Boro v Millwall. Saturday 14 December, 15.00
The Myth
Chat down at the pub:
Football fan 1: ‘Who’ve you got next weekend?’
Football fan 2: ‘Millwall away.’
Football fan 1: ‘OMG. You’ll be lucky to get a throw-in there……..’
Millwall has always been seen as a hard place to go and a hard team to beat even on your own patch. They’re a dour, uncompromising, ultra-competitive outfit who’ll wear you down and get in your faces. They have big, lumbering forwards who’ll bully you at set pieces. They’ll play it long and lump it up to the big centre-forward. They won’t give you a moment’s rest. They’ll batter you 1-0. Referees are intimidated and will bottle decisions that could go against Millwall. And so on……
Then there’s the fans. ‘Nobody likes us, but we don’t care,’ they chant. Stands full of donkey-jacketed dockers and stevedores, often with their bootboy skinhead sons and daughters in tow. This lot will hassle you, abuse you and boo and curse and throw whatever they have to hand at you - and that’s just at the opposition players! Woe betide you if you’re an opposition fan. Don’t even think about going in one of their pubs!
The Reality
There’s a degree of truth in that picture. It’s a tough East End club in a tough East End post-industrial environment. When your nickname is the Lions and you call your ground The Den (or New Den now) you’re building psychologically on the area’s hard-bitten reputation. Don’t mess with us, it seems to say. It’s about as far removed from the posh, soft and monied West End and the London of the tourists and Russian oligarchs as it’s possible to get. Chelsea and the King’s Road, it ain’t.
I have a good friend, Jim, who was a linesman many moons ago. He tells me he once ran the line at The Den for a Football Combination reserve game. He said an old geezer in the stand alongside his touchline spat at him throughout the game through the metal fencing. Jim says he’s never forgiven Millwall and hates the club. Now I’m not suggesting that this is in any way typical of the majority of their fans, but it’s a story that perhaps illustrates why the club’s fans have had such an evil reputation over the years.
And boy was it evil ! They once prided themselves on being amongst the worst set of hooligans in the league, in the bad old days of the 70s and 80s when football thuggery was all too common. Films were made of their notoriety. The Den was closed 5 times by the FA. I seem to remember it was often Millwall versus Cardiff or Leeds making bad headlines. In 1985 large numbers of Millwall and Luton fans battled on the pitch at Kenilworth Road, and there were numerous other serious incidents involving the club. Most other clubs also had hooligan problems in those years, Boro included, but most were not as severe as Millwall’s.
I’ve been to Millwall once. It’s not something I’m keen to repeat. Arriving at the train station next to the ground, away fans were herded down a narrow passageway, which has metal grills along the sides and over the top, presumably to stop home fans lobbing missiles. This alley led only to the away stand: there was no access to any other part of the ground, which was a frustration, as I like to wander around and see other parts, the shop, the hero statues, and so on. I like to have a friendly chat with opposition fans. Some hope at The Den! I can only assume that access was blocked off from away fans to ensure absolute segregation in case of trouble. Apparently the car park for away fans also has access only to the away end. You might think that all that hooligan stuff has faded away now, but clearly the police are not taking any chances with home supporters meeting away fans. All in all, it was quite an intimidating experience. Nonetheless, Boro managed a rare win on that occasion, by 5-1 no less, with Jelle Vossen scoring a brilliant hat-trick.
The club has not won very much in its history. They have spent 91 of their 98 seasons in the Football League yo-yoing between the second and third tiers. The club had a brief spell in the old First Division between 1988 and 1990, achieving their highest ever league finish of tenth in 1988–89, the Teddy Sheringham years. They’re an established championship side now, and in some of the recent seasons have threatened to make the playoffs, but have always fallen short. One potential moment of glory was the FA Cup final of 2004, but they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United.
How true it is that they still play a prehistoric style of football, I couldn’t say. We certainly expect them to be combative. We do know they score a lot of goals from set pieces, but are they still wedded to a long-ball game? They’re certainly hard to break down, it appears, having conceded fewer goals than all Championship sides outside the top 6.
The curious case of Neil Harris
Clubs who’ve lost to Boro often dismiss their managers soon after. Curiously, and in a break with the usual practice, Millwall have announced they will part company with their present manager, Neil Harris, after Saturday’s game.
