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by
Brian Stater
MILLWALL
boss George Graham is poised to swing the axe before tonight's Den clash
with Derby.
The
Millwall defence has come in for a slamming from Graham after conceding
six goals in two matches.
Graham
announced, "Lindsay Smith will definitely be back for the game with
Derby, and I am considering further changes."
Either
Micky Nutton or Dave Cusack are expected to make way for the fit-again
Smith, who returns after recovering from a gashed shin.
And
Welsh midfield ace Steve Lowndes stands by for his first full Third
Division match. Since dislocating a toe at Bolton in January.
Lowndes
came on as substitute for Anton Otulakowski during Millwall's 3-2 defeat
at Newport on Saturday and Graham said “Anton's place could be
in danger and I pulled him off because he hadn't been playing as well as
I hoped.”
But
Graham reserved his harshest criticism the leaky rearguard, who also
conceded three goals in the Milk Cup clash with Chelsea last week.
He
stormed, "If we can't defend elementary attacks I've got to do
something quickly.”
Midfield
man Tony Kinsella has resumed training but is still a week away from
full fitness.
Meanwhile
Graham is continuing his hunt for a striker. |
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| Millwall
(0) 2 |
Derby
(1) 1 |
| Neal
73 |
Wilson
43 |
| Lovell
90 (pen) |
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by Lesley
Johnson
MILLWALL
boss George Graham wants his players to repeat Tuesday's gutsy and
determined display in tomorrow's crucial away clash at Gillingham.
After a
valiant fight against crudely defensive Derby, Millwall clinched victory
with an injury time penalty.
And
manager Graham said, "If we get the same sort of confidence and
commitment away from home that we get at the Den, then we will be at the
top of the table."
In a match
marred by six bookings, much of the attacking came from persistent
Millwall. Against the run of play Derby took the lead just before
half-time when Kevin Wilson battled through the Lions' defence to
thunder a drive past goalkeeper Paul Sansome.
Millwall
picked up confidence after the break and soon forged golden chances.
Steve Lowndes, recalled to first team action, forced ex-Palace keeper
John Burridge to stretch for a screaming twelve yard shot, and moments
later Burridge cleared a Kevin Bremner header.
The
equaliser came in the 73rd minute, when Dean Neal looped a Dave Cusack
header into the back of the net. |
·
Hot Shot: Kevin Bremner has a crack
Well into
injury time Derby defender Kenny Burns brought Anton Otulakowski down
inside the box and saw substitute Steve Lovell power Millwall's winner
from the spot.
MILLWALL:
Sansome, Roffey, Briley, Smith, Cusack, Lowndes, Bremner, Neal,
Chatterton (Lovell), Otulakowski.
Referee:
David Letts (Aldershot). Attendance: 5,923
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| Millwall
2 Derby 1
by Maurice
Woolf
MILLWALL
manager George Graham was beaming after his side's injury-time win over
Derby at the Den on Tuesday.
He
exclaimed: "Our new motto is we aim to please. We give the crowd
exciting, attacking football. This was another great game. "The
atmosphere was tremendous and you fell the buzz around the
ground. The crowd helped us to stage a crowd helped us to stage a
tremendous fight-back."
"I
didn't think we were ever going to score after the chances we missed in
the second half, but we got what we deserved in the end."
Millwall
looked like losing their 100 per cent home record when Kevin Wilson
scored his 13th goal of the season in the 43rd minute.
Bill
Roffey, who five minutes before had sliced his kick did it again and
this allowed Wilson to latch on to the ball.
Paul
Sansome managed to get his hands to the ball but couldn't stop it going
in. Millwall had suffered cruel blow in the 30th minute when Nicky
Chatterton had to come off with torn leg ligaments and Steve Lovell
replaced him. |
The
Lions came out full of fire in the second half, but missed chance after
chance, until Roffey broke down the left wing and centred for Anton
Otulakowski to head on for Neal to equalise.
There was
no stopping the Lions now. They mounted attack after attack, and had
shots kept out by the woodwork and the calm Derby defence, well
marshalled by Kenny Burns.
But in
injury time the home side received its reward. Otulakowski was brought
down twice in the penalty area. The first time seemed a better case for
a penalty, but referee David Letts pointed to the spot for the second.
Steve
Lovell made no mistake, and Burns, who was one of four, Derby players
booked (two Millwall players, Keith Stevens and Les Briley, also
received cautions), led a protest, but Letts stuck to his decision.
MILLWALL.
