OxMillers Millwall Review

Injured

The Millers opened brightly and had a number of snap shots from the edge of the box although none threatened to test Stack in the visitors’ goal. Barker battled well against the giant Ward and was able to link up with Mullin and Warne and Garner was keeping Wise quiet, on the footballing, if not refereeing front. Indeed, Wise’s main contribution in the first half led to Mullin being injured after clashing with the little midfielder in a 50/50 challenge that “referee” D’Urso judged a foul by Mullin. Vernazza replaced Mullin, which was a worry as he seems to be a very lightweight player and this looked to be a match for the committed.


Unusually, the Millers were playing mainly down the left and had the ball in the net courtesy of Richie Barker but he fell foul of the confusing offside rule. Slotting the ball home neatly from eight yards out, first he was considered inactive, then active. In the old days, he would just have been flagged immediately rather than on second thoughts.

Burchill was flitting around the Millwall giants and had the best chance of the half. Excellent interplay between Hurst and Warne down the left allowed Warne to slip a perfect ball through to the striker in the inside left channel. Advancing quickly on goal, the angle was always against Burchill but he hit a fierce goal-bound shot across the keeper but Stack pulled off a fine save to deflect the ball for a corner.

This sparked Burchill’s confidence and he started to get more involved and provoked the controversial incident of the first half when he was felled by Stack in the area. Difficult to see from my place in the Community Stand, but I guess that Wise adjudged the keeper to have punched the ball clear prior to clattering into the striker (D’Urso signalled his agreement with Wise and awarded a throw-in, indicating that the keeper had taken the ball, then the man).

With half-time approaching, Millwall’s sole threat had fallen to Harris who was left unmarked at the far post and blasted a floated free-kick over the Tivoli from eight yards. However, in the last minute of the half, Millwall broke free and Ifill was put through on goal on the left. With only the keeper to beat, Ifill drilled a low shot goalwards, but Pollitt had closed him down fast and made an excellent block, the ball going out for a corner. This was a vital save at a crucial time and was not to be the only major contribution from Pollitt on a day when he had little to do in total.

Missed sitter.

A bright start to the second half saw the Millers start to play the ball on the ground and involve Sedgwick more often with support from Stockdale.
Burchill went clear after a perfectly timed run along the Millwall back line and advanced on goal from the right. The Millers’ striker took the ball too close to the keeper who was able to block his shot. However, the ball deflected across goal towards Warne coming in from the left. Warne, with the keeper scrambling back and two defenders retreating onto the goal line, completely missed the target, side-footing wide of the right-hand post – a shocking miss, and a great shame as he had been playing well on the left until that moment.

Millwall continued to play the ball around in midfield but to little effect, Swailes and Gilchrist martialling the ineffective Dichio and Pollitt collecting crosses with ease. Indeed, Pollitt dealt with everything in the air in marked contrast to Stack who seemed glued to his line, relying on his giant defenders to deal with anything in the air. This was to prove crucial later in the game.

From a rare break, Millwall looked to break clear and Wise threaded a ball through to the onrushing Harris. Covering across from the left, Hurst launched into a full-blooded challenge that would either take man or ball, or both. Harris managed to toe the ball clear of the challenge but was then clattered to the floor earning Hurst the game’s single yellow card.

With thirteen minutes left, Millwall took the lead against the run of play, when Ifill latched on to a ball in the box and slotted home neatly with the defence somewhat statuesque – game over ?

Roused by the injustice of a possible defeat, the Millers upped the tempo and Hoskins was brought on for fading Warne to add pace to the attack.
With the Millers pushing forward for the equaliser, Ifill was again put through, this time on the right and Pollitt was out like a flash to block superbly and keep Rotherham in the game.

Equiliser

Stockdale and Sedgwick continued to link well down the right with the Millers pressing for the equaliser, forcing corners and desperate defending from the visitors. With time running out, a bout of head tennis in the visitors box ended with Barker heading across the box where Sedgy found himself unmarked and volleyed into the roof of the net from ten yards and a deserved equaliser.

The confidence boost from the goal spurred the Millers further and the pressure was really on Millwall. From one of the numerous corners floated in by Garner, the ball dropped just behind Swailes two yards from goal on the left but the big defender was unable to adjust and get a strike on goal.

With almost the last kick of the game, Wise hit a rasping shot that Pollitt did well to tip over the bar at full stretch and preserve a point.

Overall, I guess a fair result given the two vital saves from Pollitt and a defeat would have been an absolute travesty for the Millers. On that showing, there is room for optimism and Burchill looks to be a good acquisition who should be paired with Proctor when he is fit.

UP THE MILLERS !