Harris is a club legend and is in his third spell managing the club. Last season when he took over he rescued them from 21st position and a likely relegation, lifting them to a final 13th place. To lose him now, after the club has been on a reasonable run of form, seems perverse. The BBC commented that: ‘(Derogatory) comments made after Saturday’s home defeat by Coventry did not go down well with sections of the fan base’ ( Harris labelled some of them ‘thickos’) and that ‘A breakdown in communication with sections of the club's hierarchy could have led to an earlier departure than was expected despite Millwall being in a good place in an unpredictable division.’ Word on their local blogs is that most fans are not happy Harris is leaving.
Who knows what the outcome will be? Will the players want to give him a final send-off? Will his impending departure inspire them to greater things? Or will they perhaps fall apart, rudderless and all at sea?
Saturday’s game
Perhaps the one side you’d rather not play after two really tough away games at Burnley and Leeds is Millwall. Over the years they have been seen as a tough side to play against, and our game against them on Saturday will be no different, I expect. They remain a combative outfit who will probably fight for every ball. Boro have met them 54 times in the league, winning 24, drawing 12 and losing 18. It’s essential that we add one more win to our tally on Saturday, if we are not to lose touch with the playoffs.
They had been on a very good run of nine games unbeaten (5 draws, 4 wins, with no side scoring more than 1 goal in any of the nine!) The run included home wins against Burnley and Leeds and a draw with Sunland, so Millwall are clearly no mugs. The run ended with last Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Coventry, followed up tonight by a second home defeat (1-0) by Sheffield United [boo, hiss), which leaves them in 13th place.
This is a really difficult game to call, as Millwall’s statistics are inconsistent, to say the least. They’ve won only once away from home, at Swansea, but have drawn 5. Amazingly, it seems they’ve only played 8 away games, but have had 11 at home. No idea why. I’ve already mentioned how solid they are at the back. Their 17 goals conceded is the best in the league outside the top 6, and 8 better than Boro’s record. At the other end, however, goals have dried up. They scored 12 in their first 7 league games, but have notched only 8 in 12 games since. An unsurprising strength is set-pieces, (lumbering forwards bullying defenders, no doubt), with 8 of The Lions’ league goals coming from that route. Tin hats will be issued to Boro defenders. Millwall have the worst passing accuracy per match in the league by some distance.
Ex Boro favourite Duncan Watmore is top scorer with 5. He never gives less than 100%. Josh Coburn is ineligible and in any case injured. They took a gamble on Teessider, Macauley Longstaff, who scored freely in the Conference with Notts County, but he has so far scored just once at the higher level. Two other notable names are ex-Boro disappointment, cost-a-packet-delivered-little midfielder, George Saville and ex Mackem George Honeyman, both ever-present this season.
After a solid draw at Burnley and a really poor defeat at Leeds, it is vital Boro get back to winning ways in this one. We dropped out of the playoff spots after last night’s results, and while it’s too early to panic, it would be very easy for the rot to set in and the gap to widen. Most of us are already in agreement that automatic promotion is now virtually out of reach.
Millwall may not pose too much of a goal threat, which might earn Borges a reprieve he does not deserve after Leeds. Personally, I would play George McCormick or even Luke Ayling at left back. Barlaser reverted to his former self at Leeds, losing concentration at times, and playing hopelessly ambitious, suicidal passes, to say nothing of his weak tackling. Time to give Jonny a run out, methinks. Given how few goals our opponents have conceded, it will be up front where we might struggle. For that reason, I would definitely start Latte Lath, as he is much more adept at running off the shoulder of defenders, and I would expect his pace to cause problems.
So, reputations apart, this will be a difficult game. Boro need to be at it from the word go. I think one goal will decide it. We simply have to get that goal.
What do you think, playmates?
Excellent Clive. Nice to see Millwall setting a new trend of pre-sacking their managers.
@peter-surtees Didn't we do the same with Warnock? He knew he was leaving before his last match, when Boro drew at West Brom on the 6th November 2021. About three years ago.
@Clive An excellent opener. One of the best for a while and I enjoyed it enormously.
Let's hope we play well and get a win as we need points after two difficult away matches. Milwall might park the bus at Riverside (team bus outside and the players in their own penalty box) and make it difficult for us. But we have a fit team and as you said might see Howson starting with Hackney. It worked very well last season, eventhough Jonny has not played much this season.
