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31st January Millwall 1 - 2 Scunthorpe
United: Again, Millwall are the better side but succumb
to the ability of a very good striker. It was all looking
a little bit like Hereford; Millwall were the better side
and scored, justifiably, after about an hour through Gary
Alexander. This time though, the last fifteen minutes were
dominated by two Gary Hooper goals. To make matters worse,
Grabban pulled a hamstring, Robinson broke a toe and Laird
received a fifth booking…
…Manager Jackett is understandably disappointed, "Hooper
was the difference in the end - as he was in the game at their
place earlier in the season. We were on the attack but they
broke quickly and he finished it very well. We were pushing
forward because we wanted to win. They gain possession and
two passes later Hooper's in behind Tony Craig and the ball's
in the net."
30th January Adam Bolder signs
until 2011 from QPR and says, "I'm pleased to be back.
There was an offer from a Championship club but I decided
that Millwall is the club for me. I enjoyed my time here earlier
in the season and now I am looking forward to playing a part
in what hopefully will be an exciting and successful second
half to the campaign"...
...Tresor Kandol and Darren Ward both join Charlton Athletic.
One time alleged transfer target Izzy Iriekpen joins Bristol
City.
29th January Millwall get another
TV game, this time at home versus Peterborough United on Easter
Monday…
…18 year old keeper Laurie Walker signs for Harrow
Borough on a month's loan deal. The other young goalkeeper,
Preston Edwards, joins Dover Athletic for a month's loan deal...
...The Southwark News claim Lewis Grabban was the victim of
racist abuse at Hereford. No-one else heard it.
28th January According to the
BBC, "Clyde have failed in their bid to win compensation
over the transfer of Tom Brighton to Millwall in 2006."
27th January Hereford United 0 - 2 Millwall:
It wasn't great in the first period, but the Lions are clearly
the better side and halfway through the second half the dominance
takes its toll when Craig heads home a cross from David Martin
(via several defenders). Laird added a second just before
the end"…
…Afterwards, Kenny Jackett muses, "It was a game
we really dominated in terms of having the ball and our possession,
but when it's close at 0-0 or 1-0 Hereford were still in the
game. We were the better side but it took up until Marc Laird's
goal to really put the game away"...
...Paul Robinson plays his 200th Lions game and Neil Harris
makes his 300th League appearance.
26th January As appalling 1970s
comic Jimmy Cricket might say about the Hull aftermath, 'And
there's more…' The usual suspects; the Daily Mail,
The Mirror et al, plus of course the FA, who rake up a 'spokesman'
to say, "These are the sorts of things we never want
to see in a football stadium." Andy Ambler however appears
on Sky with a solid statement, "I don't think we're going
back to the old days, but there were other incidents over
the weekend unfortunately and we have to continue to work
hard. Every club has this element, and it is an element we
need to eradicate from the game because it's damaging our
national sport. We are not sure that (those involved) are
Millwall fans. The majority of our fans are as upset about
this as we are."
25th January The Sun join in
with the Daily Mail, the Independent and sundries to stick
the boot in further, along with the Hull City chairman Paul
Duffen, who says, "There is no place for this kind of
mindless hooliganism in football. It is an ugly throwback
to a bygone era, which most clubs have long since eradicated
from their culture. Hull City Football Club will be seeking
full financial compensation from Millwall for all the damage
and will be making the strongest representations to the football
authorities regarding this incident."
24th January We won't give too
much credence to the reports that followed a set-to between
home and away fans separated by about four feet, except to
say, the Daily Mail, The Independent, The Times (as always),
and even the Irish Times, who obviously were not there, are
the main protagonists after a day of few Cup shocks and no
other sport to mention…
…The Observer however, saw events on the pitch just
as we did, "Hull are through to the fifth round of the
FA Cup for the first time in 20 years, but the Premier League
side's defeat of a combative, if limited, Millwall was assisted
by Stuart Attwell's sub-par refereeing." And, "…assistant's
flag and awarded a dubious free-kick on the edge of the Millwall
area, which Andy Dawson swung across the six-yard box for
Michael Turner to head home." Plus, "Attwell awarded
an indirect free-kick, but prevented Millwall from taking
it quickly to gain an advantage."
23rd January Hull City 2 - 0 Millwall:
It's a bad afternoon in the FA Cup, as the Lions go out to
some terrible refereeing by the now infamous Stuart Atwell
and minor trouble in the stands sparks mass hysteria in the
media. A dubious free kick brings an opener for Hull's Michael
Turner (another alleged Millwall fan), and City debutant Tony
Warner jumps on a back-pass to deny Izale McLeod an equaliser.
Much consternation all around, as the Lions fail to put the
free kick past a seven yard wall. Hull should have had at
least two players sent off, but in the end Hull score a second
to rub a couple of poor misses by Marc Laird in our faces
and send us out of the Cup…
…City boss Phil Brown says, "Kenny has come here
with a game-plan and made it very difficult for us to get
any fluency in our game. That is credit to them but the bottom
line is that little bit of quality in front of goal has paid
off for us"...
…Kenny Jackett doesn't see events quite so clearly,
"I'm disappointed to lose the game. Up until their second
goal we were in it, the second goal killed us off. It was
quite a scrappy game, which maybe suited the away side and
the side from the lower divisions. From that point of view
it was an opportunity we did not capitalise on."
22nd January
Ashley Grimes signs a two-and-a-half year extension on his
Millwall contract.
21st January Stevenage striker
Steve Morison issues a 'come and get me' plea, "I am
contracted to the club, but if someone like Millwall came
in for me then of course I would go. I would go and play in
League One and they are in a certain position and looking
for the Championship next year. But if Millwall don't come
up with the money and this club don't come up with a deal
then I won't be going anywhere."
