"The Belge" HITS A HATRICK AS THE LIONS GO INTO ROUND 2!
LIONS 4 northampton 1

Millwall cruised through to the second round of the LVV Vans Trophy with a comprehensive win over Northampton in what was an entertaining match. However it has to be said that Millwall have bigger fish to fry, an the fans realied this as only 2,369 bothered to turn up.
Hero of the day was Belgian Christophe Kinet, who grabbed a hatrick, the third a penalty. By half time, Kint had already got two, the first a simple tap in after the visiting keeper had spilled a shot from Paul Ifill and the second a wonderful long range effort.

After the break, it took just four minutes before Richrd Sadlier was bought down in the area, and Kinet was given the kick to complete his hatrick.
Sadlier himself got into the action and scored the fourth and there might have been more as the northampton keeper saved chances from Stephen Reid and Neil Harris.

Millwall then go into the next round in the competition and hope that this will give them confidence for Sunday's big game against Wycombe.

LIONS ARE ROBBED AT ROTHERHAM!
rotherham 3 LIONS 2

Two disgraceful, but wrong decisons by referee Laws, robbed Millwall of three points at Plainmoor!
Neither side had dominated during the first 45, which to be honest was nothing if not dull, although perhaps we might be generous and say that both sides were probing each other!

Then four minutes into the second half, Rotherham found themselves in the driving seat following a bullet like header from Artell, which gave Warner no chance. Millwal equalised and indeed took the lead when 'on fire' Steven Reid hit two goals in the space of seven minutes, both from dead ball crosses. Millwall at this stage looked comfortable, however referee Laws, decided to make it interesting by awarding a clear Millwall throw in to Rotherham, the long effort resulted and indignant Millwall found themselves with a game on their hands.
Then the referee intervened again, deciding to ignore a blatent foul on Nethercott, which allowed the home side to clinch a winner from close range.
Thus Millwall drop to 3rd in the table and find it will be over a week before they can rectify that situation as their next two matches are in cup competition.

We wuz robbed!

 

LIONS ON TOP!
Oldham 0 LIONS 1

After a dreadful first half, where the most eXciting moment was the programme seller dropping a ten pound note, this game came to life after the break. Tony Warner saved a shot spectacularly early on, but was untroubled after that, as Millwall went into top gear.
Cahill, Moody, Reid, Harris and Ifill laid Seige to the Oldham goal, as the Lions turned in some of their best footall of the season. In the 75th minute, Ifill was up-ended in the area and deserved a penalty, but it was'nt to be, two miutes later, a great move ended with Cahill planting the ball into the net to clinch the game.

With Bristol city and Wigan only managing a draw, Millwall delightfully claim top spot, which is where they desere to be!!

MILLWALL ROAR INTO SECOND PLACE!
bristol rovers 1 LIONS 2

The Lions roared in to second place in the table with a hard fought for victory away at Bristol Rovers, who havn't won on their own patch all season.
The first half got off to a great start as Neil Harris collected a throw in swivelled and drilled the ball past the unfortunate keeper. The home side were frankly awful, and it was only a surprise that Millwall were unable to increase their lead, though there were numerous chances for Ifill, Moody and two for Livermore, the second cannoning off a post.
After the break, it was obvious that Rovers were more in the mood to make a game of it, and they began to come at the Lions, giving Tony Warner much more to do.
Millwall survived several attacks, but eventually succumbed to an equalising goal, which spurred the Lions into action once more. They stepped up a gear and both Moody and Reid had chances, before Stephen Reid struck the ball through a crowded defence to claim his and Millwall's second goal!
Millwall were now cruising, but Rovers tried to get back into the game, and so desperate were the Lions to stop them, that Stuart Nethercott was dismissed for pulling back on one Rovers striker who would have been left with only the keeper to beat had Nethers let him go.
Harris had a chance to increase the score late on, but his shot flashed over the bar, Millwall though hung on, and the general verdict was that their class got them through this match against a Rovers side that has big problems at home.
So for the first time this season, Millwall are more or less where they want to be, now it is up to Maggee to ensure that they stay there and win automatic promotion.

MOODY STRIKES TO GIVE THE LIONS FIRST WIN IN THREE!
LIONS 1 wrexham 0

It wasn't pretty but it was a workmanlike performance from Millwall, against a Wrexham side that had only lost once away from home this season. Kinet was replaced by Paul Moody after 20 minutes, the Belgian going off injured.
It was fairly even stuff until the 55th minute, when Paul Ifill lit up a grey afternoon with a wonderful piece of magic to beat his opponent and whip in a cross, which Moody dived full length to head home!
After that the Wrexham side were forced to be more adventurous and this opened the game up, and there were chances for Ifill, Reid, Cahill and Harris that Wrexham were lucky to survive!