I will go for a narrow 2-1 win - a brace by Latte Lath. Possibly seeing Bryin goal. Who knows.
Up the Boro!
I forgot to say that Millwall conceded 7 goals in their first 3 matches of the season, 3 versus Watford and 4 at Bristol City. Since then, they’ve only conceded 10!
In their last 16 games no side has scored more than once against them! This is miserliness of Burnleyite proportions! We’ll need our most creative attacking boots on. My master tactical plan: get the ball to Doak as often as you can!!
And they’ve only scored 8 in their last 12 games. Did I mention DOUR?
@clive-hurren Another fine opener in a long line of fine openers. This Blog just keeps on giving.
Like Clive, I think this will be a hard fought, close game. I’m going for 1-0 Boro win with a towering Matt Clarke header from a corner.
As an aside, I don’t think Barney is happy about Saudi Arabia getting the World Cup (and who can blame him?).
Clive
A great opener and well researched and a rational view of where Milwall were and where they are now.
i liked Watmore and still do, but he’s the only player I would have back from that team as I thought Saville was poor and overpriced!
So what do I think about Saturday?
it’s the return on Boro3 of course ! ?
OFB
Thanks Clive for another of your stylish openers that expertly describes why no-one loves Millwall - I guess everyone can be grateful that it's home game and not a trip to the New Den.
I can't confess in having seen Millwall play this season and if they weren't playing Boro I wouldn't be planning to either given that they are not in the entertainment business.
You mentioned their stats and indeed their last dozen game have proved to be binary...
0-1 0-0 1-1 1-0
1-0 1-0 1-0 1-1
1-1 1-1 0-1 0-1
Sounds like Neil Harris has programmed them but it seems the computer has said no when it came to him keeping his job. Though in that sequence they did beat Leeds and Burnley 1-0 so maybe they play to their strength.
On paper it doesn't appear Boro 3 (or more) will be getting an outing but it's game Michael Carrick's side must win after dropping out of the top six - with both Blackburn and West Brom returning to their early season form.
Basically, Boro have dropped to 7th because they've only picked up 4 points from their last 4 games - though three of those were against teams in the top 5 so not an easy few weeks.
Excellent opener thank you Clive. Like you, I have attended the old den on a few occasions and luckily survived the experiences, just.
I hope when you went to the Millwall game you didn’t go to east London as you would probably have ended up at West Ham rather than Millwall, in South East London! 😉
As for Saturday, I expect this to be as tough as the Leeds game given their defensive record and also I suspect they will be ultra cautious and look to hit us on the break or from set pieces.
I can’t see there being more than one goal in it and just hope it goes to us; inconsistency and mistakes from us need eradicating from now on if we are to regain a top six spot.
Whilst I respect other contributors views and accept that a top two slot is still mathematically possible, I can’t agree and don’t know what they are seeing that I am missing; defensively and consistency wise I can’t realistically see how we can achieve the required points given what has been achieved to date. It would also require an implosion by the current top two, which I don’t see happening.
We should be capable of a top six slot if we can play to our strengths consistently and eliminate shooting ourselves in the foot.
I have not yet seen, Leeds included, a team who I felt had played us off the park and were head and shoulders above us. Every game we have lost has been as a result of us not being at it from the outset, coupled with poor decisions/execution on our part (refereeing decisions excepted) rather than being outplayed by the opposition.
Fingers crossed Saturday will start to see us addressing some of these issues and give us a much needed win to get the show back on the road. CoB 😎
@martin-bellamy I don't think he's on the Christmas card list. A very good and beautifully written article. Nothing changes.
UTB,
John
Clive, A great opener thank you. It brought back memories.
I've been to the Den twice, a family based hospitable experience to a club it definitely is not. My visits were in the late 60's and born from naivety, I think intimidating and hostile are the polite descriptions I'd use to describe the hospitality. Interesting that the word hospitality also contains the word hospital.
They used two have two 'squads' of hooligans, F Troop and another whose name escapes me and I think one lot always wore surgical masks like a uniform. I remember them going toe-to-toe with West Hams fans in tube station and the electricity had to be turned off in the live rail. I'm not a fan as you might have guessed.
If Boro get their passing game right and are switched on from the off we'll get the result everybody in red wants. Assuming they dare to wear any red that is. If not it will be trench warfare.
