Millwall 2 United 3 - report from the sofa

Not been down but watched on a stream…..

The Blades moved up to joint 2nd after a come from behind victory in a topsy turvy contest at the Den. Much like the previous Saturday, United dominated the game for most of it and should have been out of sight by half time with Sharp missing a penalty, two other chances and then finally scored. As with the Preston game the Blades came out and had another mad 5 minutes that nearly cost them getting anything from the game. Like with the Bristol City game they just did not start the second half and suddenly were behind with two sloppy goals. United kept going and gradually re-imposed their will on the game and got another penalty which McGoldrick scored. After this just like last week; United managed to score a late goal to take the three points with once again David McGoldrick the hero.

Wilder kept faith with a winning side with the only change Coutts coming in for Woodburn on the bench. Millwall had struggled this season but had the dangerous front pairing of Morison and Gregory up top with recent signing Tom Bradshaw on the bench. Ryan Leonard started in midfield against his former side after becoming the Lions record signing.

United looking to put a poor recent record behind them at Millwall, started very well. Gregory actually nearly got in but was clearly offside but after this the Blades took charge. They had all the early possession and Freeman ad Stevens were bombing forward. Norwood was at the heart of all the good things United were doing and Duffy was looking very dangerous.

Stevens picked up an early booking as the referee went back to caution him some 2 or 3 minutes after the original foul as he played an advantage that petered out for the home side. Soon after Leonard was cautioned against his former club. Wallace followed soon after. In truth none were really worthy of a yellow card.

United continued to probe and Duffy and Freeman linked well but the ball was cleared. Basham then combined well with Fleck and McGoldrick but the half chance was knocked away. The best chance came when Basham sent a lovely ball over the top and Sharp got in and his first touch was very good but he was blocked by the keeper as he looked to knock it home and the ball went out for a corner. McGoldrick then headed over when well placed from a Norwood delivery. United were completely on top and it was very much one-way traffic.

Norwood then had a good chance but it was deflected over. From this corner, United returned the ball back in and won a penalty as Duffy played in Norwood; who hit a cross over and it hit a defender. He had his hands up but was maybe a bit debatable as it hit him from close range and was he even in the box? Still, the performance had been such that it offered United a chance to go in front that their dominant performance had deserved.

Sharp took responsibility despite McGoldrick scoring one earlier in the season. The skipper hit it hard enough but it was a decent height for a keeper. Still, Amos did superbly to tip it up and onto the bar and Millwall cleared the ball behind. From the resultant corner from Norwood, Sharp had another great chance but scooped it over after Basham’s clever flick on. He beat the floor in frustration at somehow not being on the score sheet.

Webster then blocked from Fleck as the away side continued unabated and unconcerned from the penalty miss. Finally, on 40 minutes, United got into the lead after a dominant first half performance. More nice football down the right was the origin. Duffy started it, Freeman carried it on and supplied Duffy who sent over a superb cross and SHARP as he does so often get in between the centre backs and flicked his header home

Egan needed treatment for a head injury and had to be bandaged up before he returned. Millwall had offered very little and had been outplayed for the entire half. A long-range effort was easy for Henderson but then out of nowhere a typical Millwall punt forward saw Morison flick on and on the angle, Gregory was in but his shot was well saved by Henderson. The half time whistle came soon after to end an excellent Blades showing.

The second half saw Millwall come out later and had clearly been given a stern talk from manager Neil Harris. They pushed United back and won an early corner and from Williams deep delivery; Henderson came and went and COOPER outjumped Egan and Basham to loop his header home. He repeated his goal from the fixture last season. Another scorer in that game was Unitedite GREGORY. He did the same again in a remarkable turnaround only a few minutes later. Leonard was not pressured and sent a chipped ball over the top. The offside trap was beaten and the striker got in past Egan and knocked the ball expertly into the corner.

It was an incredible turnaround and score line and reminiscent of last week’s few minutes of madness. Both goals were so sloppy. Credit to Millwall for a resurgent start to the 2nd half in a game they had never been in. Suddenly they were buoyant and United were wretched. A ball into the box saw Morison head on and O’Brien almost made it three. United were suddenly rocking.

Slowly, they regained their composure and started to knock the ball around and gradually won midfield after this 10-minute aberration. The Blades started to move Millwall about again and patiently started to pin the home side back. A neat move saw Duffy get in but his shot was parried and United could not get in on the rebound. Norwood had a free kick from a decent position and McGoldrick’s effort was saved from close range. United were now pinning the home side back again. Johnson came on and had two bursts down the wing with both crosses just evading United players. The weight of pressure saw you feel an equaliser may come and so it proved on 77 minutes

For the second time in the game, United had a penalty and once again it was that man Williams who was the guilty party. A ball looped up and as Duffy looked to get on it, the Millwall defender foolishly shoved him the ground. It was close to the edge of the box again but the reaction of the Millwall players were more of ‘What have you just done?’ rather than one of contesting the penalty. It was a moment of madness.

MCGOLDRICK took it this time and sent Amos the wrong way to blast the penalty home and stood in front of the United fans to celebrate.

