Romain Esse has agreed to a new long-term deal with Millwall.
The 19-year-old forward from Lambeth had entered the final year of his current contract, raising concerns that rival teams might snap him up. However, those worries have now been put to rest with Esse’s commitment to stay at The Den.
Esse, who is involved with the England U20 setup, is widely regarded as a future star. His potential has already started to turn heads, and he is expected to attract interest from bigger clubs in the coming years. So far, Esse has scored four senior goals, all of which have come away from The Den—at Middlesbrough, Coventry, Portsmouth, and most recently Bristol City in Millwall’s second game of the Championship season.
Having been on the fringes of the first team for the past two seasons, this campaign is set to be his major breakthrough. Esse has started all three of Millwall’s Championship games so far this season, signaling just how highly head coach Neil Harris values him moving forward.
Millwall do not disclose the length of their long term deals.
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.
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.
Gary Rowett has left Millwall after he and the club ‘mutually agreed to part company”
The former Birmingham, Derby and Stoke manager leaves the club three days short of his four year anniversary. He was the second longest serving boss in the Championship, behind Coventry’s Mark Robins.
Lions chairman James Berylson said “We greatly appreciate Gary’s efforts throughout his time in charge and he departs with the best wishes of everybody connected with the club. While my time working directly with Gary has been short, I have thoroughly enjoyed all our interactions and feel that he leaves us having enhanced the club’s on-pitch status during four successful years in charge.”
Rowett himself said in the statement. “Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for all their support during my time at the club. The atmosphere they create is truly unique.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being manager of Millwall and depart with a feeling that the club has progressed during my tenure. As is sometimes the case in football, the time just feels right to part ways.
“I would like to thank John Berylson, James, Steve Kavanagh, Alex Aldridge, my backroom staff, and everyone behind-the-scenes for their hard work and support.
“Finally, I’d like to extend my gratitude to the players, who I thank for the blood, sweat, and tears they have put into their efforts. It has been a successful and enjoyable four years.”
Anyone who is not associated with the club or anyone who doesn’t follow Millwall will look at this and think it’s a strange decision. However, any of us that follow the club will not be surprised. The only thing that has surprised me is the timing of the announcement three days before the end of the International break.
Looking back on the last four years, Millwall have improved. I don’t think there is anyone who will say that Rowett has not taken the club forward. A team that used to be a bit of floater between the Championship and League One are now an established top half Championship team.
Rowett took the team on from where Neil Harris left off in 2019. The last four years have been successful. The League finishes of 8th, 11th, 9th and 8th show just how close the Lions have come and how consistent the former Burton manager has made the club.
He leaves with a record of 196 games, 76 wins, 57 draws and 63 defeats. That’s a win percentage of 38.8. You compare that to Kenny Jackett and Neil Harris who both had long stints in charge. They both managed to secure win percentages of over 40 – however, both had two seasons in the third tier.
Rowett will go down as one of Millwall’s most successful managers in the second tier and rightfully so. He has done very well to get the club into play-off contention year after year considering the budget and the standing of the club in the middle of their Championship rivals.
People will ask where did it go wrong? For me, it was the Blackburn game at the end of last season. That took a lot of out not just the team but the manager too. He has not been the same since that game. He has not looked the same, the energy was not the same and the motivation looked to have gone slightly and it only takes that motivation to fall tiny bit for the wheels to come off.
This season started so positively with that win at Middlesbrough on the opening day but things have turned quite a bit since then. The 4-0 defeat to Reading in the League Cup followed by the Norwich game and what happened at Carrow Road left everyone waiting to see when not if there would be a change in the dugout.
In terms of what happens now, the club say “a comprehensive recruitment process is underway.” This is only the sixth time in the Berylson ownership of Millwall that they have had to search for a new manager. If you look at previous five recruitments the club have always taken their time before making these appointments.
Adam Barrett is taking caretaker charge until a new manager is appointed. I would say this decision was taken due to the fact we are now heading into a three game week – a sign that this process may not be that quick and that the club will take their time appoint a new manager.
Gary Rowett has named an unchanged side from the one that beat Plymouth on Tuesday to face Hull City this afternoon.