UTB,
John
Great Headliner Clive and well written with the history and stats.
However it is the recent stats that trouble me. Of course all teams can have a bad day at the office and the Championship see one every week.
Unfortunately Boro seem to have “a bad day” on a too regular basis, especially at home.
As I have previously posted and concur with KP, the “Autos” are beyond but a miracle.
Saturday’s game will probably be a tough one. Millwall know how to set up to stifle Boro. Also double up on Doak and leave our left side to look after itself.
A number of posts have suggested a close game. Maybe one - nil. If Millwall score, which is quite possible, can we score more is the real question.
Another “must win” to keep us close to fifth and sixth.
My research told me there was a hooligan crew called the Millwall Bushwhackers. Was that who you were thinking of?
A very interesting and accomplished opener, Clive, as we have come to expect and appreciate, and a very thorough exploration of the toxic Millwall image.
I wondered about the value of sending Coburn there given that their philosophy and approach to the game is the antithesis of what Carrick is trying to achieve here. I suppose that there is an upside to ensuring that he gets a regular game in the Championship, but when I watched his home debut against Luton, he spent all of his time either chasing or trying to hold on to long balls booted up the middle with no visible means of support. He eventually pulled a hamstring in trying to retrieve a wayward ball.
I suspect that Millwall's interest in Josh may have come about because East Londoners must surely regard us as a soft touch. After all we forked out £6 million for Saville and sold him back to them for less than a third of that, and gifted them Watmore, a regular ever since, for a mere million. And as for valuing West Ham's Ashley Fletcher for £6 million and then forking out £7 million for Downing (The Hammers using that cash to buy Michail Antonio) the less said the better.
Let's hope that Duncan doesn't come to bite us on Saturday, as it's a game we have to win
Great opener Clive. Only been to Millwall once, the old Den, in the Jack Charlton promotion season, don't remember much about the atmosphere etc just we won 1-0, Malcolm Smith with the goal. This will be a tough game where we will probably have a lot of the ball. Overall this season they average 35% possession away from home, it is only slightly better at home. They also don't mind getting yellow cards they have three players who have 5 or more. As might be expected ,according to Whoscored, they are very weak at keeping possession of the ball and we are very weak at three things; avoiding offside, aerial duels, and avoiding individual errors.
Just seen that the game is being broadcasted internationally so won't be available on Boro Live. Referee on Saturday is Geoff Eltringham from County Durham, his only recent Boro game was the League Cup game against Stoke this season. Hopefully not the same scoreline!
@clive-hurren Thanks for that Clive, I've been hunting for a documentary on BBC years ago about Football hooliganism but I haven't found it yet. You may well be right the memory isn't what it was!
UTB,
John
We’ve just finished watching Smoggie Queens on BBC3 and iPlayer. Nice to see a programme set in the Boro and really enjoyed it.
I read McGree is out of the Millwall game as he's the latest player to be suffering from illness - Fry may be available but it will be a late decision. some calls for Brynn to replace Dieng also.
From what MW said about Millwall's possession stats of 35% it sounds like they'll be defending deep and trying to frustrate Boro's attack. Given that they stopped Leeds from scoring at Elland Road, it suggest they can cope with quick wide players so may be difficult afternoon for Doak unless we can mix it up a bit.
Possibly a game that will suit players who can run at defences and draw fouls inside the box - maybe one for having both Doak and Jones on the pitch swapping sides keeping them guessing. Also since their won't likely be space to run into then Latte Lath better suited than Conway too with his energy and strength.
@werdermouth. MC confirmed that RM had been unwell but didn’t say he was definitely out of the running; that being said, whilst I am a fan of RM he has not performed at his best so far this season and will not be as big a miss as in the past if he does not make it.
Given the Millwall stats I can see this being a frustrating day for the Boro and a potential 0-0 which we have not had at this season or even 0-1, hopefully not the latter. 😎
I assumed McGree was out of contention if he only fell ill on Wednesday - though I'd fancy he'll make the bench at best.
I'd be delighted to read a piece like Clive's opener in a newspaper but match previews involving a Boro game are like hens' teeth these days. Ones written with a knowing smile and giving the background and relevant stats (other than the obvious: "Club X comes into the game after 2 successive wins but Manager from Club Y is under pressure after 3 straight defeats") are more like the teeth of a dinosaur: from an extinct species.
Thanks, Clive for a good read.
