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31st
October Brighton & Hove Albion 4 - 1 Millwall:
On paper, this appears the worst result of the season. It
probably was, but there were some mitigating circumstances.
Glen Murray opened the scoring against the run of play and
just as the Lions looked like they would bounce back after
Kandol equalised, the home side were beneficiaries of a highly
dubious penalty. Forde saved, but the rebound was put away.
Before we knew it the away end was soaked and the game was
featuring a 4-1 score-line. A miserable day all round…
…Kenny Jackett is not happy either and focuses on the
match turning incident, "I'm not too sure about the penalty.
It was a long way from me, but the referee insisted that he
saw something, although a number of my players thought it
was a harsh decision."
30th October
After joining Port Vale for a month's loan period, Dave Brammer
says, "I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing
football again. Hopefully something more long-term can come
of this but we'll look at that when we need to"...
...Remember that FA enquiry
about Ali Fuseini and the mystery of the two agents? A £1,000
fine is the outcome and the charge was; failure to ensure
the exclusivity or a representation contract. He was also
charged with lying about what he had and hadn't signed.
29th October Plymouth give permission
to Jermaine Easter to stay with the Lions until Boxing Day.
They have a 24 hour recall clause, but declare their interest
in the player's future at their club by giving us permission
to play him in Cup games…
…Chief operations officer Andy Ambler lets Zampa the
Lion off for goading the Leeds fans at the recent match, "I
think that Zampa got a little carried away with the fantastic
atmosphere in the ground. We have spoken and it won't happen
again."
28th October Millwall 1 - 0 Hereford
United: In terrible conditions and with eleven men
behind the ball for much of the game, Millwall struggle to
break down the bottom of the table side. However, two red
cards; one for Jimmy Abdou and later for Hereford's Clint
Easton, alter the shape of the game and the tactics, and eventually,
the Lions emerge worthy winners via a Lewis Grabban goal…
…Kenny Jackett comments on Jimmy Abdou's dismissal,
"At first I didn't think it was a red card, but his feet
did leave the floor, and we were better with ten players than
eleven. Perhaps it's a mental thing." The Lions boss
is obviously pleased with the result, "Lewis Grabban
did superbly for his goal and another player who did very
well was Andy Frampton who had a good game and never lets
us down."
27th October The form of Kenny
Jackett's Lions has not gone unnoticed. West Brom boss Tony
Mowbray is allegedly preparing a £1m move for Zak Whitbread,
but Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince is also tracking progress
- presumably via their scout, Zak's Dad!..
…Also allegedly on the move is Dave Brammer, who may
pitch up at Port Vale for a few games.
26th
October Millwall are drawn away at
Chester City in the first round of the FA Cup. No TV money
for us then.
25th October Scunthorpe
united 3 - 2 Millwall: A proverbial game of two halves,
but also a top of the table classic. The home side come out
of the starting blocks far more quickly and the division's
most impressive striker Gary Hooper, opens the scoring. Zak
Whitbread is harshly adjudged to have handled a cross and
Paul Hayes adds a second from the spot. Just after the break
Matt Sparrow effectively ends the game with a third. Substitute
Neil Harris has seen it all before though and the Lions striker's
62nd minute lifeline provides hope, which is capitalised upon
by Tony Craig. It's backs to the wall stuff for Scunthorpe,
but they just about hold on for victory…
…Manager Jackett summarises the performance, "I
was proud of the way we didn't give it up and almost got a
point, but they deserved to be two up at half time. If you
have to lose, and I don't like losing, then that's the way
to do it, with a fight."
24th October
After Aalborg look like they won't win the European Cup, they
sack manager Bruce Rioch. If Kenny Jackett leaves, then?
21st
October Colchester United 1 - 2 Millwall:
For a second time this season, the Lions are outplayed by
Colchester United, but the difference is this time it was
all about three points, and we're very good at getting those
thus far. Lewis Grabban takes advantage of the otherwise outstanding
David Perkins' poor back-pass and Paul Robinson doubles the
lead with a header from Marc Laird's free-kick. Kem Izzet
scores and hits the bar, but the visitors hold on…
...At half time Millwall are top of the League...
