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Lions floored by Robins late show

Millwall endured a second consecutive Championship defeat as they lost 4-3 to Bristol City in a thrilling encounter at Ashton Gate.

Despite staging an impressive comeback to lead 3-2, the Lions were undone by two late goals from City substitutes Fally Mayulu and Scott Twine, leaving them without a point after two games into the Championship season.

The match began disastrously for Millwall, with Bristol City racing into a two-goal lead inside the first 12 minutes. Anis Mehmeti capitalised on Ryan Leonard’s mistake to open the scoring in the third minute, and Sinclair Armstrong doubled the lead with a header in the 12th minute.

Millwall responded with determination but were unable to find the net in the first half. Leonard was denied by the post just to add to the frustration. Their fortunes changed after the break, beginning with Romain Esse’s goal in the 51st minute, his second in as many games. Just three minutes later, Tom Bradshaw converted a controversial penalty after George Tanner was penalised for handball, despite replays suggesting the ball hit his chest. Duncan Watmore then completed the comeback, curling a superb volley into the bottom corner in the 64th minute.

With a 3-2 lead, Millwall looked set to secure their first points of the season, but Bristol City had other ideas. Mayulu drew the Robins level in the 78th minute with a well-worked team goal. Then, with just two minutes of normal time remaining, Twine latched onto Joe Williams’ cross to score the winner, leaving Millwall heartbroken for the second week running.

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Lions looking to kick on after Portsmouth lift off

Millwall head to Bristol City on Saturday afternoon looking to build on their League Cup victory following Tuesday’s win at Portsmouth.

The Lions lost their Championship opener last weekend but picked up their first win of the season at Fratton Park on Tuesday night. They are back on their travels this weekend at Bristol City.

Shaun Hutchinson scored a dramatic stoppage time winner on New Year’s Day the last time these two sides met in what proved to be Joe Edwards’ final win as Lions head coach.

Team News

It’s much of the same for Millwall, no new arrivals have come through the door this week, meaning that Neil Harris will have the same group to pick from as he did for the Championship opener last weekend. Zian Flemming (calf), Murray Wallace (leg) and Billy Mitchell (hip) are all still out. Meanwhile, Japhet Tanganga serves the final of a three match suspension.

Bristol City also have injuries, Robert Atkinson is missing with a groin strain. Ross McCrorie has a hamstring problem while Yu Hirakawa is missing with an ankle injury.

Form

The hosts are winless from both games in league and up so far, a 1-1 draw with Hull on the opening day was followed up by a 1-0 loss to Coventry in the cup in midweek.

Meanwhile, the Lions got their season up and running on Tuesday night thanks to Romain Esse’s winner at Fratton Park which secured a home tie with Leyton Orient in the second round of the League Cup.

Predicted Millwall Team

Due to the fact that Neil Harris is once again very limited with what he can choose from, I would expect much of the team that started last Saturday to start again.

4-2-3-1: Jensen; Leonard, Hutchinson, Cooper, Bryan; Saville, De Norre; Esse, Watmore, Honeyman, Bradshaw.

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Harris gives assessment of new recruit

Neil Harris gave his verdict on summer signing Macauley Langstaff’s first start for the club in Tuesday night’s victory over Portsmouth.

Langstaff played 64 minutes for his new club having started on the bench for the Championship opener against Watford.

Speaking of his new recruit head coach Harris said “He did well. He is learning the game all the time. It’s not just about being able to stick the ball in the net, it’s about learning how we are going to get there.

“He is adapting to Championship football and adapting to the way I want him to play, a different style to what he is used to at Notts County. He is learning about how to press for my team. He is developing all the time.

“I’m going to keep saying the same thing – we have to keep being patient with him. It is a huge step up, even for a 27-year-old, but he has got huge energy and real desire. He wants to learn. He played 30 minutes at the weekend, and had that experience at The Den. He’s played 62 minutes tonight and got that experience from a Championship standard game.

“He will just get better and better the more time he is on the pitch.”

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Young Lions’ performance pleases Harris

Neil Harris was delighted with his side’s performance in their 1-0 win at Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

The Lions fielded a youthful side at Fratton Park and won the game thanks to one of those academy talents in Romain Esse.

Esse started alongside Aidomo Emakhu and Alfie Massey as Harris made six changes to the side that lost to Watford on the opening day of the Championship season.

“There are some real positives tonight. The first is that we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves on the back of a late winner against us when we’ve clearly deserved to win the game on Saturday. We bounced back in the correct manner. The huge professionalism the boys showed early on Sunday morning, when I got them in, and on Monday before coming down today.