The Lions were 2-0 victors at Home Park on Tuesday night and the manager has decided to stick with the same eleven that started in the South West on Tuesday night.
Danny McNamara and Joe Bryan keep their places at wing-backs. Despite scoring the second goal at Plymouth George Saville starts on the bench.
Tom Bradshaw is back in the matchday squad at the expense of Ryan Longman, he is unable to face his parent club.
Millwall team to face Hull: Bialkowski; McNamara, Leonard, Harding, Cooper, Bryan; Campbell, De Norre; Watmore, Flemming, Nisbet.
Subs: Trueman, Wallace, Mitchell, Norton-Cuffy, Saville, Esse, Honeyman, Emakhu, Bradshaw
Gary Rowett has made one change for this evening’s match against Rotherham United.
Zian Flemming returns to the side after starting the defeat against Leeds last Sunday on the bench. He replaces Billy Mitchell – he drops to the bench.
Allan Campbell retains his place in midfield but moves deeper to partner Casper De Norre with Flemming taking up the advanced role.
Joe Bryan is fit enough for a place on the bench.
Millwall: Bialkowski; Norton-Cuffy, Wallace, Cooper, Leonard, M Wallace; Campbell, De Norre; Flemming Nisbet, Bradshaw.
Subs: Trueman, McNamara, Watmore, Emakhu, Mitchell, Saville, Esse, Bryan, Harding.
Millwall vs Preston North End
A Preview of the Pivotal Matchup
Preston Form: WWWLW
Millwall Form: LDDLW
As the Championship season begins to reach its climax, every game becomes increasingly important. That is especially true for Millwall and Preston North End, who will face each other this Saturday afternoon. Both teams are level on points and vying for a spot in the playoffs, which makes this a must-win game for both sides. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the two teams, their recent form, and what we can expect from this crucial matchup.
Preston North End: In Great Form
Preston North End has been in fine form recently, having won five out of their last six games in the league. They’ll be hoping to extend their run with another three points against Millwall. Ryan Lowe’s side is expected to play with a variation of a 3-5-2 formation, and they’ve kept 17 clean sheets from their 41 games so far this season. One player to watch out for is Tom Cannon, who has scored 7 goals in 14 appearances for Preston. Millwall’s defence, led by iconic duo Shaun Hutchinson and Jake Cooper, will need to be at their best to keep him at bay.
The Mighty Lions: Searching for Goals
On the other hand, Millwall has struggled to find the back of the net recently, having failed to score a goal or win a game in their last four league encounters. Gary Rowett’s side is in need of a change, and one player that fans have been calling for is 17-year-old winger Romain Esse. Many believe that his trickery and raw talent could be the solution to their goalscoring woes. Esse has looked comfortable in the limited minutes he’s been given this season and has caught the attention of the England Under 18’s team. Will he get his chance to start on Saturday?
Another change that fans have been calling for is at left-back, where Murray Wallace has been struggling to keep up with the pace of many of the right wingers in the league. Scott Malone is the likely replacement, but he too has had his share of critics this season. It remains to be seen if Rowett will make the change.
The Last Encounter: Flemming’s Hat-Trick
In the last encounter between the two sides, Millwall emerged victorious, thanks in part to a hat-trick by Dutch superstar Zian Flemming. Fans will be hoping for a similar performance from the man who famously hails from Amsterdam and hates West Ham.
Conclusion
With both teams level on points and vying for a playoff spot, this game is sure to be a tense and closely fought affair. Can Preston North End continue their fine form and secure another win? Or will Millwall finally break their goal-scoring drought and emerge victorious? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: this game is a “cup final” for both teams.
As the Championship season begins to reach its climax, every game becomes increasingly important. That is especially true for Millwall and Preston North End, who will face each other this Saturday afternoon. Both teams are level on points and vying for a spot in the playoffs, which makes this a must-win game for both sides. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the two teams, their recent form, and what we can expect from this crucial matchup.
Preston North End: In Great Form
Preston North End has been in fine form recently, having won five out of their last six games in the league. They’ll be hoping to extend their run with another three points against Millwall. Ryan Lowe’s side is expected to play with a variation of a 3-5-2 formation, and they’ve kept 17 clean sheets from their 41 games so far this season. One player to watch out for is Tom Cannon, who has scored 7 goals in 14 appearances for Preston. Millwall’s defence, led by iconic duo Shaun Hutchinson and Jake Cooper, will need to be at their best to keep him at bay.