…Kenny Jackett says afterwards, "It was a massive
win for us. To go to a very good Colchester United side and
win is a big achievement. Colchester have a very good squad
and are one of the best teams in the league. Their midfield
quartet is excellent and for us to win - especially after
the Leeds game on Saturday - was excellent."
20th
October Alex Rae is sacked as Dundee
boss. If Kenny Jackett leaves, then?
18th
October Millwall 3 - 1 Leeds: Leeds
fans sing, "One nil in your Cup Final." And they
are right. But not for long, as the Lions come from behind
to thrash the visitors in what was arguably the highlight
since relegation 83 season's ago (or so it seems). The star
in a reasonably priced team was Neil Harris, who scored two
and set another up for Dave Martin. It was a great day to
be a Millwall supporter…
…Kenny Jackett is understandably delighted afterwards,
"This is the sort of result and performance that gets
people believing. Believing we can be successful. There were
good performances all over the pitch. I think Jimmy Abdou
is going to leave his car here tonight and run home!"
15th
October The Sun thinks Millwall's
surprise form could indicate pressure on the manager to leave
for pastures new, "QPR will turn to former England manager
Terry Venables, or they could go for Millwall manager Kenny
Jacket."
11th
October Tranmere Rovers 1 - 3 Millwall:
In many respects this was the best performance of the season.
It may be a cliché, but Prenton Park is not an easy
place to go to, and today the Lions cruised to an easy victory.
Hackett set up a first for Kandol, who added a second from
a Gary Alexander flick. Jimmy Abdou scored his first Lions
goal before Bas Savage headed a consolation in the last minute…
…Manager Jackett takes the win in his stride and immediately
looks to the future, "We now have 20 points from 10 games,
which is a good return from the first phase of the season.
We now have to maintain that level into the second phase."
9th October Heather Rabbatts
may be subject to an arsenal FC headhunting exercise. Millwall's
executive deputy chairman says, "I need to sit down with
arsenal to decide if I want to take it any further"...
...Rabbatts also comments on speculation that Millwall could
be moving, "This is a rumour that is some way off the
mark. We have had conversations with the people at 2012, but
they contacted us for advice and to look at how we integrate
with our community - not about a proposed move to the ground."
8th October The Football League
will monitor the persistent irritation of Millwall fans keeping
the ball when it goes into the crowd.
6th October Young striker Lyle
Taylor goes on loan to Eastbourne for a month to get some
first team experience.
4th October Millwall 0 - 4 MK Dons:
The Lions come crashing back down to earth in dramatic fashion.
Sean O'Hanlon fires the Dons into the lead inside the opening
10 minutes and the home side simply cannot recover. Sam Baldock
scores twice, sandwiching a truly calamitous own goal by Paul
Robinson…
…Kenny Jackett is keen for his charges to consider
this little more than a blip, "I don't think there was
any complacency from the players, they just made basic errors
at both ends. Sometimes you think there's something deep and
meaningful behind things when there isn't. We need to get
over this one quickly"…
…The match is the 400th at the 'New' Den. Perhaps it's
time to lose that little bit in the middle now.
3rd October Out of favour winger
Ryan Smith, joins Southampton on a loan deal that will ease
the Lions wage burden for three months.
2nd October Jermaine Easter
tells the Southwark News that he would like to make his stay
a little more permanent, "Millwall is a great club with
great fans that are playing in the wrong division. If I can
be part of putting them back to where they belong then that
would be great"...
...In a Southwark News interview, Jeff Burnige claims that
Kenny Jackett is already Millwall's best manager since John
Docherty: "[Mark McGhee] walked into a job with the foundations
already built, with construction underway - Kenny Jackett
walked into an absolute mess"…
…British Rail employee, and former Millwall full back
Robbie Ryan, is recruited by Scott Fitzgerald to help out
with the under 12s squad. Fitz says, "When we were players
together here we weren't particularly close friends or anything
like that, so it's not a case of the old pals act. But I just
liked his whole attitude to the game and his personality."
1st October Kenny Jackett is
awarded the Manager of the Month silver Coke bottle for the
Lions impressive September. Of course this does little more
than prompt calls for the curse to take hold of proceedings.
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