So a welcome three points as Millwall move into 4th place. Afterwards Manager Maggie dished out praise to Paul Ifill, and also to David Livermore whom he described as, "our best player in the last few games"....he also went on to compare Millwall to the "young and embryonic Leeds United" side that has captured the football world's imagination in recent times.

LIONS LOSE OUT TO WIGAN JINX AGAIN!
wigan 1 LIONS 0

The 200 or so Millwall fans that bothered to travel to Lancashire must be thinking that this is groundhog day, as once again the Lions succumb to a single goal defeat after having watch the side dominate for most of the game. Despite a fairly even first half, it was Millwall that looked the more comfortable, Richard Sadlier almost netting twice.
But it was Millwall's second half performance that impressed. As Maggie commented afterwards, "....we murdered them....", with chances falling for Robbie Ryan, Lucas Neill and two great chances for Millwall's man of the match, David Livermore. Indeed this was David Livermore as few have seen him before, up for it, covering ground and dominating the midfield in a way which Millwall have so long needed.
However, it was to no avail as Wigan came forward on a rare attack, Liddel managed to nod a ball over Tony Warner, who slipped on the difficult surface, and that was that. Livermore thought he'd got a deserved equaliser, only for a deflection to send the ball away.
Once again, Wigan fans will be celebrating a 1-0 victory, however, again, their victory must be pretty hollow, knowing as they surely must, that once again, their team have got away with robbery!

Dammit!!

MILLWALL GAIN VALUABLE AWAY POINT AT VALE!
port vale 1 LIONS 1

Maggie was in philosophical mood following this match, he described losing a goal 12 minutes from time as disappointing and when asked about Cahill's mistake that allowed Vale to score, he simply said, "We all make mistakes".
Most Millwall fans must have felt very disappointed at half time, with the scores 0-0, the game up to that point was as poor as anyone was likely to see.
However, after the break, Millwall began to take control, Sean Dyche nodded a lucas Niel cross against the upright on 58 minutes, whilst Harris saw his effort well saved by the Vale keeper on 65. Two minutes later, David Livermore pounced on a poor clearance to volley home from 25 yards, and it has to be said that following this Millwall looked very comfortable.
However, Tim Cahill was caught on the ball, with just 12 minutes to go, and the Vale player scored to earn the home side a point.
Stephen Reid might have struck the winner just after this, but his fierce drive was tipped over by the keeper.
So a point for Millwall, who whilst not ecstatic, travel to Wigan on Tuesday night knowing that they are in fairly good spirits and could do well.
Maggie added later, "It was a good point...and important we didn't lose", although he took time out to criticise Neil Harris' performance, "I didn't think he looked like scoring today", he said.

MILWALL RISE TO THE OCCAISION AS SADLIER GRABS
ANOTHER BRACE!
LIONS 3 cambridge 1

Millwall lead 3-1 at half time, against Cambridge at the Den, with two goals from an in form Richard Sadlier and one from Bomber Harris.
Sads latched onto a poor backpass for his first, then met a Lucas Neill cross to head home second. Lucas also set up Harris for his goal, lobbing a ball over the top on the right for Harris to latch onto, he cut inside and smashed home. Cambridge rallied a little and got one back just before the break.
The second half was all about cambridge being frustrating, as they were solid after their half time team talk, Lucas Neill saw a wonderful chance go over the top of the bar. Cambridge were then awarded a penalty, but a fantastic save from Tony Warner kept them out.
Millwall then had further chances to increase the lead, but in the end it was not to be and so they settled for what they had, another 3 points in the bag.

SADLIER DOUBLE STRIKE GIVE MILLWALL AWAY POINTS!
swindon 0 LIONS 2

Millwall are back on route to the top, with a superb double strike from Richard Sadlier, who scored a goal in each half. But it could have been better with a strike from 'Shaggy' after just 3 mins.
There were chances too for Harris and Cahill. Sadlier though, in about the 43rd minute, headed home from close range.
After the break, Swindon pushed hard and Williams paid for over eagerness when he dived over Warner's oustretched arm, and was sent off for diving. Swindon then stepped up a gear, but Millwall weathered the storm and Richard Sadlier popped up to strike a low shot into the net to seal the points.

Millwall then back on track, and next Cambridge come to the Den, on the surface an easy win, but the visitors will be looking for some points and fighting hard.

Mat Griffiths

 

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