The writing's on the 'Wall at Reading
By Jr
August 22 2005
The Lions’ ability to shoot themselves in the foot was in evidence once more against Reading. After a promising start with Ben May proving a handful upfront, the visitors were underdone on the counter-attack.
By Jr
August 22 2005
The Lions’ ability to shoot themselves in the foot was in evidence once more against Reading. After a promising start with Ben May proving a handful upfront, the visitors were underdone on the counter-attack.
The Lions’ ability to shoot themselves in the foot was in evidence once more against Reading.
After a promising start with Ben May proving a handful upfront, the visitors were underdone on the counter-attack. American winger Bobby Convey raced clear of Sammy Igoe and left Matt Lawrence for dead before calmly slotting past Millwall keeper Andy Marshall. It was an incredible 70-yard sprint – no bad for a player recently returning from long-haul international duty with the USA.
Lawrence, who had been at fault for the first goal, was to endure even worse luck as he was stretchered off following a tackle, later described as “naughty” by Millwall boss Colin Lee. The initial prognosis is the Lions skipper will be out with medial ligament damage from between six and eight weeks.
Just when it was thought things couldn’t get much worse, they did. Mark Phillips had been uncharacteristically dwelling on the ball and the upshot of that was an underhit backpass to Marshall. The Lions keeper had to clear under pressure outside of his area and, with Leroy Lita hitting back his wayward clearance first time, Marshall had little option but to handle to prevent a goal. The inevitable red card was produced, leaving Millwall with just 10 men and no goalkeeper.
Quite why no preparations had been made for the possibility of Marshall being dismissed or injured is a question for Colin Lee, who revealed in the post match press conference that he had no idea who the reserve team goalkeeper is! At least, he knew Terry Masterson was injured though, but nevertheless you could argue he should have had looked into who would make the best make-shift keeper. For instance, at Sheffield United if the keeper gets hurt or sent off, Phil Jagielka deputises. Millwall need to be similarly organised for such an eventuality.
Phillips – no Jagielka in goal, it has to be said – ended up being punished for his poor backpass with a brief spell in goal. It must have felt like the longest 20 minutes in his life. Phillips’ first touch of the ball as keeper was picking it out of the net as Convey curled his free kick over the wall.
Millwall were falling apart at the seams as Reading threatened to run up a cricket score. One bizarre moment demonstrated the poor state of affairs on the pitch, as Glen Little fired in a weak shot that was going wide. Phillips contrived to dive on it and allow it to squirm under his body for a corner. It was hardly confidence inspiring stuff.
But after a shaky 5 minutes or so, Millwall began to play a bit again, yet it was to no avail as Reading scored a controversial third. Leroy Lita clearly allowed the ball to cross the touchline before bringing it back into play, only to be upended for a free kick. Convey bent the ball in, but it was cleared only as far as Harper whose headed cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar.
The fourth goal was almost as controversial. Igoe was unluckily penalised for an accidental handball, and Dave Kitson despatched the penalty with anything but aplomb. Phillips almost saved it, diving the right way, but the ball still trickled in.
It was all about damage limitation in the second half, as Adrian Serioux came on to play in goal. The Canada international was a far better stand in keeper, as he proved with a magnificent save to deny Lita in injury time.
More magnificent still was the vocal support from the travelling fans. Millwall supporters are renowned for their humour and they proved this with chants like “5-0 and you’re still no good” or words to that effect. The Lions fans even poked fun at Reading’s goal celebrations. But on a more sinister note they were singing: “Sack the board” and “Theo, what’s the score?” The latter chant was directed at acting chairman Theo Paphitis, who is understood to be out of the country at present.
The fifth Reading goal was also a bit controversial, as Serioux was impeded prior to Steve Sidwell’s diving header from a Little corner.
All in all, it was a total shambles as far as Millwall were concerned. Some players did come out with some credit though: May, Paul Robinson and Jody Morris did reasonably well under the circumstances, and Millwall’s early play was the best seen so far this season. But if results don’t turn around very quickly the natives are likely to get even more restless.
After a promising start with Ben May proving a handful upfront, the visitors were underdone on the counter-attack. American winger Bobby Convey raced clear of Sammy Igoe and left Matt Lawrence for dead before calmly slotting past Millwall keeper Andy Marshall. It was an incredible 70-yard sprint – no bad for a player recently returning from long-haul international duty with the USA.
Lawrence, who had been at fault for the first goal, was to endure even worse luck as he was stretchered off following a tackle, later described as “naughty” by Millwall boss Colin Lee. The initial prognosis is the Lions skipper will be out with medial ligament damage from between six and eight weeks.
Just when it was thought things couldn’t get much worse, they did. Mark Phillips had been uncharacteristically dwelling on the ball and the upshot of that was an underhit backpass to Marshall. The Lions keeper had to clear under pressure outside of his area and, with Leroy Lita hitting back his wayward clearance first time, Marshall had little option but to handle to prevent a goal. The inevitable red card was produced, leaving Millwall with just 10 men and no goalkeeper.
Quite why no preparations had been made for the possibility of Marshall being dismissed or injured is a question for Colin Lee, who revealed in the post match press conference that he had no idea who the reserve team goalkeeper is! At least, he knew Terry Masterson was injured though, but nevertheless you could argue he should have had looked into who would make the best make-shift keeper. For instance, at Sheffield United if the keeper gets hurt or sent off, Phil Jagielka deputises. Millwall need to be similarly organised for such an eventuality.
Phillips – no Jagielka in goal, it has to be said – ended up being punished for his poor backpass with a brief spell in goal. It must have felt like the longest 20 minutes in his life. Phillips’ first touch of the ball as keeper was picking it out of the net as Convey curled his free kick over the wall.
Millwall were falling apart at the seams as Reading threatened to run up a cricket score. One bizarre moment demonstrated the poor state of affairs on the pitch, as Glen Little fired in a weak shot that was going wide. Phillips contrived to dive on it and allow it to squirm under his body for a corner. It was hardly confidence inspiring stuff.
But after a shaky 5 minutes or so, Millwall began to play a bit again, yet it was to no avail as Reading scored a controversial third. Leroy Lita clearly allowed the ball to cross the touchline before bringing it back into play, only to be upended for a free kick. Convey bent the ball in, but it was cleared only as far as Harper whose headed cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar.
The fourth goal was almost as controversial. Igoe was unluckily penalised for an accidental handball, and Dave Kitson despatched the penalty with anything but aplomb. Phillips almost saved it, diving the right way, but the ball still trickled in.
It was all about damage limitation in the second half, as Adrian Serioux came on to play in goal. The Canada international was a far better stand in keeper, as he proved with a magnificent save to deny Lita in injury time.
More magnificent still was the vocal support from the travelling fans. Millwall supporters are renowned for their humour and they proved this with chants like “5-0 and you’re still no good” or words to that effect. The Lions fans even poked fun at Reading’s goal celebrations. But on a more sinister note they were singing: “Sack the board” and “Theo, what’s the score?” The latter chant was directed at acting chairman Theo Paphitis, who is understood to be out of the country at present.
The fifth Reading goal was also a bit controversial, as Serioux was impeded prior to Steve Sidwell’s diving header from a Little corner.
All in all, it was a total shambles as far as Millwall were concerned. Some players did come out with some credit though: May, Paul Robinson and Jody Morris did reasonably well under the circumstances, and Millwall’s early play was the best seen so far this season. But if results don’t turn around very quickly the natives are likely to get even more restless.
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