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31st March Millwall 0 - 1 Colchester United: It's another one of those maximum disappointment games, as the Lions know a win tonight and it's all about that big Easter Monday game with Peterborough for automatic promotion. Alas it is not to be, as a first half facial injury to Gary Alexander, that we later learn requires 15 stitches, sees the end of the Lions prospects as an attacking force, and to think it looked so likely early on. It took a late goal by a United side that barely tried to break the deadlock, and the hearts of all those automatic promotion dreamers…
…Kenny Jackett says, "You can look at our defending for their goal but you can't keep them all out. I'm looking at the other end of the pitch because it's a home game and we haven't scored"…
…The Yorkshire Post carries a story that quotes York City manager Martin Foyle suggesting Stevenage's prolific marksman and Millwall is a done deal for the summer.
30th March manager Jackett offers new deals to Scott Barron, Andy Frampton, Gary Alexander and Neil Harris, and says, "These four have been an integral part of the squad"…
…The company's latest figures reveal a mammoth loss of £2m for six months and chairman Berylson says, Under Kenny's leadership we have continued to invest in order that we could realistically aim to achieve, at the very least, a Play Off position. Having been involved in relegation battles in recent years, the absolute priority was to improve the performance and quality of the team."
28th Match Crewe Alexandra 0 - 1 Millwall: Having been on the back end of some disastrous luck in recent years, you almost feel a little guilty that we keep getting these last minute points. Only a little guilty though, as the Lions dominate and simply struggle to get the all important winner they were due. Harris was stretched off just before half-time with a broken nose, and Jason Price got a debut winner in the 90th minute. It just doesn't get any better than that...
...Kenny Jackett says, "It was a very bobbly pitch, a very windy day and it’s the fourth time we’ve played Crewe this season - it seems to be in a bit of a pattern. The game was heading for a draw, but I’m pleased to say that we got one more chance in there”...
...Crewe boss Gudjon ‘Of course we will beat Millwall’ Thordarson moans, “Someone was saying it was offside but it doesn’t make any difference. I mean, we’ve seen goals disallowed for us and now we seem to be conceding goals as well. We had that offside goal against Walsall earlier and I can’t comment on what went on there.” Okay, change that, ‘moans a lot.’
26th March In a surprising move, Kenny Jackett signs his old Swansea full back, and Doncaster Rovers chief Lions tormentor last season, Jason Price. The manager says, "Jason's a big physical presence, he's experienced and has a good track record of promotions. He provides an alternative to Gary Alexander, but he could also play alongside Gary, or any of the other forwards in a two or a three"...
...Talk about take it in your stride - this all happens after the manager takes a few days off! In a promotion race as well. Kenny Jackett is obviously one relaxed cookie...
...There is another boost for the manager as well, as Dunne, Spiller and Hackett all return to full first team training...
...Youngsters Preston Edwards and Darren Ebsworth both extend their loan deals by a further four weeks. Edwards at Dover Athletic and Ebsworth at Sutton United.
23rd March The club reveal that there will be no rise in season ticket prices next season, with this official statement, "The Lions could be locking horns with some big names in the Championship next season and we can confirm that prices for existing season ticket holders for the 2009/10 season will be frozen for a fourth successive year - regardless of which division we are playing in. As an added incentive, if you are an existing season ticket holder and introduce a family member or friend, they can purchase a season ticket at the same price. And don't forget that supporters aged 60 years and above will now be eligible for a concessionary senior rate."
21st March Hartlepool United 2 - 3 Millwall: David Forde saves a penalty after just a couple of minutes, but it proves a mere respite, as the home side gallop to a two goal lead, against a Lions side freshly returning to 4-4-2 that are all over the shop. The fairytale continues though, as Neil Harris grabs a second half substitute hat-trick in just ten minutes. A great win…
…Kenny Jackett is perhaps as surprised as anyone, "It was a tremendous comeback. I've got to say. It was an outstanding hat-trick, an absolutely first class hat-trick"…
…The scorer of Hartlepool's two goals, Antony Sweeney is devastated; "We should have been buoyant in the dressing room after playing so well. But I don't think I've ever seen it flatter, even though we played so badly in the game before. I don't think as a team we felt under pressure and yet we conceded three goals. They were three good finishes and they all fell to the wrong fella from our point of view.''
19th March As part of a series of outbursts John Berylson talks to both the Southwark News and Lions Live and makes a few, erm, PR errors. An example, "I need the fans next year. I don't know if I will be opening the chequebook as far in the summer. I have spent a lot on Millwall, this team and this club and I need to see the commitment from the fan base."
17th March MK Dons 0 - 1 Millwall: At this stage of the season, and against major promotion rivals that would so far suggest to be the Lions superior, this is a big win: easily the biggest of the season. And it is similar to the Leicester game in some ways. The home side have the possession, but the Lions get the goal - by Marc Laird. And all credit to the manager who stuck by his tactics and pulled off the three points…
…Kenny Jackett says, "It was a tremendous result considering the stage of the season we're at. It was second v third. To come here and win is a terrific achievement by the players."
16th March Manager Jackett schedules clear the air talks with Charlton loanee Izale McLeod, "I'm going to speak to Izale at some stage this week and just talk to him about where we go from here. We shall see after that conversation. We've had a cooling off period and we will see. Obviously our talks will be held in private, but we will see what the situation is come Monday."
15th March The News of the World allege that Zak Whitbread is now a target of both Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion.