18th January Hampton & Richmond
Borough's highly-rated striker Ben Wright is offered a trial
by the Lions...
...Also set for a trial is ex-Bohemians winger John Paul Kelly.
Chief Scout Stuart Murdoch says, "John is coming over
so we can take a look at him next week, with a view to playing
in the reserve game on Tuesday."
17th January Millwall 1 - 0 Tranmere
Rovers: This was a hard game won through constant
effort and a truly brilliant goal. At times it looked like
certain players just weren't interested, but others stood
up to be counted, and the introduction of McLeod made a big
difference to the impetus. In the end though, it was down
to a well worked goal, finished by Marc Laird, to secure the
points...
...Kenny Jackett says, "It looked like a draw today but
we won it with a very well-taken goal. It was a good move
and a superb cross form Dave Martin which was finished off
with an excellent header by Marc Laird."
15th January Former MK Dons
star striker Izale McLeod joins on loan from relegation bound
Charlton Athletic...
...According to Kenny Jackett, Stevenage's Steve Morison is
not a striker he is pursuing, "We have asked about the
price a few weeks ago - not a matter of days. I always ask
about players and this is just one of those occasions. Often
it comes to nothing. We have not put in a formal bid. Stevenage
are looking for a considerable offer because the disruption
to their season if he leaves would be high"...
...Another international match is arranged for The Den. This
time it's an 11th February match up between Nigeria and Jamaica.
14th January Hull City beat
Newcastle at St James Park. A trip to Hull and back then.
13th January Crewe Alexandra 1 - 2 Millwall:
Another tough game against the Railwaymen, in which Millwall
dominate without playing particularly well. The home side
take the lead through Luke Murphy but after keeper Steve Collis
fumbled Scott Barron's cross into his own net it was a matter
of time before the Lions took the lead in a cracking Cup tie.
And it was Neil Harris that did it, with his 112th career
goal and a new club record. Shaun Miller did get an equaliser
to keep the interest going, but Zak Whitbread's late header
won the game...
... Manager Jackett congratulates his striker, "Neil
beating the record is a magnificent achievement. He has grafted
for it. Neil's been a tremendous servant for Millwall over
the years and has helped us get through this tie"...
...Not such good news in the other Cup game on the night,
as the youngsters go out of the FA Youth Cup to Plymouth Argyle
at Home Park...
...Millwall terminate Dave Brammer's contract. This means
the club have paid the veteran rather handsomely to get out
of the deal a little early.
10th January 'Charlton's U18s
will play either Plymouth Argyle or Millwall in the fifth
round of the FA Youth Cup should they defeat Tottenham Hotspur
at The Valley next midweek.' Says the Addicts website...
...Noel Gifton Williams joins Austin Aztecs on a two year
deal. Hopefully he will get paid for his second stint abroad.
9th January The Cheltenham game
scheduled for tomorrow, is called off due to a frozen pitch.
7th January According to a free
newspaper in Northampton, The Cobblers are after Gary Alexander.
Apt nickname for the story as well.
6th January a rumour strengthened
by a variety of sources, suggest Millwall are quite serious
about their interest in Stevenage Borough's Steve Morison,
scorer of fifteen Conference goals this season…
…Not so serious, is the speculation linking Charlton
Chris Dickson with a move to The Den...
...Marc Bircham retires with a dodgy ankle. He is just 30
years of age…
…Former team-mate Neil Harris, meanwhile, wins the
divisional Player of the Month for December after hitting
the headlines by equalling Teddy Sheringham's club goal-scoring
record.
5th January The Cup induced
Swindon postponement allows for a rearrangement for 17th February…
…In a superbly ill-timed quote fashion, new Crewe boss
Gudjon Thordarson claims, "I don't want to get carried
away before we finish Millwall off, but obviously we will
beat them up here. Then we can look forward to Newcastle because
I think they will beat Hull." That is, arguably, the
quote of the season. He has clearly only seen the one Crewe
match, and not looked at the League table…
…Kenny Jackett is keen to bring Adam Bolder back after
the midfielder returns to QPR, "Sousa wants to have a
look at him for a week or so. I have been really pleased with
Bolder and would be interested in bringing him back"…
…Further speculation adds, "League One clubs Leicester
City, Leeds and Millwall are believed to be weighing up loan
moves for Watford's Al Bangura"…
…Jackett does however respond to a link for Scunthorpe
United's Izzy Iriekpen, "I am pleased with our centre-backs.
They have done well. It is not a place I am looking to strengthen."
4th January Millwall or Crewe
are drawn away at either Newcastle United or Hull City. A
cracking draw, and if ever incentive to beat Crewe in the
replay was required, this is it…
…In a, 'It's in the papers, it must be true' sort of
way, The Daily Mirror claims Millwall have signed Portsmouth's
right back Richard Duffy. A great signing, if true…
…Another dubious tale links David Forde with Sheffield
United.
3rd January
Millwall 2 - 2 Crewe Alexandra: What we thought may
have been a blip, appears to be turning into a crisis, as
the Lions again fail to defeat a rubbish Crewe side. This
time in the FA Cup. Laird and Frampton score the homes side's
goals, after Lawrence scored the opener for the visitors.
Shelley grabbed the all important equaliser, to which the
Lions just couldn't respond. To be fair, it was a better performance
that should have reaped appropriate rewards, were it not for
the intervention of some pretty ordinary goalkeeping by David
Forde.
2nd January Ryan Smith departs for Southampton
on a permanent basis. Heaven knows how the deal snuck through
the medical, but nevertheless, a lucky break for us.
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