster and made a worryingly wild challenge near the end that earned a yellow card.
Wright - Brief cameo in place of Cox. Needs to start.
By Nick TurrellLabels: League One, Millwall, Nick Turrell
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Boxing Day Defeat and Turmoil: Millwall 3 - 0 Brighton...
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Thursday, December 27, 2007
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AFTER a gutless shambles of a defeat at Millwall it emerges there is contract conflict going on behind the scenes, which may account for such a lacklustre performance.
What remains undisputed, though, is that over 1,000 Albion fans made the journey to the New Den only to be rewarded with a truly awful display in which one of the journeymen strikers at this level was virtually handed on a plate one of the easiest hat-tricks you'll ever witness.
Even Millwall fans don't rate Gary Alexander, yet he managed to score twice with his head under no challenge from an Albion defender and then slotted a penalty after a lamentable attempted tackle by Michel Kuipers.
If Dean Wilkins had two choices to make with his team selection following Matt Richards' return to Ipswich, he surely made the wrong one in continuing to omit Guy Butters.
Adam El-Abd and Joel Lynch crumbled as easily as a Christmas shortbread in the centre of defence and, although Sam Rents busied himself reasonably well on his return to the side, he was nowhere to be seen when Bignot had time and space to pick out Alexander for the second goal.
Maybe O'Callaghan's post-match outburst was a sign of his personal frustration at such a poor performance, but do we really want to keep someone who is so ill-disciplined as to pick up a booking for a needless kicking-the-ball away only two games after he had returned from a three-game ban?
He has a touch of class and quality on the ball, but he's probably burned his boats now by criticising the running of the club.
Hammond looked out of sorts today as well, and, once again picked up a booking for a nasty challenge. But he was by no means alone. There were no players who emerged with any credit and, according to Wilkins, we should forgive and forget this performance as a blip.
That maybe easy for him to say but performances like this surely make the prospect of a play-off challenge remote, and, unless there is genuine investment on the playing side in January, the team will falter more and the crowds will dwindle further.
Player ratings:
Kuipers 5;
Whing 6,
El-Abd 4,
Lynch 4,
Rents 5;
Fraser 5,
Hammond 5,
O'Callaghan 4,
Robinson 5;
Savage 5,
Forster 4.
Subs:
Cox (for Fraser) 5,
Revell (for Savage) 4,
Martot (for Robinson) 4.
By Nick Turrell.Labels: League One, Millwall, Nick Turrell
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Millwall Report: "It wouldn't be the Albion without some sort of crisis!"
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
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Albion met Millwall for the third time this season, and for the first time the seagulls were defeated by the London side as their recent resurgence, and Brighton's recent slump collided in an all too familiar match at Withdean.
This was yet another home disappointment for the Albion, who have now won just a measly four home matches out of fourteen, and leaves them languishing agonisingly close to the relegation zone.
It was poor match between two sides who looked short of quality and both in need of some investment during the current transfer window. It was befitting that the winning goal came from a defensive error - however we shouldn't belittle the finish. A sixty yard punt from the visitors' right fullback was misjudged by Joel Lynch and Darren Byfield ran through to lob over the advancing Henderson who was stranded by the poor positioning of the young central defender. However, as now seems customary, some fans found it right to blame our young international goalkeeper for not commanding his area and not coming off his line quickly enough. It is fair to say that Henderson somewhat spluttered out of goal but by the time he reached Byfield he was on the edge of his area and was cleverly lobbed by the Lions forward.
The goal was synonymous with those conceded in recent weeks, where poor defending and leadership has led to us conceding sloppy goals.
However, Albion could easily have been ahead by the break when two simple chances were wasted. Firstly following a free-kick into the visitors' area, Albion created panic and after Joe Gatting slid the ball square across the goalmouth - inexplicably really, considering he should have scored - Adam El-Abd somehow shot so wide of the goal a throw-in was awarded. It was a dire miss by El-Abd who was only 6-8 yards away from the gaping goal. The second opportunity scorned by the seagulls came when Dean Cox could only shoot into the side-netting from a mistake by the Lions' defender Danny Senda. When Senda trod on the ball Cox was quick to race in and gather the ball but he lacked composure as his shot sailed wide.
These were the two best opportunities of the first period and the Albion could count themselves unlucky to be behind, particularly as the visitors rarely threatened Henderson's goal. The second-half continued in a rather blasé fashion with the lack of a decent tempo to really threaten Millwall. With twenty minutes or so left, somewhat belatedly, Nathan Elder and Tommy Fraser came on to try and change the direction of the game. Elder's forceful running and aerial presence impressed and he got up well to head goalwards only for the 'keeper to clench it from the bottom corner.
Henderson made a very decent save from Byfield, to keep the game alive, and was again tested by a Ben May drive.
The Albion seemed to slide into this defeat, exhibiting low confidence and poor concentration. It also should be considered that some of our younger stars like Cox and Fraser are beginning to become fatigued quicker and our struggling to reach the high levels that they have set themselves by their previous performances. This game was yet another example of how pivotal Dean Hammond has become to the side in his box-to-box midfield role. Despite Carpenter having a solid game in midfield he cannot dominate the midfield with marauding runs like Deano. A mention must also go to Joe O'Cearill who had a composed game at right back and looked comfortable when running forward with the ball.