14th March Millwall 0 - 1 Leicester City: This was a really disappointing game. City deserved the points no more than the Lions, but you could see there was a clear gulf in class and organisation. It was okay in the main though, and by the end we probably deserved something from the game…
…After admitting that Leicester's three defeats all season suggest they are the best side, Kenny Jackett says of his team, "We can play a lot better than that. We didn't cause them enough problems in either half. We didn't create enough chances. I just didn't think enough of our players had their usual energy levels today"…
…City boss Nigel Pearson says, "Although they had a lot of possession I didn't think they created a lot of chances. It was a tough game; it was always going to be a tough game. I am delighted"…
…A side-show of the match is some missile throwing, including coins and a boiled egg, of all things. The club are forced to issue a statement after the referee makes a grand act of inciting the followers in the stands to throw things at him. The club statements says, "Such actions do nothing but damage the reputation of this club and its fans"...
...Marc Laird makes his 50th Millwall appearance in the match.
12th March After their shock defeat to Tranmere Rovers, assistant boss Joe Gallen previews the forthcoming top of the table clash with Leicester City, "Our thinking has got to be that every team has a poor patch during a season and this could hopefully be the start of Leicester's. They've drawn a couple recently and haven't been on a clean winning streak like they had been earlier in the season"…
…The forgotten man, Danny Senda, will now miss the rest of the season. Physio Bobby Bacic explains, "Hopefully this latest surgery will solve the problem once and for all. But he won't play this season. He hadn't been experiencing any pain, but the knee was swelling up once he got back into full training, which indicated something was clearly wrong. In layman's terms Danny has had a wash-out to get rid of some small debris."
11th March Kenny Jackett extends James Henry's loan period at the club until after the Play Off semi finals. There seems to be a rather odd scheduling issue there, that we will ask the manager about.
10th March Millwall 1 - 0 Northampton Town: The manager sticks with the system that earned three points on Saturday and reaps further rewards. The Lions dominate but can't convert their chances. Fortunately one is enough and Alexander adds his ninth of the season…
…Kenny Jackett says, "This was a cracking result for us after a bit of a poor spell. We deserved to be in front as we had more of the first half. The back four had a terrific performance in the second half, although we could have done more going forward. Maybe our energy levels were down a bit because we've been playing two games a week for a while now"...
...Dave Martin makes his 50th Millwall appearance in the match...
…Earlier in the day James Henry's loan deal is extended, about which the manager says, "It's actually 93 days in total, including his current spell which was due to expire after the Leicester City match on Saturday. That would take him up to, and including, the Play-Off semi-final. He's done very well for us but you don't want to start building people up too soon because, even though he's had a good few games for us, that doesn't make a career."
9th March Northampton boss Stuart Gray misreads the likelihood of a big crowd that cares, on the eve of his side's visit to The Den, "I hope it is a hostile atmosphere. I would rather that than a party atmosphere."
7th March Huddersfield Town 1 - 2 Millwall: Presumably to prepare for the up-coming matches with Leicester City and MK Dons, and to overcome his side's deficiencies in front of goal, Kenny Jackett tackles the gamble of switching to a five man midfield. This relies on quality finishing, which hasn't exactly been a strength this season. but oh, how it was today! The Lions nearly took the lead through an own goal, but the bar preserved the home side’s fortunes: Until Marc Laird scored a very good goal. Roberts equalised and a point would have been fine, but after a great 90th minute run from Barron and an equally good finish from Henry, the visitors left Huddersfield with three points…
…Manager Jackett is understandably delighted afterwards, "We played well today and had the lion's share of possession. I didn't know whether we would be ruing our first half performance being so dominant but not scoring. Laird got a goal from midfield and it made it a big finale and a big finish"…
6th March Kenny Jackett tells the South London Press how he rallies his troops, "I am looking for a big finish to the campaign. Second is still possible. Everyone apart from Leicester has stuttered"...
...More on the McLeod issue, as Addicts boss Phil Parkinson clarifies his views, “I’ve spoken to Izale and he has a different side of the story to Millwall. Izale has got to look at himself.”
5th March The issue with Izale McLeod escalates, as he refuses to come back to The Den. It's all a bit of a mess. An FA spokesman says, "If Izale McLeod is to play football again this season it must be with Millwall." Phil Parkinson says, "It's alright Millwall saying they are sending him back or him saying he wants to come back, but the bottom line is we can't have him back." McLeod says, "Me and the manager decided it was best for me to return to Charlton." So, that's two wages Millwall are paying for no good reason.
4th March Long since forgotten midfielder/striker/whatever he was, Adrian Forbes says, of Kenny Jackett, "The manager never gave me an opportunity to make things work there for me because I never got given a chance to prove what I am capable of, whereas Mike Newell gave me a chance to show what I can do and resurrect my career"...
...Credit where it's due. The club get the police to agree for Leicester to have both tiers for their up-coming visit.
3rd March Southend United 0 - 1 Millwall: In a smash and grab raid at Roots Hall, the Lions win through a Gary Alexander goal and a string of fine saves from goalkeeper David Forde. The Shrimpers only have themselves to blame for some poor finishing...
...Manager Jackett says, "The conditions made it difficult for both sides, but I am pleased we came away with the points"...
...Southend Manager Steve Tillson is quite magnanimous in defeat and says, “I was really pleased with how we played and on another day we would have won comfortably.”
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