Phillips stars for Lions
By Jr
August 10 2005
Mark Phillips won the man of the match award against Coventry City. It was richly deserved as Millwall held out with 10 men against the Sky Blues strike force, which included the likes of Dele Adebola, Stern John, Gary McSheffrey and Jamie Scowcroft.
By Jr
August 10 2005
Mark Phillips won the man of the match award against Coventry City. It was richly deserved as Millwall held out with 10 men against the Sky Blues strike force, which included the likes of Dele Adebola, Stern John, Gary McSheffrey and Jamie Scowcroft.
It's not often we use the word "valiant" to describe a Millwall performance, bearing in mind it's one of the nicknames of Millwall's neighbours Charlton. But on this occasion, it sums up what happened at the Den.
The referee Grant Hegley was a disgrace. If the ref at Leeds was a "homer" then this was the opposite.
How Coventry's "last man" Richard Duffy remained on the pitch after felling Barry Hayles is a bit of a mystery, but technically perhaps the ref got it right as there was a covering defender possibly closer to goal - albeit in a wider position. Millwall boss Colin Lee admitted he'd seen players sent off for less.
Playing a 4-5-1 at home is not what you expect at the Den, but Lee reckoned that with players bombing on from wide positions and midfield it's more like 4-3-3.
Well, that's maybe so, but it's still essentially 4-5-1 with Hayles ploughing a lonely furrow upfront.
Yet the performance was valiant as Adrian Serioux contrived to get himself sent off for two bookable offences. His long throw bothered Coventry's on loan keeper Stephen Bywater, but by getting dismissed for kicking the ball away he seriously undermined Millwall's cause.
With all the good work at risk, it was pleasing to see Carlos Fangueiro make a promising debut from the bench and Mark Phillips and co hold firm at the back to secure Millwall's first point of the season.
Ratings:
Marshall 8 - made a brilliant save to deny McSheffrey from point blank range.
Dunne 7 - might not really be a right back nowadays, but was less defensively vulnerable than normal.
Lawrence 8 - getting back to his best.
Phillips 9 - didn't do much wrong at all.
Vincent 8 - strong in the tackle and solid all round.
Serioux 6 - getting sent off hasn't done him any favours.
Hutchison 7 - a bit quiet but used the ball well.
Morris 8 - had an excellent first half and is starting to look like a real playmaker.
Elliott 7 - under the weather with mumps, but still showed tremendous energy.
Simpson 6 - didn't do that much.
Hayles 7 - worked very hard.
subs
Peeters 6 - found it difficult to make an impact.
Fangueiro 7 - looked dangerous.
The referee Grant Hegley was a disgrace. If the ref at Leeds was a "homer" then this was the opposite.
How Coventry's "last man" Richard Duffy remained on the pitch after felling Barry Hayles is a bit of a mystery, but technically perhaps the ref got it right as there was a covering defender possibly closer to goal - albeit in a wider position. Millwall boss Colin Lee admitted he'd seen players sent off for less.
Playing a 4-5-1 at home is not what you expect at the Den, but Lee reckoned that with players bombing on from wide positions and midfield it's more like 4-3-3.
Well, that's maybe so, but it's still essentially 4-5-1 with Hayles ploughing a lonely furrow upfront.
Yet the performance was valiant as Adrian Serioux contrived to get himself sent off for two bookable offences. His long throw bothered Coventry's on loan keeper Stephen Bywater, but by getting dismissed for kicking the ball away he seriously undermined Millwall's cause.
With all the good work at risk, it was pleasing to see Carlos Fangueiro make a promising debut from the bench and Mark Phillips and co hold firm at the back to secure Millwall's first point of the season.
Ratings:
Marshall 8 - made a brilliant save to deny McSheffrey from point blank range.
Dunne 7 - might not really be a right back nowadays, but was less defensively vulnerable than normal.
Lawrence 8 - getting back to his best.
Phillips 9 - didn't do much wrong at all.
Vincent 8 - strong in the tackle and solid all round.
Serioux 6 - getting sent off hasn't done him any favours.
Hutchison 7 - a bit quiet but used the ball well.
Morris 8 - had an excellent first half and is starting to look like a real playmaker.
Elliott 7 - under the weather with mumps, but still showed tremendous energy.
Simpson 6 - didn't do that much.
Hayles 7 - worked very hard.
subs
Peeters 6 - found it difficult to make an impact.
Fangueiro 7 - looked dangerous.
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