We are not here to buy
parsley
Millwall 1 Burnley 1, 16 October
1999
Hego
Not sure that I can actually say that I was
looking forward to this match at the New Den, particularly after last season, following
the little contretemps with the thugs masquerading as Millwall stewards. As Junior Hego is
now absent for Autumn on railway leaf-fall duty with his little broom, I do however now at
least have some chance of seeing the full match. Last week's performance on the moving
television was also worrying me a tad, particularly the defending (or lack of it) as I
hauled myself on to a train at Guildford. We have however shown some character in the past
when visiting the Zoo, oops sorry New Den, in particular the 3-2 win during our brief 1st
division foray. Character is what we need to bounce back to winning ways in darkest Den
and again on Tuesday.
Plenty of refreshment was the first order of the
day, near London Bridge station, prior to the last minute run of the gauntlet to the
relative sanctity (safety, sanity, pick any one of three) of the away end. Some very
interesting people partook of refreshment at the Wheatsheaf too, who were not there merely
to buy parsley at the neighbouring market. Rumours abounded re a possible kick off delay
in view of a good deal of the travelling Claret support being parked unwillingly on the
M6. No chance. Apparently quite a few Clarets didn’t make the game at all.
Our good friends from the local constabulary
decided to delay the Claret faithful outside South Bermondsey rail station, obviously
practising for the real thing after the game. No problem this year though with the seating
in the away end, as the Clarets were given the whole of the stand. Probably 2,000 Clarets
there.
The Millwall team were pretty much as usual,
with Shaw playing up front. The Clarets strangely 4-4-2, with Cookey and Johnrose in for
Branch and Mellon, thank God. Millwall in all white, the Clarets in Claret. Smithy was at
left back, which given that their new young quick star Ifill operates on the right hand
side, did not seem too clever to me. Presumably Johnrose to help out there on our left
hand side.
The first half was some of the best Burnley
football I have seen this season, spraying the ball around on a wide pitch, and making
Millwall look pretty ordinary. The first chance however fell to Millwall, when Livermore
blasted wide of the target. Then an early and deserved goal in the 12th minute, when a
Cook corner found Cookey at the back post, who headed into the net unmarked from the edge
of the six yard box. Huge amount of noise! The Legend drove forward a few moments later
and released a shot capably saved by Warner, and in the 30th minute a repeat
drive volley hit the bar from 30 yards. Payton was also denied by a last ditch penalty box
challenge by Newman, which looked fairly illegal to me, and indeed to all the Claret end,
who voiced their disapproval in the usual manner. Apart from the early chance, my notes
indicate nothing of importance from the Millwall team in the first half, which accurately
reflects the balance of play. Ominously, however, only one goal to show for the dominance.
Second half was completely the opposite, as the
Clarets backed off in the face of heavy pressure from the Millwall team. Shaw, who had
been quiet, and Ifill came more in to the game. Mullin tested the keeper with a stinging
low drive at the start of the half, but it was all down hill from there. The equaliser
when it came was from a poor defensive header by Mullin in the 70th minute,
which let in Cahill to score. This followed a run from Ifill who waltzed past Smith for
the nth time. Have to say it was deserved. Admirable then saved well from Shaw at least
three times, twice from free kicks, and Ifill went close, in a period which was all
Millwall. Mellon made his return for Little in the 75th minute, which was not
unexpected, and the tiresome Branch for the tiring Cooke. Still all Millwall as Shaw
headed wide from a free kick late on. Why didn’t we sign him when we had the chance?
Davis and Thomas held firm, and we came away with a point.
Thought the draw was a good result overall, as
Millwall are no mugs, particularly at home. It could have been so different though if the
first half performance had yielded an extra goal. Apart from Smith, who I think is far too
slow for a full back (never quick anyway and has slowed even more after his injury
problems), thought that most of the team played well, even West, who played as well as I
have seen him. With Cowan for Smith, believe the starting lineup to be our best team at
present. Wish Admirable would stop on his line sometimes, and remember Brentford. The only
sour point in the game was five more bookings, in a competitive but not dirty match.
Little, Cook and West for Burnley for nothing much that I can remember, hope suspensions
don’t derail the bandwagon.
The good humour I had from the game was then
ruined by the decision of the boys in blue to keep the Burnley fans behind for thirty
minutes after the game. Why, so the Millwall fans could arrange a suitable reception
committee at London Bridge station? Well, that is precisely what happened. As I stepped on
to the concourse at London Bridge, I was greeted by a flying bottle that passed no more
than a foot away from my head, and the sight of a young Claret who hadn’t been so
lucky with blood streaming down his face. This quickly turned in to a riot that would
certainly have graced the 70’s, with policeman everywhere grabbing everyone who
looked like a football fan. Strategic exit the order of the day and a calm down pint. Have
a feeling that this might not have been completely spontaneous disorder - after all, we
were not here to buy parsley!
Team: 4-4-2
– Admirable, West, The Legend, Thomas, Smith, Johnrose, Little (Mellon 77), Mullin,
Cook, Cooke (Branch 81), Payton. Subs not used: Brass, Armstrong, Jepson.
Referee: S
Tomlin.
Crowd: 8,601.
London Clarets Man
of the Match: (1) Mitchell Thomas, (2) Lenny Johnrose, (3) Steve Davis, (4) Paul
Crichton.
Links - More from this day, the home game and this game last season
