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| My
Mission! Millwall bank on Briley |
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by
Brian Stater
MILLWALL
captain Les Briley has a point to prove at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
Briley
will lead the Lions in the opening leg, of the Milk Cup clash with
Chelsea - the club who rejected him as a teenager eight years ago.
Lambeth-born
Briley, who is fast emerging as a key man in Millwall's midfield,
recalled, "I was there in the days when Eddie McCreadie was
manager. The club were having a hard time financially and decided they
were over staffed. I was one of the players they let go on free
transfers.”
“Obviously
it's going to be a bit special to go back there now and lead out the
team."
And
Briley is confident Millwall can topple First Division Chelsea in this
second round tie, which sees the second leg staged at The Den on October
9.
He
said, "I think we can go to Stamford Bridge and nick a result and
then beat them at our place. We don't need to fear anyone at The
Den."
The
tie also holds extra spice for Micky Nutton, the defender who was signed
from Chelsea by manager George Graham 18 months ago. |
Graham
is hoping for a repeat of the 3-0 win Millwall notched against West Brom
at the same stage last season, but warned, "Chelsea will be
expecting a hard game. They've had us watched in the last couple of
matches, but we will stick to our normal game. We will be out to give a
good account of ourselves. Promotion is our priority but a good cup run
would be a tremendous bonus."
Graham
is likely to name the same side that hammered Wigan 4-1 on Saturday,
while defender Lindsay Smith may have a run out in the reserves at home
to Southampton today.
The
Lions chief has named striker Kerry Dixon and midfield man David Speedie
as the men he fears most in the Chelsea line-up.
Tomorrow's
game is NOT all-ticket. Millwall fans without tickets will be admitted
through the 'visitors' turnstiles. The second leg, on October 9, is all
ticket and the tickets for Millwall fans will be available at next
Tuesday's game against Derby County. Season ticket holders can obtain
their tickets at any time.
An
FA disciplinary commission have cleared Millwall of responsibility for
the crowd trouble that occurred in the home match with Swansea on August
25. The FA team visited the Den last week.
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| Graham
takes on his old pals |
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By
Michael Hart
Millwall’s
George Graham tonight tests his managerial development against two
former playing colleague John Neal and. John Hollins-who now form the
management team at Chelsea.
The
Milk Cup second round, first leg brings them together again at Stamford
Bridge when Third Division Millwall bid to upset the ambitions of first
Division Chelsea.
Graham
played alongside Neal in the Aston Villa team of the early 1960s and was
Chelsea side with Hollins when they won the League Cup in 1965.
Neal
and Hollins steered Chelsea back into Division One last season, while
Graham’s rebuilding at The Den has produced a team currently fourth.
“Looking
at it realistically they should beat us”, admitted Graham today.
“But we will be looking for a result that gives some hope in the
second leg at our ground.”
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Hollins
said “George has been schooled well and has got his team doing all the
things he wants then to do.”
“I
know it looks easy for us, but everything is against the bigger side on
these occasions. If we go into this game think it's going to be simple
we do so at our peril.”
Millwall
beat Kern, Dixon’s former team Reading, 5-4 on aggregate, in the first
round.
Dixon
has scored only once in seven appearances for Chelsea this season and
Graham picked out David Speedie and Pat Nevin as the players presenting
the biggest threat to his team.
Chelsea
will probably field the side that drew 0-0 at Luton but Millwall may
recall former Plymouth centre-half Lindsey Smith, who has recovered from
injury.
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by
Maurice Woolf
I
appeal to Millwall fans not to get involved in battles with Chelsea fans
when the Lions play their Milk Cup first leg match at Stamford Bridge
next Wednesday.
The
Lions have already won many admirers for their entertaining, attacking
football this season, with Saturday's 3-3 draw at Walsall the most
recent example.
I'm
told there were 600 Millwall fans at Fellows Park, which is fantastic
support for a Third Division side - comparable, in proportion. with
Manchester United's following.
How
great it would be, therefore, if the two games against Chelsea - the
second leg is at the Den on Tuesday, October 9 - pass without serious
incident.
I
know Chelsea fans aren't exactly noted for their good behaviour, but
that shouldn't encourage Millwall followers to start swapping kicks and
punches.
Be
dignified, and encourage your side with the famous Lions roar that has
led the team to famous Cup victories.
Hangers
on
It's
not the real fan who causes trouble - it's the
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hangers
on who go along to any match looking for trouble.
It
needn't happen, and with common sense from both sets of supporters it
won't. Trouble makers should he handed over to the police to he dealt
with and real Chelsea and Millwall fans could do their part by pointing
out the hooligans.
I
can tell you that Millwall will not tolerate anybody found guilty of
misbehaving at a match. Wouldn't it be a relief to talk about soccer
without the aggro?
This
Saturday Millwall are at home to Wigan and they should maintain their
100 per cent home record, even without the services of Lindsay Smith,
who needed six stitches in his leg after being carried off at Walsall.
Skipper
Les Briley is also doubtful after turning his ankle in training.
Millwall are playing excellent attacking soccer and their gates should
increase. They deserve more support. They will find it hard at Chelsea,
who have the more experienced players and will do well to hold their
opponents to a one or two goal advantage
But
with nothing to lose George Graham's men can shock one of his former
teams. George is convinced that the way his side is playing they're a
match for anyone - and he could he proved right on Wednesday. |
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