Sansome; Stevens, Roffey, Briley, Smith, Cusack, Lowndes, Bremner, Neal,
Chatterton (Lovell. 30 mins), Otulakowski.
DERBY:
Burridge; Palmer, Buckley, Richardson, Streete, Burns, Taylor, Wilson,
Davison, Hooks, Robertson. Sub: Pratley.
Ref: David
Letts.
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| A View from the Other side of
the Hill: A Report from the Derby Evening Telegraph |
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by Gerald Mortimer
Heroic defending and Kevin Wilson's 13th goal of
the season counted for nothing at the Den last night.
Millwall substitute Steve Lovell scored from an
injury time penalty and even then there was time for Derby County to
have strong appeals turned down in the other area.
The Derby players felt cheated and Arthur Cox
went on the field after the final whistle to make sure none of them
abused Aldershot referee David Letts.
It was a wise precaution, for feeling had run
high throughout a hectic and exciting game. The atmosphere at the Den is
always hostile and heaven knows what it will be like when Chelsea are
there in the Milk Cup next week.
The referee cautioned six players and seemed to
imagine that waving his book around in this manner indicated that he had
an iron grip on the game. Nothing could have been further from the
truth.
While there is little point in railing at
referees, who have a hard job and always have the final word, it would
be idle to pretend that the standard in the Football League is
particularly good.
The second-half had lasted 47 minutes when Paul
Richardson tried to stop Anton Otulakowski, the best midfield player the
Rams have encountered in the Third Division this season.
There were appeals for a penalty but Richardson's
second touch, which put the ball behind, appeared much cleaner. This
time, however, the penalty was given and Lovell hit it in
perfectly.
Derby, who, had battled tremendously hard,
refused to give up even then and an excellent free kick by Floyd Streete
was turned against the bar.
As Wilson went for the header to grab an
equaliser, there was more than a hint of a push and a suggestion of
handling. This time, however, a corner was the only outcome.
The barracking of Derby's coloured players by
some of the London supporters was most unpleasant. Charlie Palmer was
provoked into retaliatory gestures late in the game but Streete ran
across to stop him.
It is easy to sympathise with Palmer but to be
drawn like that is to lose concentration and Streete's greater
experience showed.
Streete was one of four Derby players booked,
along with Steve Buckley, Burns and Kevin Taylor. Keith Stevens and Les
Briley made up the referee's bag for the night.
Burns was absolutely magnificent. He defended majestically, often under
intense pressure, and Streete was not far behind him.
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Derby's competitive spirit was tremendous and
they deserved at least a point from their best away performance in the
League this season.
Although one crashing header from Kevin Bremner
was blocked, Millwall did not get through to John Burridge much in the
first-half, despite Otulakowski's inventiveness.
The reward for fine defending came after 44
minutes when Bill Roffey sliced a clearance. Wilson collected the ball,
raced through the centre of the Millwall defence and hit a low shot to
which Sansome got a hand.
The goalkeeper could not keep the ball out and
when half-time came after 50 minutes, including several stoppages, there
were visions of Derby's first league away win for 11 months.
Burrridge saved superbly at Lowndes' feet before
Millwall equalised after 73 minutes, Dave Cusack heading on a corner
from Dean Neal to nod the ball in from close range.
Even before that, Derby had created chances by
playing the ball so well from the back.
Streete, who saved on the line when Bremner beat
Burridge, put Wilson away and Sansome had to save at Bobby Davison's
feet. At 1-1, Paul Hooks turned into the penalty area, but hit a fierce
shot over.
From another pass by John Robertson, Wilson left
Lindsay Smith for dead but fluffed his centre.
Derby performed with guts and application, with
the goalkeeper and back four absolutely excellent.
The penalty against them looked harsh but it was
not entirely a hard luck story.
Splendid though the defence may be, more of a
midfield shield is needed. Millwall were able to play through Derby's
midfield because, with Steve Powell absent, there was no consistently
reliable tackler in that department.
A strong midfield player must be top of Cox's
priorities and the sooner the better because the Rams are developing on
the right lines.
Millwall: Sansome; Stevens, Roffey, Briley,
Smith, Cusack, Lowndes, Bremner, Neal, Chatterton, Otulakowski. Lovell
replaced Chatterton after 36 minutes.
Derby County: Burridge; Palmer, Buckley,
Richardson, Streete, Burns, Taylor, Wilson, Davison, Hooks, Robertson.
Sub: Pratley.
Referee: D. Letts (Aldershot)
Attendance: 5,923
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