| Midland Saint - Millwall Report 08:20 - Nov 7 with 1544 views | saintwizzler |
MILLWALL 0 SAINTS 1
“…You'll never know quite when, well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you…”
This is just so unlike us. We’re the team that gets done by the injury team goals. For all the time I have watched Saint the late winners have been few and few between, and much cherished like Steve Moran in 84. Now we seem to be making a thing of it. Because we seemed to be heading to an ok sort of draw against a truly dreadful side. And then Fraser was once again in the right place in the right time to grab the winner. Maybe there is indeed something in Martin’s talk about our passing game wearing out the opposition, it certainly wears me out.
Normally there would be little thinking to be done about a trip into the Heart of Darkness. Train from London Bridge to South Bermondsey and then a segregated walkway to the New Den. But the local station was shut and the other local overground stations like Surry Quays were served by something to be feared more than the home fans – the replacement bus service. So we set off down the rain lashed M40 to Hillingdon and got the underground to Canada Water. On the map it looked a very long journey from west to east but was only just over an hour. We emerged from the station into bright sunshine.
We had breakfast at the Surrey Docks. Designated as home fans only but we had no colours showing. Even so, it was unsettling to hear the bile being spouted by an old guy announcing to the pub that “Millwall always have a problem with Southampton”. He was old enough to know better – 66 as he told everyone. I think even the denizens of Fratton Park would have found the level of hatred and fabrication of facts hard to accommodate.
The walk to the stadium was not that long. But the route did take us through a landscape of urban wasteland and underpasses that seemed set up to recreate the Green Street experience. There were a ridiculous number of police about doing nothing but tot up their overtime.
We had seats in row B of the top tier. This was actually the front row as they don’t sell row A. It would have been a great view if the stewards had applied the rule that you don’t allow people to stand in the yellow shaded areas at the top of the stairs. The good thing was that we had a large screen to our left, unlike the invisible screen at Preston.
Saints wearing our home kit had what we would probably now see as the best starting lineup of uninjured players. Millwall were still without a manager. Luckily we avoided what would have been the apocalyptic return of Nathan Jones to management. It was interesting to see Bialkowski in goal for Millwall, some 18 years after he joined Saints, and he had a very good game.
There was a very good away following of 3,000 plus Saints fans. The famed home atmosphere was quite muted apart from their reception for the armed services this being their Poppy game.
For inexplicable reasons the police blocked the concourse to prevent people taking the main stairs to the upper tier. That meant they had to come up via the stairs to our left. So for the first 15 minutes there was a constant stream of people passing in front of us. That meant I couldn’t settle. Neither could our players who seemed to be knocked out of their rhythm by Millwall’s all-action basic style.
Eventually we did get going. It seemed clear that as always we were relying on KWP, who got through some stupendous work on the right. Sulemana looked dangerous, if over elaborate on the left. He soon antagonized the home crowd for the crime of being fouled constantly.
In a nothing first half we drew some good saves from the Bartman. From a corner Millwall managed to head against the bar, their sole dangerous effort of the game.
Attacking towards us for the second half, Saints stepped their effort up. But the breakthrough would not seem to come. It was a shame that Bree, who has grown into the left back position, had to leave the pitch injured. He was replaced by Manning, and there seems to be something of an agenda to the constant abuse he got.
A good move ended with Stuart Armstrong sliding a shot just past the post. Alcaraz, who was still underperforming, played in Sulemana who came inside to hit a thumping shot that the keeper did well to push away.
It was strange that having won a freekick in the perfect position for Stuart Armstrong we chose that precise moment to replace him with the passenger that is Adams. Alcaraz did hit the target but it was not quite enough.
For the final push Fraser replaced Sulemana and Charles replaced Smallbone. So intent were we on winning was that I feared a slip would present Millwall with the winner. Slips did happen, but the home side was so hopeless they made nothing of the opportunities.
One thing we do know is that this side keeps going. So the generous five minutes added time gave us a real chance for persistence to pay off.
In the 93rd minute KWP slipped the ball behind the defence for Adam Armstrong to run on to. His first cross in was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell kindly back to him for a second chance. This time he found Fraser at the near post and the finish was instant and deadly. The Saints players and fans went wild as the Millwall players slumped to the ground. Robert saved me from being sent tumbling over the seats as the supporters swarmed down from behind.
The lengthy celebrations meant a further minute was added. There were so many people standing at the front I had to watch the final moments on the screen.
In an unwelcome echo of the seventies we were locked in for some 20 minutes after the final whistle. But rather than take action to avoid a crush when the gate was eventually opened the police just stood and watched it happen. I had my foot caught on something large and immobile and it was lucky that I did not fall, which could have resulted in a dangerous incident.
The police still totting up their overtime gave us a sort of escort back to the station through subways now lit in the neon blue glare of nightmares. We were back at Hillingdon by 6,45 which wasn’t too bad and the drive home was very easy.
I have to say I was happy as the Den is always a demanding place to go, although I have never actually seen Saints lose away to Millwall. In this current run the points have kept coming without us looking totally convincing. If we hit true form it could be interesting.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 14Bree (Manning 71') 16Smallbone (Charles 83') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Adams 83') 22Alcaraz 9A Armstrong 20Sulemana (Fraser 77')
Subs: 1McCarthy 3Manning 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Another late, late show Top Man: KWP
Lyrics: Imagine Dragons – On top of the world
Next report: West Brom |  |
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| Midland Saint - Millwall Report on 10:58 - Nov 7 with 1411 views | dirk_doone |
It is indeed difficult to see Saints lose at Millwall. You'd have to go back 45 years to the last time we did that. We're undefeated in our last 12 visits there and have never lost at the New Den. It's a real fortress for Saints. [Post edited 7 Nov 2023 11:01]
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| Midland Saint - Millwall Report on 11:33 - Nov 7 with 1373 views | NYC_Saint |
Very well written and entertaining. |  | | |
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