CITY 4 MILLWALL 2
I saw the Millwall match as a defining point in the season. Could we get over the points dropped against Preston and get back to reality after the good display against Manchester City? We needed to get back on the points trail and try and make progress up the table if promotion was to be a serious possibility, especially as other teams around us had games in hand.
Somewhat surprisingly Sven dropped Hobbs and brought in Ben Mee. Vassell replaced the injured Gallagher on the wing. Millwall were on an unbeaten run and started well. Ben Mee, who unfortunately Iooked unconvincing throughout, badly controlled the ball in his penalty area in the second minute and promptly brought down the Millwall forward. Morison thankfully blazed the penalty over the bar.
City started to pass and move on the new pitch and, in a great move through the centre, Dyer carried on his recent form with a well taken goal.
The game opened up and both sides looked less than secure at the back. However, after a few unconvincing tackles, Henry shot from distance straight into the corner beating Weale all ends up and it was already 1-1 after 10 minutes. It was a great goal I have to admit.
Only a few minutes later, with great body strength and movement, Yakubu scored with a shot across the goalie that crept into the goal somehow. 2-1 and the game had hardly started!….
Wellens, my man of the match, was pulling all the strings in midfield with Abe picking up all the pieces. Dyer was creating havoc everywhere just running at the defence. As long as we could keep the ball away from Mee in defence we were looking a really class act, and it was great football to watch. Berner also had his work cut out against a fast breaking Millwall side on the flank.
Millwalls defence and goalie continued to look vulnerable. Wellens quick lobbed freekick to Yakubu gave Bamba the chance to bundle the ball in. 3-1 and the fans were ecstatic at half time after a really exciting half to which Millwall had also contributed well.
The second half, after both sides had missed chances, then slowed down. City became more cautious and were looking to hold on to what they had. Dyer had much less impact and our midfield lost its control.
In a few minutes that had changed. Firstly City had a really strong penalty appeal for a foul against Vassell turned down and soon after, at the other end the referee was completely conned by a blatant dive by a Millwall forward, although Ben Mee was yet again involved on the wrong side of the player. He will have to learn fast. Smith scored from the penalty although Weale got close to the shot. 3-2 and Millwall were back in the game. As a long suffering City fan, the doubts started to creep in as usual. Would we throw it away?
The second half took yet another twist when Millwall were reduced to 10 men for an over the top challenge on Yakubu. It seemed a harsh decision viewed from a distance. Wellens, with great vision yet again, found Bamba coming round the back of the defence and he somehow got his long legs to the ball to chip into the net. 4-2 and Bamba was rapidly becoming a cult hero. He looks a steal at £250,000 and controls the defence as well as looking a real threat every time he goes forward. Each time he got the ball after that the crowd were encouraging him to shoot from 40 yards to complete an amazing hat trick!
Millwall then started to lose heart and City passed their way to the final whistle to great support from the crowd. Wellens even had a good attempt at scoring from the half way line! Naughton was also superb and at times, became a right winger. The crowd and the players were obviously enjoying themselves and, in the end ran out good winners after a really entertaining football match.
This continues City’s good home form but away wins are now needed for City to gain ground on the pack with a winning run. I think they might just do it but it will need a few teams above us to hit a bad run of form and no-one presently looks likely to drop many points. The City team is in form and looks confident going forward but I still feel that there are weaknesses in defence which need sorting out quickly. Mee needs to up his game quickly or Hobbs should rightly regain his place. We then need stability at the back, the defence can get to know each others game and this will breed confidence.
City: Weale, King (c), Dyer, Berner, Naughton, Wellens, Abe, Yakubu, Bamba, Mee, Vassell
Subs: Teixeira, Oakley, Howard, Logan, Waghorn, Moussa, Hobbs
Bookings: Bamba (Yellow 34)
Millwall: Forde, Dunne (c), Schofield, Hackett, Henry, Barron, Morison, Smith, Robinson, Abdou, Berthel-Askou
Subs: Trotter, Harris, Grabban, Lisbie, Mildenhall, Marquis, Purse (on for Robinson '45)
Bookings: Berthel-Askou (Red 71)
Referee: E L Ilderton Attendance: 23,347
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation