United – Big win and a huge three points where the result was far more important than how we played. It was far from a fluid performance but I am not sure it ever is at Millwall where it often seems to be scrappy and you get in to a battle – that may sound like a cliché but it seems to be the case in recent years. We started slowly again and seemed to be sitting back yet again. Maybe this is a plan and then we go for the jugular on the counter with our quality and after the poor start, we came out and had a good spell and Burrows and Hamer nearly linked twice to get us in front. We did not really push on though and they had the next 20 minutes or so and had 3 really good chances of their own with two hitting the post and Cooper saving another. We seemed far more open at the back than we have been with the lack of midfield protection and the right-hand side again looking susceptible with Rak Sakyi poor again and Gilchrist having a bit of a nightmare too. They could and maybe should have been ahead when we went more direct. It was funny as the whole first half we had tried patient football and moved it slowly and tried to draw them out and then Robinson hits a diag and Hamer is in and more quality from him and he lays it on a plate. Credit to Brewster as he had to be there and put it home.
After this it became really scrappy. They had one chance after the break but we had one Brewster – both went over for either side but for half an hour, there was subs, stoppages and very little quality and with us leading would have been happy. Souza went off so that was more disruption for us but Davies did well. Burrows looked the most likely with a cross and a shot and I thought we might put it away for a spell when Hamer and O’Hare had more of the ball but the second did not come. Moore struggled to get into it and made some poor choices but Millwall did not really test us and they were as wasteful as us in a poor second half really. The minutes ticked over and before you knew it we were nearly there. They had a half-hearted penalty appeal – that never was and then a few late corners but not sure I can recall Cooper being properly tested second half. In the end we saw it out. We were not totally in control nor did we keep the ball well enough but second half, after a loose first half, were better second half in terms of the little things and taking the sting out of things. We were slopy with the ball throughout but did what we had to and stopped them building any momentum and sort of killed the game.
Thought Souttar and Burrows was excellent and Robinson did ok too. Peck was steady enough but Davies and McCallum both did well when they came on. Noone was fantastic but most contributed to a team win where we just got over the line and made sure we did not do anything silly.
Overall, it’s a big three points and 4/6 is superb from two tough venues. The narrative is we now have two easier games but we have to go and do it. Plymouth are on awful form but we have to make sure we adopt the right attitude. Hopefully Souza’s was just a knock and will be ok – did not seem too serious but would not take any chances if he is not quite right and ditto for Campbell – with so many games coming up over the Xmas period. We really do need to go and try and win those two games and really set up for that spell where the games come quick and we have a few harder ones again. Credit to Wilder and the players for doing a professional job and keeping the run going amidst suspensions,
Ratings:
Cooper 6.5/10 – Think he got a touch on that one off the post and made another save with his legs but little chance on the other one that hit the far post. Given way too much to do again and as I say the defending at times was sloppy and allowed them too much space. He had a lot to do with his feet first half as we kept going back to him and could not find spaces in midfield. He did slice a few kicks out second half but took some routine balls also.
Gilchrist 5.5/10 - Thought it was a real struggle at times, much as it was for Seriki at the weekend. He took too many touches, overplayed and his passing was poor but he also got in bad positions defensively. He was not helped by Rak Sakyi again and they really caused us problems down this side. He is really not great technically and the balls comes off him too much where he does not control it or keep it. I am still not sold on him at all but I know that may surprise people. He does not stop his man enough for someone who offers nothing going forward. He did some better things defensively and was tighter to his man but dangles his leg out and still gives away too many fouls.
Burrows 7/10 – Started with a few moves and runs down the left. One deflected shot looped over and then a superb cross not far off. He did not have as much joy first half after that as much of the game was on the other side but second half had more of an influence and put in a couple of good crosses and assisted to Brewster. He also had the low shot wide. A really influential player.
Robinson 6/10 – Solid enough defensively although felt he switched off on a corner when Tanganga had a free header and then started to try and literally grab hold of him. He improved after this and his ball set up the goal with a lovely diagonal ping – if he meant it! Second half he did lose the ball and get booked and was grappling way too much on corners and needs to keep his hands down but made a few vital blocks near the end too.
Souttar 7/10 – Nice to have him back and gives us presence and height and fine first half with no real mistakes or moments of worry even though we were forced back too much and the midfield did not protect us much. He won all the headers he had to and swept up. A really assured and composed game.
Souza 6/10 – Not sure he has quite been to the standards of most of the season the recent weeks. Maybe he is fatigued but did not quite have the same energy or drive and also thought a few sloppy touches. Some ok bits and a few runs back and defensive work.
Peck 6.5/10 – Steady enough in terms of possession but not sure again we had the control we needed in midfield to start with but he and the side improved for spells of the game in this regard. Few nice moments where he came out with it and did turn with it and does not hide from receiving the ball but not sure he has the same level of control as an Arblaster. He was busy though and thought his energy levels were high and did some good defensive work as we looked to see it out.
Rak Sakyi 4/10 – Frustrating. Ran into his man a few times, lost the ball or hit the deck. He gave Gilchrist no help at all first half and we were badly exposed. He has dropped off recently and needs to work harder for the team. His head dropped and stopped becoming involved. Not surprised he went off.
O’Hare 6/10 – Worked hard as he always does and tries to move things on and link with others but we did not see enough of the ball in their third for me. He kept plugging away though and thought he was always pressing and harrying even if he saw little of the ball.
