"Excellent Performance Today, Very Very Unlucky"

Funny old game - I thought we played better today than in many of our 1-0 wins. But credit to Millwall, two pieces of gamebeaking class that took a game away from us that we otherwise dominated in terms of possession and I think even edged in terms of goal scoring chances.

Most of our players did very well today but I think particular credit goes to Mark McGhee. The 5-3-2 did excellently for us first-half and neutered any real threat by Millwall, Michel had one of his quietest halves of the season. Our busy midfield 3 got really stuck in, stroked the ball around well and supported by Reid, got the ball well to the edge of their box although we lacked that final killer ball. But the return of Virgo once again gave us an excellent shape, he was a handful for the defenders although not at his sharpest as he tamely miss hit a long shot that was probably our best chance of the first half.

Their first goal - classic sucker punch. We relaxed at a free kick and, credit to them, they took advantage. The ball was moved swiftly while we were still daydreaming when one of their guys, Dunne I see from the Beeb report, played a superb ball inside Dan Harding. Alas poor Dan probably did well not to nibble Dobie's legs given the 2 pens he's already given away this season, and Dobie finished excellently.

We then were very unlucky when a Chippy corner bounced around the box only to hit the underside of the bar and somehow stayed out.

McGhee changed things a little way into the second half with two great substitutions. Reid, who played very well, was sacrificed in order to revert to an attacking 4-3-3 and Leon, while Nicolas, who once again looked a bit sluggish (perhaps that lingering injury hasn't cleared up) giving way for Hammond.

That first half-hour of the second half, we were absolutely ALL OVER THEM, the atmosphere was deafening and superb, Virgs and Charlie has fine shots from range somehow kept out and the ball bobbled around their six-yard box in 2-3 other incidents but just wouldn't fall to one of players.

Of course when you dominate a team to such an extent and you don't score, the inevitable happens.

They broke away and inevitably the Brighton boy himself scored a wonder goal - game over.

Credit to the team, they kept fighting. Leon at last won a dubious-ish injury time penalty, shame we can't get them when it counts like at Ipswich. Their goalie did very well, very interesting technique instead of rushing forward, he hung behind the goal-line and guessed even later than Leon's usual feint. Great save. But, frankly, who cares if Leon misses consolation penalties, if it was for a draw, I bet he would have got it.

So not disappointed by this loss. particularly as we lost no ground in the table as everyone else lost too. If you looked at the team-sheet today and compared the Millwall players with his Brighton counterpart, what you would have saw were players who were a notch or two in class ahead. But the organisation and industry of Brighton today leveled that gap in class and amazingly for most of the game we looked the better team. But of course class shows itself at crucial points, and Millwall's two goals were class.

But I don't think we could have asked any more of the team today, or of McGhee's approach.

Did we miss Currie? Yes, we missed some of that final-ball precision, but I don't think he would have played today in a 5-3-2 but he would have been a potent option from the bench once we were one down.

The debate about Leon up front will rumble on but again despite his fine work around the pitch, again he was not convincing in the box today. At this level he may be a better provider than scorer, but that debate will rumble on an on, no doubt. I have to say I'm still not 100% convinced by Claridge so I think that space for a partner for Virgs is still up for grabs for Leon, McPhee or a loan signing.

But an enjoyable day out despite the loss as the team did us proud and showed with better luck we can get these vital wins.

Written by: London Irish, NSC

Picture by: mrhairy, NSC