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30th November At last some good
news. The youngsters beat last year's finalists manchester
city on penalties in the FA Youth Cup.
28th November
Millwall 1 Brighton 1 (2-3 on penalties) After a
very good first half performance the second half is one of
the worst in living memory. Robinson opened the scoring and
for the second time this seasn brighton scored in the final
minute with just ten men on the park. Byfield, Lee and Whitbread
miss penalties to send the Lions crashing out of the Paint
Pot in ignominious style...
...Afterwards Willie Donachie is fuming, but accepts part
of the blame, “We all have to take responsibility -
the team I picked and the way we played”...
...Just to prove no-one is in the slightest bit interested,
of the 3,??? crowd, under 16s didn’t have to pay to
get in...
...Michael Grade gets the ITV job, which rules Stewart Till
out, who has just resigned from his UIP job. Doh...
..."I am happy to carry on with the way things are without
an improved deal. When I have proved I can be a good manager,
then I expect to be rewarded accordingly." After that
performance, well, you know the rest!
25th November
Nottingham Forest 3 Millwall 1: Forest show why they
top League One and Millwall are bottom. Ben May gives the
Lions a surprise lead on 4 minutes, but after an impressive
first half the visitors fail to capitalise on their superiority
and the home team fight back to equalise through Junior Agogo
on 65 minutes, before they wrap the contest up two minutes
later via a James Perch goal and add a third late on...
...After his first official engagement the Lions boss says,
"We started the game really well and by half time I thought
if we sustained that we would win, but I'm not sure there
are enough players here with enough desire, passion and belief."
24th November In a Mission Impossible
style message the club announce that supporters have a minute
to decide (well, a couple of weeks) which of two awfully designed
badges they would prefer to the limp wristed red lions we
currently have as a badge. They completely ignore the fact
that we never wanted the badge changed in the first place
and we have all voted for it to return in a club sanctioned
poll.
22nd November Willie Donachie
gets the job on a permanent basis. Finally. Chairman Till
tells the official website, "We knew Willie would prove
a safe pair of hands because he is a vastly-experienced coach
and assistant, but we wanted to be certain he was the right
man to take charge in the long term."
20th November
A major test for the youths in the FA Cup, as they are drawn
at home to manchester city, one of the competition favourites.
19th November The People link
the Loins with a move for Brighton defender Dean Wilkins.
18th November
Willie Donachie veers away from the script and we see the
worst performance under his guidance so far. 4-3-3 is the
root cause of the midfield being swamped and the players being
out of position for much of the game. Well that, and the desperation
to get an unfit Byfield into the team. Doncaster are worth
their point though, with former Swansea foe Jason Price causing
havoc. Some positives though, not least coming from behind
twice with a poacher’s delight from Byfield and screamer
from Hackett…
…Star
on the day is Charlie Lee, the young Spurs defender, who looks
composed throughout…
…Afterwards a disappointed
caretaker manager says, “The first twenty minutes was
the worst we’ve played by a mile, but after that I think
the players showed a lot of character, especially coming back
after such a poor first goal.”
15th November
Joe Little's youth team cruise through to the third round
of the FA youth Cup with an impressive win over Bristol Rovers.
Kilby and a 25 yarder from Fuseini do the trick...
...It's not all good news
at The Den though, as tragic news reaches TLR Towers that
pie 'n' mash is off in 'Arry's Bar.
13th November
Havant & Waterlooville 1 Millwall 2: A good old
fashioned Cup tie against non-league opposition, with sub-standard
officiating and sub-standard football, plus a wonder goal
separating the two sides. May opens the scoring before going
off with what looked a nasty injury and Alan Dunne scored
with a long ranger to see the Lions through to a second round
meeting with Bradford City...
...Caretaker Willie says,
"I was very pleased at the way the players stood up to
the test physically, and of course with the win, but I certainly
felt that we could have played much better."
12th November
The second round draw takes place before the Lions have played
their first round match. Bradford City away - that should
get the players excited...
...After some rather unwise
comments by Luton boss Mike Newell about female match officials,
Heather Rabbts sticks here oar in, "It's errant nonsense to
suggest that women should not be allowed to become top referees
but I'm sure he's echoing the thoughts of many managers."
9th November The Portsmouth
News reports some rather sad news; "…The Conference
South club were banking on a minimum of 7,800 supporters turning
out just to break even as they attempt to meet their £35,000
Hampshire police bill. If sales continue to be sluggish, the
Hawks could lose more than £10,000 on the fixture. Secretary
Trevor Brock says, "It's depressing really. I am urging
people to please come out and support us. We are absolutely
desperate." Steve Clark, the FA's head of competitions,
adds, "I think the police costs involved are excessive.
They are above what you would expect for matches to be held
around the country and it is a little hard to understand why.
In fact, Havant & Waterlooville's policing costs are not
far away from what the figures could be for the FA Cup final"…
…The City losses are out. From £6m losses down
to a £4.8m deficit though. Chairman Heather Rabbatts
says, "Football is a high risk business, especially for
those outside the top half a dozen in the country. It is a
difficult balance between striving for success and sound financial
management, and it is that balance which we are seeking to
strike."
8th November The Millwall youth
team progress to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with
an easy 3-0 win at barnet. First teamer Ali Fuseini stars
on the night.
4th November Millwall are paired
with Brighton at home in the Paint Pot. It is the area quarter
final apparently.
3rd November
Tranmere Rovers 3 Millwall 1: The caretaker manager
makes changes to comepensate for midfield injuries. Impressively,
he also makes changes after less than half an hour to compensate
for some appalling defending that sees the Lions go two down.
A period in which the visitors appear to score, but the referee
failed to see it cross the line, and have another cleared
off the line. Going forward, Millwall always look a threat,
with Hackett creating havoc and scoring a good goal. Ben May
also causes problems, but the home side score a third while
the Lions are chasing the game...
...Afterwards, caretaker
manager Donachie says, "I felt we started really well,
but inexperience cost us two goals led to two goals, I thought,
against the run of play. Then we got one back and I thought
we still had a great chance. We sorted things out at half
time and we started the second half quite well. Marvin hit
a shot over the bar when it was a great time to score. then
it was end to end stuff, with chances at both ends. I'm very
disappointed."
1st November
"We are very disappointed with this decision as we have
tried to move heaven and earth to play at Westleigh Park,
but the Police have taken matters out of our hands."
Says Havant & Waterlooville secretary Trevor Brock, after
the match is re-scheduled to take place at Fratton Park on
the Monday.
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