Millwall (A) League One, 26th Dec, 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

Very early thread for this game (and probably Posh as well) as we're spending Christmas in the wilds of Scotland with no guarantee of internet availability - I will, of course, keep a close watch on their local press to see if anything relating to Romaine Sawyers is broadcast. So.....off to The Den on Boxing Day to face the lions of Millwall - currently mid-table (11th) on 31 points, with a goal difference that is neither positive nor negative. One or two hiccoughs lately, including having their goalkeeper sent off in the 28th minute last Saturday at home to Gillingham. No news as yet as to whether Millwall are going to appeal the red card (their third dismissal in League One games this season). Top scorers so far are O'Brien, Morison and Gregory, with 7, 6 and 5 goals respectively. Current form for Millwall looks like this:

24 Nov Fleetwood Town (A) League One, Lost 2-1
28 Nov Bury (H) League One, Won 1-0
1 Dec Burton Albion (A) League One, Lost 2-1
5 Dec Wycombe Wanderers (H) F.A. Cup 2nd round, Lost 1-2
8 Dec Southend United (A) F.L. Trophy, Won 0-2
19 Dec Gillingham (H) League One, Lost 0-3

Most of Millwall's results are the usual run-of-the-mill scorelines, but it should be noted that occasionally they go to extremes such as conceding 5 at Peterborough, and a few weeks later scoring 5 away at Plymouth. In between those two matches they managed to beat Sheffield United away........

Sean O'Driscoll's instant reputation is high after he switched tactics at half-time against Port Vale, and he may well decide to stick with the XI that finished that game if he is still unable to call on Tom Bradshaw. The other doubt concerns the availability (for whatever reason) of Rico Henry - we will just have to be patient on that one.

A win on Saturday could well see us at the top of the table (still with a game in hand) as Burton's trip to Bradford doesn't look like a nailed-on 3 points for them. A result at The Den of 0-1 would be very pleasing but Millwall will be no pushover, and I would take a 1-1 draw with a reasonable degree of satisfaction. :D

UTS !!!

[SWS1]

Disappointed to miss this one since it's been a game I have managed to get to a few times in the past "n" years as my son lives in London. Never an easy place........... to be an away fan :mrgreen:
Nor is it easy for the team: it's not been a particularly happy hunting ground so I would be very satisfied with a hard-earned point and, naturally, ecstatic with any sort of win.
Forecast? Walsall to win, obviously. I cannot forecast a defeat under any circumstances so my strike rate has never been good; better this season, of course. Only been wrong 7 or 8 times :mrgreen:

[Barren Flak]

Score draw.

O'Driscoll to re-invent the Christmas tree formation resulting in Adam Chambers dying his beard and putting James Baxendale on his knee.

[Saddlers9]

Does anyone know if there is any coach travel available for this game?

[kshammer]

Lovely place to go at this joyous and festive time of year...

[coop63]

A bum draw for a boxing day fixture and I'd love to get to this one but it's a no goer for me :(

Hopefully we can get a few hundred there to witness a 1-2 to the Saddlers with Cook and Jason on the scoresheet..

UTS

[Ancient Moaner]

Not a happy hunting ground for us, our perennial F.A.Cup exists at their hands is legendary.

I fear that the Gillingham result was a fluke, helped by a red card of course. Boxing day results, like F.A.Cup results, are oftimes 'unusual, so I believe this will be our first 'heavy' defeat of the season.. 3-1. Will have to happen eventually, get it out of our system and move on to beating Posh on Monday.

[aaaae]

It all depends if we train on Christmas day or not. If we don't we will lose. :mrgreen:

[chestersaddler]

Not a happy hunting ground for us, our perennial F.A.Cup exists at their hands is legendary.

Indeed. I just looked back to 1986 and found that they have knocked us out twice in 30 years :wink:

[JonnyOwen]

I wrote an opposition analysis for a Millwall fan site, if anyone wants a quick read...

https://marklitchfieldblog.wordpress.com/the-view-from-the-opposition/december-2015/walsall-h-261215/

[Well-bRed]

I wrote an opposition analysis for a Millwall fan site, if anyone wants a quick read...

https://marklitchfieldblog.wordpress.com/the-view-from-the-opposition/december-2015/walsall-h-261215/

Very well written Jonny!
Hope you're right with your score prediction although I'd take a draw!
UTS!

[PT]

Shame about the timing of this. I'd be happy for the lads to be back on the bus in one piece with a point safely tucked into the luggage hold. Anything more is bonus territory.

Btw - nicely written piece Jonny.

[Mazza01]

Terrible fixture, anything but a defeat would be a great result!

UTS!!

[Mrdollabill]

Did we train yesterday?

[Ancient Moaner]

Did we train yesterday?

You mean did we over-indulge in mince pies, turkey & alcohol?
Yes.......Oh you meant the players didn't you!...probably also yes. :? :mrgreen:

[Welsh_Saddler]

More motivation to get 3 points at The Den.....if we win, we're definitely top of the table (Burton's match has been postponed)!! :D

[longdogs]

Unchanged team. No Bradshaw or Henry.

[Mazza01]

Tom has been out for 4 weeks now!!?

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Millwall:

Etheridge

Demetriou
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Chambers
Evans
Morris
Sawyers

Forde
Lalkovic

Substitutes: Mantom, Baxendale, Preston, Roberts, Flanagan, Cook, Kinsella

[DN4 Saddler]

Any reason why Liam Roberts replaces Craig MacGillivray on the bench?

[chestersaddler]

Any reason why Liam Roberts replaces Craig MacGillivray on the bench?

He was injured in the warm up on Sunday.

[philthesaddler]

Still no Henry?

Anyone out there still believe he's not been sold?

[Ancient Moaner]

Unchanged team. No Bradshaw or Henry.

Conspiracy theories will abound, the 'management' can no longer continue this 'injuries' nonsense for very much longer... can they?

[philthesaddler]

Unchanged team. No Bradshaw or Henry.

Conspiracy theories will abound, the 'management' can no longer continue this 'injuries' nonsense for very much longer... can they?

In fairness - Bradshaw is quite injury prone, and has spent a lot of time out injured since he arrived at the club.

Henry however hasn't missed a game since he got in to the first team squad, so for him to miss 3 in a row (possibly 4 if he misses Monday too) with a "mystery" injury is just too much of a coincidence.

[Welsh_Saddler]

0-1 UP !!!!!!!!!!! Milan Lalkovic, from more than 35 yards according to the Beeb..... :D

[chestersaddler]

Milan :D :D :D :D

Get in

[Cully]

Lalkovic 1 - 0 yah! :D

[SaddlerCraig]

GET IN MILAN YOU BEAUTY

doesnt sound like we started our best and with stats so great goal!

[Welsh_Saddler]

As things stand, who's TOP OF THE LEAGUE????????


Elsewhere..... Swindon Town 1 Gillingham 2

Sloppies 1 Fleetwood 0

Doncaster Rovers 0 Scunthorpe Utd 1

[sallian]

really wanted to attend this match...but British transport system is a pile of Diarrhoea....and the government are a bunch of ****ers for not sorting it out, no trains in London...great.... is the most inefficient and over-priced 'service' in Europe

And it looks like Lalkovic has scored a spectacular goal, one of my favourite players when you illiterates were calling him rubbish