Obviously many issues have been raised about Boro's position in the league and more will certainly be raised in the weeks to come. Boro currently lies 10 points behind Leeds and 11 points behind leaders Sheffield United. That clearly doesn't mean it is impossible to catch Burnley (7 points ahead of Boro and currrently sitting third in the table) let alone that Boro couldn't catch the top two clubs. It is rather UNLIKELY that Boro will catch the top two teams from the 7th position currently occupied by our heroes but not impossible. There remains another 26 league games in the regular 2024-25 Championship season so there are plenty of points (78 if my arithmetic remains up to the task) still up for grabs. The Fat Lady has hardly entered the theatre yet, let alone warmed up for her final aria!
Well, that's the theory. But we like a little sprinkle of realism here as well. Whilst there remains a lot of track left to run, a lot of targets to hit, a lot of hurdles to climb (pick your metaphor of choice), Boro would need to find not only a rich vein of form from now to the end of the season but one which would be the motherlode of any prospector's dreams. The issue is consistency and Boro's history this season so far doesn't even include the word. Yes, there have been some good performances and results in the last couple of months, but also some grim ones, and often found close to each other. I won't list them all but how about Boro 0-2 Bristol City (19th October) followed immediately by Boro 1-0 Sheffield United, and then Boro 0-3 Coventry on 2nd November immediately before Boro started the goal-fest represented by the 4-1, 5-1 and 6-2 wins against QPR, Luton and Oxford respectively followed immediately by the 27th November 0-1 home defeat by Blackburn?
Obviously one might expect reverses. A team might easily be playing well in a decent run of form and still come away from Championship games at Burnley and Leeds with no points. But consistency would require Boro to beat the teams Boro SHOULD beat and continuing to do so week by week from here onwards. It is possible. But you'd not put money on it. Boro seems to have the monopoly on inconsistency, though I accept I might just be being "sensitive" about this. Maybe supporters of most of the other teams in the league feel the same way about their club?
So, in short, it is POSSIBLE for Boro to finish in the top 2 but it is more likely Boro will finish in places 4-6 or even 4-8. Early or pre-season optimism might have resulted in predictions of automatic promotion but, now we have seen the whites of the eyes of at least some of our competitors, punters may be now laying-off their early bets and trying to find a way of recouping the money if Boro actually finishes in 6th place. But I expect the players still to believe thay CAN do better. As I've said before, the season starts with the next game - home to Millwall.
1-0 to Boro.
It is possible for Boro to finish in the top 2. They could also finish top. They could also …….?…!!!
But realistically it’s hardly worth discussion. It’s already been pointed out that Boro would have to achieve an average of 2.3 points per game which in practice means winning something like 18 games, a few draws and losing about 4 games.
What the team must do is to adopt a positive approach and to go out and try to win every game and they will finish in the League where their performances deserve.
Meanwhile tomorrow is a must win if Boro want to finish higher in the League than their current position. I see it as a difficult game with possibly Millwall wanting a good result for their departing manager.
So, I’ll be pleased with 1-0
Philip of Huddersfield
Don't think Mcormack will be involved on Saturday he played 90 minutes for the U-21s on Friday night away at Norwich. Engel may be fit for the bench according to MC.
Five changes, including Brynn for Dieng & Rav's back:
Millwall will start with Azaaz and Boro with Azaz. Watmore on their bench, but Saville starting.
And of course Coburn is injured and will be back in two months' time.
I go for a 2-1 win, ours scored by Latte. Up the Boro!
Five changes, including Brynn for Dieng & Rav's back:
CJ comments:
Some bold Carrick decisions within that then!
One changed enforced as Burgzorg comes back in for McGree, who misses out altogether with a chest infection.
Ayling back in for Dijksteel, which was an expected change, while we called Howson in for Barlaser in our predicted team.
The two big surprises though... Brynn is back in goal with Dieng dropping to the bench. Big call from Carrick, switching his GKs. And then, Rav van den berg unexpectedy back and straight into the starting line-up, with Clarke dropping to the bench. Dael Fry also well enough to be back on the bench.
A bit of good news: the Dirties went down 0-1 at Deepdale, though they remain top with 42 points from 21 games, ahead of the Blades on goal difference, but the latter have a match in hand.
ELL gives Boro the lead in the 10th minute, assisted by that man Azaz.