Millwall 2 City 3
Post Match Analysis by Kate Thompson
Like many people of my generation, I love the FA Cup. I was lucky enough to see us win it for the first time in 2021 and want more! Clearly, if the attendances around the country are anything to go by, I am in a minority. Two of the upper tiers at Millwall had not been opened and the number of their fans not long before kick-off seemed to be no more than Leicester fans.
Once the game started, the stands that were open were reasonably full; the attendance was given as just over 10,00, of whom nearly 3,000 were Leicester fans. I always said I wouldn’t go to Millwall again, after my last experience, but the lure of the FA Cup meant I changed my mind. I am with the manager of Maidstone United, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, who waxed lyrical about it!
As expected, Maresca made a lot of changes. It was good to see Coady and Doyle get 90 minutes, as did the Academy player Ben Nelson. Marçal-Madivadua was replaced in the 77th minute by his fellow Academy player, Maswanhise. There was only one other sub, Dewsbury Hall for Akgün, although it was a strong bench. Fans’ favourite Marc Albrighton also played the whole game and it was from one of his crosses that Casadei scored the first goal with his head.
Millwall started brighter but, although Stolarczyk made a number of saves, they were all fairly routine. I expected us to be under the cosh and so it proved; I really didn’t think we would win this game, which just goes to show how unpredictable football is.
Leicester scored twice before half-time, something we have rarely seen this season. Both goals were well-taken and Millwall could have had no complaints, even though they were the better team for much of the game. They pulled a goal back early in the second half but Tom Cannon – the only available striker – scored a third only five minutes later in front of the visiting fans.
It was very noticeable that Leicester were not playing their patient passing game at the back so much as in some games and Cannon’s goal was straight out of the Vardy play book – a long ball from Doyle found Cannon before the halfway line and he calmly rounded the keeper to put the ball into an empty net. There were a number of other chances that went begging, so that when Millwall scored their second in the 86th minute, it was a nervy end to the game.
It was good to see that a team of second choices, by and large, could still deliver the goods. No one had a poor game although there were some sloppy mistakes early on, by the normally reliable Pereira and by Choudhury, and some of the defending was a bit suspect. However, much of the play was slick and the ball was moved quickly upfield. Even so, there was still some fans who found something to complain about!
Now all we want is a home tie in the next round.
Leicester City: Stolarczyk, Nelson, Coady, Doyle, Choudhury, Pereira, Albrighton, Akgun (Dewsbury-Hall 72), Casadei, Marcal (Maswanhise 77), Cannon. Subs (not used): Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Winks, Mavididi, Fatawu, Vestergaard.
Millwall: Sarkic, McNamara, Cooper, Harding, Leonard, Bryan, Mitchell, Honeyman, Flemming, Watmore, Nisbet. Subs: Trueman, Bradshaw, Longman, Campbell, Esse, Grant, Walker, Adom-Malaki, Lawson.
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.