“More vital, probably, than that is the performances of the three young lads in the team tonight. Romain to score the goal, Aidomo to show glimpses of his raw power, pace and directness but also Alfie Massey made his debut for the football club tonight. That will be very special for him and his family.”

Harris’ side were very rarely threatened by the home side as they defended superbly and prevented Pompey from even having a shot on target.

Harris said. “We were the better team. Portsmouth had some good pressure second half and when people looked at the size and names on the teamsheet it might not have been renowned as a Millwall team or a Neil Harris team here – we went a little bit younger and faster tonight. We knew set-plays were going to be a real avenue for them. I told the lads: “You’re outsized – apart from Jake (Cooper). You’re not the biggest team, but you’re going to have to dig in and do a job. Their only chances came from set-plays.”

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Lions denied a point as Watford grab late winner at The Den

Millwall’s Championship season began in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 defeat at home to Watford, decided by a late goal in a thrilling encounter at The Den.

The match was marked by an emotional tribute to former Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, who tragically passed away at the age of 26 over the summer. Both sets of players and fans came together to honor his memory before kick-off.

First Half

The Lions started brightly, with Joe Bryan delivering dangerous balls into the box and Tom Bradshaw drawing a foul from Francisco Sierralta, resulting in an early yellow card for the Watford defender. However, Millwall failed to capitalize on the subsequent free-kick, setting the tone for a frustrating afternoon.

Despite Millwall’s strong start, Watford began to assert themselves midway through the first half, with Moussa Sissoko dominating the midfield. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Edo Kayembe’s looping corner found its way directly into the net, catching Millwall goalkeeper Lukas Jensen off guard and giving the visitors the lead.

Millwall nearly responded immediately, but Bradshaw’s header went wide and George Honeyman’s effort hit the post, with Ryan Porteous clearing the rebound off the line to preserve Watford’s advantage.

Second Half

Millwall’s misfortune continued after the break, as George Saville was denied by the woodwork from a Honeyman free-kick. Then, in the 55th minute, Watford doubled their lead through Giorgi Chakvetadze, who unleashed a stunning 30-yard free-kick that left Jensen with no chance.

Refusing to surrender, Millwall pushed forward, and substitute Aidomo Emakhu injected some energy into the side. Emakhu’s cross in the 74th minute found Duncan Watmore, who fired in off the crossbar to pull one back for the Lions.

The momentum was firmly with Millwall, and they completed their comeback two minutes from time when Watmore scored again, slotting home George Saville’s pass to level the match at 2-2.

However, the home side’s joy was short-lived. In the dying moments, Watford substitute Rajovic headed in a deflected cross to snatch a 3-2 victory for the visitors, leaving Millwall to rue their missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

 

 

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Lions host Watford LIVE!

Follow all the action from The Den as the EFL returns.

 

The Lins are at home to Watford today as the Championship season kicks off. Millwall will pay tribute to former goalkeeper Matija Sarkic who tragically passed away during the summer aged just 26.

You can follow all the action in our live blog.

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Kickoff at The Den: Millwall Hosts Watford in Championship Opener

Millwall will be looking to start their Championship campaign strongly as they face Watford at The Den tomorrow.

The day will be emotionally charged, with a special tribute planned for their late goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, who tragically passed away this summer at just 26 years old. Sarkic’s family will be in attendance, and a video tribute will precede a minute’s applause to honor his memory.

Team News

 

Millwall has several key players missing for the opener:

  • Murray Wallace is out after suffering an injury in a pre-season match against Nottingham Forest.
  • Zian Flemming will miss at least the first week due to a calf injury, but there’s hope he might return before the international break.
  • Billy Mitchell is sidelined with a quad issue.
  • Japhet Tanganga is suspended following a red card on the last day of the previous season against Swansea.

 

Watford also have their own absentees:

  • Wesley Hoedt is out with a knee injury.
  • Yaser Asprilla, who has been the subject of transfer speculation, has been given an extra week’s leave after his participation in the Copa America.

Form

Millwall had a solid if unspectacular pre-season, with wins against Charlton, Bromley, Reading, and Real Murcia but defeats to Nottingham Forest and Southampton. However, they ended last season in excellent form, winning eight of their last 13 games, including the final five in a row.

Watford, on the other hand, had a frustrating pre-season with just two wins. The squad appears unbalanced, and there’s still work to be done in the transfer market. Despite this, Tom Cleverley has provided some stability since taking over.