In my opinion if the Albion want to progress this season then their must be investment in the side in this transfer window. An experienced striker, Neil Shipperley for example, would not only help the team on the field but he could certainly aid Joe Gatting and help him become a better player. All thoughts of the play-offs should be annulled and the squad must re-focus on survival as if they are not careful then they will suffer a second successive defeat.
Player Ratings:
Henderson: 6: Decent saves and kicking, was partly at fault for the goal
Rents: 6: Composed if not influential is progressing steadily
Butters: 5: His lack of pace was shown and the defence were often quite deep
Lynch: 5: Covered well for Butters but was a fault for the goal.
O'Cearill: 6: Grew in stature and looks to be a strong and powerful defender.
Hart: 6: Strong in the tackle but didn't have a game to stick in the memory
El-Abd: 5: He played very deep and with Carpenter alongside him meant there
was little creativity.
Carpenter: 6: Spread the ball half-decently and was consistent throughout.
Cox: 6: Never really sparkled but did his grafting well and can also pull
something out of the hat.
Gatting: 5: Had a good first-half but as his fitness levels fell, so did his
application
Robinson: 8: MOM - Was lively when running at the back line and had several
decent shots. Was his best game for a while.
Subs:
Elder: 6: Good early impressions
Fraser: 6: Didn't vastly change the game
Frutos: 6: Lack of service coupled with lack of decent forward running.
Report by: Rhys Turrell Labels: League One, Millwall, Rhys Turrell
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Millwall Report: Brighton win on penalties!
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Posted by David Snowball
at
Sunday, December 03, 2006
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The seagulls began their cup double bill with an enthralling penalty shoot-out victory over Millwall after Jake Robinson rescued the Albion with an 88th minute equaliser.
The game started brightly for the visitors, who were able to retain and use possession to their advantage. The Albion were far superior and looked much more concentrated and passionate than the home side. But, unfortunately for the seagulls, veteran defender Guy Butters was sent-off for a supposed professional foul after just 20 minutes.
It seemed that all of Brighton's hard-work would be wasted and inevitably the home side began to dominate proceedings and enjoyed long periods of possession but failed to seriously challenge the visitor's goal from open-play.
It was no great surprise when they scored, unfortunately just a few minutes from a much-needed half-time team talk. It was Jake's Millwall namesake Paul who opened the scoring with a scrappy swipe goalwards from a corner. Albion stopper Wayne Henderson felt he had been impended but his claims were rejected and his team-mates hardly protested with much vitriol.
It was a little disappointing to concede in such a fashion, as just minutes earlier the Lions had a similar effort only a stab off the line from Dean Cox preventing the Albion from dropping behind.
The Albion were glad of the half-time whistle and trudged off for some much needed re-organisation and a rest.
The visitors came out looking more resilient and played with a
more attacking purpose but of course had to be weary of being outnumbered in
defence due to having just 10 men. Their case looked even bleaker after a
nasty looking injury to Adam El-Abd. He was helped from the field and his
replacement, Charlton loanee, Alistair John, forced a tactical change from
the Albion with Andrew Whing moving to centre-half - presumably to curb his
attacking instinct - and John playing as a winger raiding down the right
side. However it was only when Robinson dropped into that position with two
minutes to that the seagulls broke down Millwall's rearguard. After an
excellent cross-field pass by the impressive Cox - now playing in the centre
of midfield following the reshuffle - Robinson took a great first touch and
charged menacingly towards the Millwall goal he evaded at least two tackles
before unleashing a forceful shot past Chris Day to send the healthy away
attendance, some 900 or so, into raptures.
With the absence of extra time, the Albion played out the final
seconds by the corner flag, knowing they had the physiological edge. And so
the penalties began, evoking memories of the last shoot-out the seagulls
were involved in, the infamous Play-off match with Swindon in 2004. The
first taker, Millwall's Darren Byfield, hopelessly dragged his shot
hopelessly wide of the left post much to the relief of Henderson who dived
in the opposite direction. Albion skipper and regular penalty taker Dean
Hammond was next and he coolly slotted in the right hand side of the goal.
The home side then equalled things up with a well taken strike and
unfortunately young Dean Cox couldn't restore the advantage as his strike
was blocked by Day. Another successful Millwall penalty put Robinson under
pressure but he brushed that to one side with a confident shot to the right
of the goal. Hendo then made a brilliant stop to deny Millwall taking the
lead but sub Joe Gatting couldn't capitalise, Day using his legs to block
after he had initially dived the wrong way. But to much derision from the
sporadic home crowd, defender Zak Whitbread blasted his spot-kick into the
upper tier of the home end, therefore providing stalwart Kerry Mayo to slot
home an assured penalty to progress the Albion to the area semi-finals.
Henderson: 7
Lynch: 6
Butters: 5
Hinshelwood: 6
Whing: 6
Cox: 7
El-Abd: 6
Hammond: 7
Fraser: 6
Robinson: 8 MoM
Revell: 6
Subs:
John: 6
Gatting: 6
Mayo: 7
RHYS TURRELLLabels: League One, Millwall, Rhys Turrell
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