The Mighty Lions: Searching for Goals
On the other hand, Millwall has struggled to find the back of the net recently, having failed to score a goal or win a game in their last four league encounters. Gary Rowett’s side is in need of a change, and one player that fans have been calling for is 17-year-old winger Romain Esse. Many believe that his trickery and raw talent could be the solution to their goalscoring woes. Esse has looked comfortable in the limited minutes he’s been given this season and has caught the attention of the England Under 18’s team. Will he get his chance to start on Saturday?
Another change that fans have been calling for is at left-back, where Murray Wallace has been struggling to keep up with the pace of many of the right wingers in the league. Scott Malone is the likely replacement, but he too has had his share of critics this season. It remains to be seen if Rowett will make the change.
The Last Encounter: Flemming’s Hat-Trick Millwall won the last Championship meeting between the clubs, triumphing 4-2 at Deepdale in November. Zian Flemming led the Lions with three goals, netting in the fourth, 16th, and 64th minute. Charlie Creswell also was on the scoresheet. Andrew Hughes and Ched Evans found the net for North End. Millwall Fans will be hoping for a similar performance from the man who famously hails from Amsterdam and hates West Ham.
Millwall have got the better of Preston of late, unbeaten in their last seven Championship matches (W5 D2 L0). Preston are looking for their first league win in fixtures between the two clubs since February 2019. The Lions have outscored North End 11-4 during their unbeaten streak.
Conclusion
With both team’s level on points and vying for a playoff spot, this game is sure to be a tense and closely fought affair. Can Preston North End continue their fine form and secure another win? Or will Millwall finally break their goal-scoring drought and emerge victorious? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: this game is a “cup final” for both teams.
There are rumblings in the football world that two major London clubs, Millwall and West Ham United, may share a stadium for the upcoming 2023/24 season pending certain conditions. While both clubs have not made any official statements, sources familiar with the situation suggest that discussions are currently ongoing, with the Newham Council being notified. However, a spokesperson from the council has stated that the discussions are still in the early stages, and any decision would need to go through a full council meeting before being confirmed.
UPDATE: It has now been heavily rumoured from a source that Millwall Football Club will be ground sharing with their arch-rivals West Ham United next season, should they secure promotion to the Premier League. The decision comes as a result of Millwall’s current stadium, The Den, failing to meet the strict criteria set out by the Premier League for top-flight stadiums.
The rivalry between Millwall and West Ham is one of the most intense in English football, with a long history of violence and animosity between the two sets of fans. Matches between the two clubs have been marred by incidents of hooliganism, with clashes between supporters often leading to arrests and injuries.
The possibility of a ground share has sparked a variety of reactions from different groups, including fans, pundits, local residents, businesses, and law enforcement officials. Some view it as an exciting opportunity for both teams to coexist in a world-class facility, while others see it as a recipe for disaster due to the historical animosity between the two sets of supporters.
Detective Chief Inspector Joseph King, who heads the Football Unit of the Metropolitan Police, has expressed concern over the potential ground share, citing the safety risks involved. He emphasized the need for a careful consideration of the welfare of supporters and the public. Local residents and businesses have also expressed their concerns, fearing increased traffic congestion, noise pollution, and anti-social behaviour in the area.
On the other hand, supporters of both clubs have expressed their excitement at the prospect of the two rivals playing in the same stadium. Some believe that it could lead to a stronger sense of community and a better matchday experience, as fans from different backgrounds come together to support their teams.
Ground sharing is not a new concept in English football, with many clubs opting to share a stadium for various reasons. Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace were the first teams to share a ground, However, in the case of Millwall and West Ham, the stakes are higher due to their intense rivalry.
Ultimately, the decision on whether to proceed with a ground share should be based on a thorough assessment of its impact on all stakeholders. Both clubs will continue to focus on their football and their respective goals for the season, while the possibility of a ground share remains a topic of buzz and speculation in the football world. Stay tuned for further updates on this story.