Predicted Millwall XI

 

  • Jensen: McNamara, Cooper, Hutchinson, Bryan: Saville, De Norre: Esse, Honeyman, Watmore, Bradshaw

 

 

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Report: Gillingham 0 Millwall 0

Millwall started their pre-season campaign with a 0-0 at Gillingham.

In a debut match for new Lions goalkeeper Lukas Jensen, both Japhet Tanganga and Macauley Langstaff were absent from the squad, alongside Zian Flemming.

Millwall faced an early contest with Josh Andrews and Jake Cooper as the hosts started stronger. Set up in Neil Harris’ preferred 4-4-2 formation, Millwall’s strikers had little action in the first 20 minutes. However, young player Tom Leahy impressed by constantly pressuring the home defenders.

The first significant chance came in the 11th minute when Remeao Hutton outmaneuvered Joe Bryan on the left and crossed to Jayden Clark, who, pressured by Kamarl Grant, headed over. In the 22nd minute, a corner from George Honeyman saw Cooper head wide. Shortly after, Bryan’s skillful touch from George Saville’s pass set up Romain Esse, but he couldn’t finish Bryan’s cross.

Gillingham had a break in the 36th minute resulting in a free-kick after Grant fouled Andrews, but Jack Nolan’s shot went wide. The second half brought many changes for both teams, with only Esse, Honeyman, and Kevin Nisbet remaining from Millwall’s first-half lineup.

The introduction of Aidomo Emakhu added pace to Millwall’s attack. The Ireland under-21 international combined well with Esse and struck the crossbar. Shortly after, he missed another shot wide following a pass from Nisbet.

Millwall’s trialist goalkeeper in the second half made a crucial save, stopping a deflected strike from Elliott Nevitt.

Tom Bradshaw, introduced midway through the second half had two chances but headed both opportunities wide, moments later Emakhu was denied again by Gillingham veteran Glenn Morris.

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Former Millwall boss back in management at former club

Former Millwall boss Gary Rowett is back in football management at one of former clubs.

 

Rowett, who left Millwall in October last year, just shy of his four year anniversary in charge has taken over Birmingham City until the end of the season.

Current boss Tony Mowbray has been absent from the Blues since mid February after taking a break for treatment on an unnamed illness. His deputy Mark Venus has been in charge since. Mowbray will take a formal medical absence with Venus also stepping aside until the start of next season.

Rowett is no stranger to Birmingham having played for the club and also managed them between 2014 and 2016 before being sacked with the club outside the play-off places on goal difference.

The former Stoke boss will be the fifth different person to lead the side this season after John Eustace, Wayne Rooney, Mowbray and Venus.

The Blues have collapsed since the departure of Eustace. They were in the play-offs when he was sacked and replaced by Rooney. They have not won since a 2-1 victory over Sunderland in what proved to be Mowbray’s final game before he took time away for his health.

Rowett has eight games to keep the Midlands side in the Championship, they currently sit in 21st and are outside the relegation places on goal difference alone.

 

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Report: Millwall 1 Watford 0

Millwall recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this year as they overcame Watford 1-0 at The Den.

 

Zian Flemming’s eighth goal of the season gave the Lions the lead inside three minutes to kick off Neil Harris’s return in the best possible fashion.

The Lions were forced to battle but defended their lives to secure a vital win in their battle against relegation.

Millwall got themselves in front inside three minutes. Flemming’s 25-yard free-kick took a big deflection and beat former Charlton goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

Watford’s first attempt came in the 7th minute. Vakoun Bayo broke through but fired his effort into the side netting.

In the 25th minute, a quick break from Millwall allowed Flemming to slip in Michael Obafemi; the on-loan Burnley man spotted Hamer off his line and tried his luck, but his effort from around 35 yards was well wide of the target.

Hamer was giving his defence nightmares as he came out of his area to deal with a long ball forward, missed the ball, and Duncan Watmore was away, but his shot hit the base of the post; there was a defender on the line who may have got contact.

As the half wore on, the visitors had more and more of the ball, and Millwall needed to be better in possession. However, out of possession, we were dealing with the Watford threats.

Yaser Asprilla curled an effort towards a goal at the half-hour mark, but Lions stopper Matija Sarkic saved his shot well. Three minutes later, Wesley Hodet curled a free-kick over the bar.

Watford started the second half on top, keeping the ball but doing little with it. Jamal Lewis was finding some joy; he found Bayo, but he skewed his effort wide of the far post. Ken Sema also missed an excellent opportunity as the hour mark was reached.

Ismael Kone and Jake Livermore had efforts; the latter was straight at Sarkic.

The Lions held on for a win that keeps them a point above the bottom three after wins for QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke.

Image: Millwall FC