Hamer 7/10 – First half looked most likely to create and make something happen. Involved in nearly every good moment we had and played in Burrows a few times and had a few shots/efforts. He just looked the one who may unlock them and get us a chance and so it proved on the goal with a lovely touch and cool ball. He continued to try and get on it and a few other moments he provided the supply to Burrows.
Brewster 6/10 – Not really in the game at all. I felt he was stationery and not even a nuisance factor. Nothing dreadful but just wanted more movement, pressure and something to hit. Then out of nowhere he gets in a good area and converts – an easy finish but had to be there to put it in. Pleased he has got a goal but after this he only had that one effort he blazed over. It’s hard as he did very little other than score but getting the winner, I have to up his mark!
Subs -
Davies 7/10 – Thought he did well when he came on and used it well, got his foot in and moved around the field and showed real desire. He also showed his football brain as he used it well and made sure we kept it in good areas. Won a fair few free kicks too. Excellent cameo and did what we needed.
Moore 5/10 - I thought he was poor when he came on. Held it up a few times but mostly gave it away, looked off the pace and sluggish and on his heels. Bit like Brewster did on Sunday – maybe both were just rusty. Needed to keep the ball more at this stage.
McCallum 6.5/10 – Our Michael Jordan from the bench – well for his leaping ability! Thought he was excellent in terms of all the little things, moving it down the line, winning 50-50’s and his superb aerial ability – he has an incredible leap and won lots of headers/flicks to keep the ball up the field. Really good impact actually just in terms of doing exactly what we needed.
Shackleton – Not really involved – booted one aimlessly to them under no pressure.
Manager: Wilder 7/10 – Another different team selection and then had to make another change due to injury (Souza) of a key man but we rotated and did what we had to. It’s a great win as I say even if the performance was not the best. I am concerned at the way we are starting games and we have seen teams have chances against us, which was not happening before and we may not keep getting away with it. We have been second best in every first half against Bristol City, Coventry, WBA and now Millwall but have somehow managed to come out of those games either drawing or winning. I do wonder if the plan is to sit back and play like this but we certainly cannot keep giving up chances as better teams may punish us but then at this level you can get away with it if you have the quality, which we have, at the other end. I think we are still a long way from what we can be and our recent performances have been very patchy but we are staying unbeaten and the wins keep coming along so have to be pleased. He has the group playing for each other and being gritty and committed and we are top of the league so have to be pleased.
Millwall – Was surprised Harris is now moving on/left. Whether it was his decision, the clubs, or a bit of both but he came back, which again was a shock and actually steadied the ship, kept them up and now had them near the playoffs this year and doing pretty well. The timing seems odd. Maybe he feels he had done his job in that sense but will be hard for someone to follow but guess he was never a long term appointment but then much like us with Wilder/Hecky, it just worked and he got the club and whilst his style may be direct; he got results. Before the season I pegged them as just about the drop zone (I had Blackburn to go down too – so shows what I know?!) and they have surprised me and bear Burnley and Leeds at home in two impressive wins.
They are always tough to beat at home and have a physical side that is good on set plays but runs behind but do have a few underrated players too. It looks like my prognosis was off and they will finish well clear but they are some bad sides with the three promoted teams, Plymouth, QPR, Hull to name a few who you think will all be around the bottom 7 or 8. Be interesting to see what they do with the manager role as they went down the young role with Joe Edwards and then moved on from it quickly and like a few others at this level seem to struggle to know which route/identity they want to go down. With the stadium and the togetherness of the fans, it needs to be someone who gets it and can connect but they have to play a certain way to be successful and it has mostly worked this season so if they go away from that, they may drop down the league.
They had already beaten the top sides at the Den, so I think we knew it would be hard, like Coventry and WBA had been. They came out and had chances and on another day one of those off the post goes in but after we scored, that seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and thought they never really came with a flurry second half. They had a few chances but nothing clear cut and we defended quite well. The game became scrappy and not a lot happened but they seemed unable to mount any sustained pressure or really put us under the pump. Maybe helped Cooper was not playing at the back! They had a number of corners but we defended them ok second half. Not sure they tested Michael Cooper at all in the end.
Opponent Man of the Match – Esse was the main threat with a few good runs, although he did go to ground too much. Tanganga is a big unit and a threat coming from the back with a few chances.
Opponent Weak link – Bryan made a mess of the goal and also was ball watching on a few other moments. The big striker Ivanovic was poor and missed a few chances with slashes at the ball. Surprised Bradshaw did not come on after his record against us in the past for both Millwall and Barnsley. They only used 3 subs too? Bit odd.
Referee/Officials – Matt Donoghue. Many will remember him from the Blackburn and Millwall games at home back in the Champ when he sent off Goode and Gibbs White but outside of these calls, he was dreadful. The Blackburn game was one of the stand outs in shocking officiating in recent years. When we went up under Hecky a few years ago, he reffed us in 4 wins and was actually less contentious but then this year he took the Pompey game and made a drab game all about him and lost control. He was not that bad tonight really. I was worried he may give them a penalty at the end but he got it right. Normally he is a bit card happy but only gave one to Robinson. He should have given one for their lad for the dangerous tackle on Davies. Apart from that and sometimes getting in the way of the ball (another one!) he was ok really but it was a game of few incidents or bad fouls really.
