[LU] Millwall View

[John Boocock]

http://www.rivals.net/news/pgarticle.aspx?artid=13674_3452320&id=53

Millwall 0 Leeds 2
By Dave Evans - 20/04/2008 21:02

Another home defeat, despite being in control for most of the game, AGAIN!

It was hard to separate the teams for the first few minutes. It was end 
to end stuff but very little happening in the final thirds until the 7th 
minute.
A foul by Paul Huntingdon on Paul Robinson, resulted in a free kick 
taken by Ahmet Brkovic, from the edge of D area. His curling right 
footed shot was well wide of Casper Ankergren's right hand post.

A minute later Leeds were on the attack, forcing Millwall's Rhys Evans 
to Parry a shot by Anthony Elding around his left hand post for a corner 
which came to nothing.

Brkovic was soon back in te thick of it, a volley from 30 yards out 
sailing past Ankergren's right hand post, then the first of 2 handballs 
by Brkovic and then finding himself being the first name of many going 
into referee Lee Mason's notebook for going through the back of Palace 
loanee Dougie Freedman near the centre circle.

He then took a free kick after Marc Laird was brought down on the edge 
of the Leeds box., but his weak effort over the wall towards the right 
of goal was easily dealt with by Ankergren. When going for power rather 
than place would have been the better option.

Danny Senda was operating very well as usual down his right hand flank.
On 21 minutes he made a god run from the halfway line down into Leeds 
territory, unleashing a powerful shot, which Ankergren had to parry away 
to his left for a corner, which Millwall failed to capitalise on.

The Leeds right back Frazer Richardson wasn't to be outdone. He also 
worked his way down his right wing, but his shot front the edge of the 
area was just over the bar.

Senda made another carbon copy of his previous attack, sending in a low 
cross, but there was now blue shirts anywhere near to meet it.

On 32 minutes Brkovic took another free-kick, this time it had the Leeds 
defence rattled. His cross from the left landed at Tony's Craig s feet, 
it was stuck under him for a few seconds but his left footed shot went 
wide of Ankergren's right hand post.

Karacan didn't have a bad game, he worked really hard in the centre of 
midfield. His cross form the right was met by Brkovic, who with a bit of 
time and space managed to hook it over the bar on 32 minutes.

Tony Craig had another golden opportunity to score from a corner. Marc 
laird forcing it after a powerful shot was charged down by the Leeds 
defence.
Jay Simpson taking the corner and planting it on the head of Craig who 
could only mange to nod it over the bar.

Bas Savage gave a good account of himself in this game. He managed to 
let fly from 30 yards out, but his shot was far too weak an easily dealt 
with by Ankergren's.

Jay Simpson made a jinking run through the middle of the park, dancing 
round 3 defenders and shooting on the edge of the D, but again it was 
far too weak to trouble Ankerman, diving to his right and scooping the 
ball up easily.

Bas Savage ended a superb half for Millwall with a good dribble down the 
right wing and sending the Leeds defence into a panic with a good cross 
into the box, but it was cleared away eventually.

Leeds ended the half with 2 shots a goal. The first came from Anthony 
Elding who's shot from 18 yards out and centre, sailed over the bar. 
Then a header from Jonathan Howson 12 yards out was easily caught by Evans.

HALF TIME 0-0

Millwall began the 2nd half as they had finished the 1st. Two minutes 
into it, Simpson slotted a good pass to the feet of Brkovic who in turn 
cut the ball back to Karacan, who with what seemed all the time in the 
world, side footed the ball form the right hand edge of the area, over 
the head of Ankergren and what I thought was heading for Ankergren's top 
left hand corner.
The crowd were on the their feet willing it into the net. Sadly it 
wasn't to be as the cross bar dashed our hopes.

It didn't end there, another good diagonal run by Simpson from the right 
wing to the D, unleashing a powerful shot which was just a foot over the 
bar.

More good link up play, saw Senda bursting into the box to receive a 
Savage cut back. Senda's stinging shot was too hot for Ankerman's 
gloves, so he had to parry the ball to his left for a corner which was 
cleared by the Leeds defence.

Dougie Freedman replied for Leeds with a shot from the right hand edge 
of the area, but it was always going wide.

Another dangerous cross by Bas Savage saw hid effort just cut out before 
it reached the awaiting Jem Karacan and out for a corner. The resulting 
corner from Jay Simpson was clearly met by the fist of Brkovic through a 
crowd of players.
He was already on a yellow card, what was he thinking? Luckily referee 
Lee Mason either didn't see it (although I think he had a good view of 
it) or was too scared to to send Brkovic off and ignored it.

Danny Senda was replaced by Marcus Bignot on 65 minutes, due to an 
unknown injury.

Freedman hit back again for Leeds with a 30 yard shot which went 
straight down Evans' throat.

Then completely against the run of play Leeds took the lead on 69 
minutes. A series of quick passes from on the edge of the Millwall area, 
saw David Prutton stab the ball home from 12 yards out into the bottom 
left of Evans' goal.
Heads dropped and Millwall were visibly shocked at how this could happen 
after we has played so well up until now.

It all went scrappy after that. With the managers deciding to make 
changes. Anthony Elding was replaced by Andy Hughes Kenny Jacket 
deciding to put some fresh legs in midfield by bringing off Fuseini who 
had an extremely quiet game and bringing on Lewis Grabban in his place.

It was all getting very scrappy now as we tried to press for an 
equaliser and left ourselves a little exposed at the back.

Then the pressure again took it's toll. A carbon copy of the 1st goal, 
saw Millwall completely carved open again leaving Andy Hughes who was 
only substituted 6 minutes earlier to slot home and easy ball, into 
Evans' left hand side of the goal from a Bradley Johnson cross from the 
left hand side.

As if things couldn't get any worse. Danny Senda was taken off with an 
unknown injury and replaced by Marcus Bignot on 79 minutes.

The game was effectively over now and it was all Leeds in the final stages.

Gary McAllister did his best to wind the clock down. He made a double 
substitution on 88 minutes. Bradley Johnson coming off to be replaced by 
ex-Lion Peter Sweeney and Dougie Freedman being replaced by Tresor Kandol.

Paul Robinson managing to clear a possible third goal by directing a 
header to the right of Evan's goal and for a corner which came to nothing.

Frustration boiled over when Peter Sweeney reacted badly to a Lewis 
Grabban tackle, which involved almost every player squaring up to each 
other with their handbags, then whistle blew shortly after the mele was 
sorted out.
Grabban went into the referee's book and Sweeney also collecting a 
yellow for his trouble.

Man of the match would be a toss up between Simpson and Robinson. 
Simpson was full of industry all game, tracking back, covering ever 
blade of grass and shutting the attacks down.
But I'd give it to Robinson again. He made some important clearances and 
was an absolute rock at the back.

Millwall: Evans, Senda (Bignot 80), Craig, Robinson, Frampton, Simpson, 
Fuseini (Martin 75), Brkovic (Grabban 66), Laird, Karacan, Savage.
Subs Not Used: Edwards, Harris.

Booked: Brkovic, Grabban

Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Huntington, Michalik, Sheehan, Prutton, 
Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson (Sweeney 89), Freedman (Kandol 89), Elding 
(Hughes 73).
Subs Not Used: Lucas, Marques.

Booked: Michalik, Prutton, Sweeney.

Att: 13,395

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).