After this, United scented blood and came again. Another lovely move saw the ball come over after neat interchange and Sharp stooped to head home but the assistant’s flag went up, denying the skipper as he wagged his finger to signal he thought he was onside.

The game entered the final 5 minutes and Johnson and Fleck combined to win a corner and then Fleck again drove forward but had a shot blocked. With a couple of minutes to play a fantastic move saw the winner come. More patient interchange saw Basham, Norwood and Fleck link and then Duffy exchanged passes with Freeman before getting in and sending over a lovely pull back. McGOLDRICK could not miss and turned home from close range. The United players celebrated wildly in the corner. Millwall appealed in vain for offside but in truth they had been torn apart by superb football and the ball was pulled across and so was never in doubt that it would be ruled out.

Both Clarke and Stearman came on right at the end for McGoldrick and Duffy as the Blades made sure they had extra height for the final four minutes of stoppage time. Millwall sent a few high balls and long throws forward but Sharp did brilliantly to sucker the defender into a foul and United survived relatively comfortably in the end. After a poor return from the capital it is two wins from two so far both thanks to McGoldrick winners.

United – Excellent performance for the most part. The first half was similar to Preston and Bristol City but we actually created better chances then both of those games. Sharp missed a hat trick of good chances with an effort saved when he was one on one, a penalty missed and then an effort from the corner straight after over the bar. We had other half chances and completely dominated the midfield. We finally got in front when Sharp scored the hardest chance of the lot! After this we just moved them about and they could not cope. Half time probably came at a bad time. Millwall did have one chance though through Gregory but other than this is one-way traffic. We had all of the ball and they rarely threatened. The midfield three dictated things; the wing backs got forward as did O’Connell and Basham and the front two were looking mobile. It was like we were the home side. The only concern was it was only 1-0.

It proved that the nagging doubt of not getting more goals would haunt us; the same as when we played at Bristol City and did not take out chances. The home side came out and started to show more intensity and scored a soft goal with a looping header – a bread and butter goal for the home side but a shocker to concede as was just a corner and a header. There was no flick or clever moment. Then a long ball forward (decent ball from Leonard) caught us out and Egan lost Gregory who beat the offside trap and coolly rolled it into far post. Out of nowhere we were losing a game we had completely controlled. I was furious as it was just a nonsense we were losing a game we had been on top and easily the best side. We then became really ragged and O’Brien had a chance and it remarkably could have been 3-1. After this we got our focus and started to control things again. We had more half chances and Duffy had one saved and then McGoldrick nearly got in. Johnson came on and gave us pace and some more attacking impetus down this side. He played really well and was involved in some good attacks. Fleck started to be more influential and Duffy actually got stronger as the game went on.

We just kept our passing going and did not panic. You felt we may get another chance but a stupid foul gave us a bit of a lifeline. We scored and after this you senses there was only one winner. Sharp had a goal disallowed after lovely move and we kept moving them about from side to side and the gaps started to appear. We nearly got in a few times and then a delightful patient move saw Duffy involved again and the ball in after nice clever play was put in by McGoldrick. A simple a finish as the one he converted last week. After this we saw things out quite easily as we put on height in Stearman and Clarke as they pumped balls forward.

A big three points. Still people, including me will nit-pick that shocking spell of defending; where we were all over the place conceding two goals and giving the ball away constantly. It was just like Preston as we panicked and lost our shape and composure. To our credit we settled down and started to dominate again. I felt the midfield three had an almost second wind after the hour mark and they looked like they were handing on. The goals may have come late on but the amount of ball we had and weight of pressure meant they were unlikely to hold out.

I am so glad we play like we do compared to Millwall. Even if we had lost or drew today I would say that. We try and pass it, we link the areas of the side, we are patient and wait for openings. It is lovely to watch at times. We are guilty still of overplaying or being a bit slow to move it forward but would rather that than the percentage stuff the likes the home side played today. We at least try and link and play neat one touch, one twos, triangles and try and play players in. Credit that we kept doing that today when we could have panicked. Credit too to Wilder for leaving the side as it was and not just throwing players on and changing the formation. He had faith in what we were doing and trusted the players that they would keep doing what they had done and get back into the game.

Millwall are a side that have had a bit of a hoodoo on us – only won once in six games and lost the last three down there. They have had some fortunate smash and grabs in both defeats at the Den in games we should have drawn or won. Today we played the best I have ever seen us have done down there and got a well-deserved three points; even if the circumstances once again like with the Preston game was a bit bizarre. We had 66% possession, more efforts, more big chances and even disregarding the stats; we were far superior aesthetically.

Take away the stupid and slow start to the 2nd half and the comeback and look at the whole game and for the most part there was only one side playing football and one side who actually controlled the football. It was justice in the end we won the game. Great to see us winning 3 games right at the death now after not doing that much this season. Also, nice to see us go for the jugular rather than settle. I said on twitter just get a point conscious of some daft chuck always over the last 12 months. Shows that I know nothing and that a positive approach will work. Loved the way we went for the win and got it in the end.

A huge three points and puts us right in the mix at the top. A defeat or draw would have seen us back in a 6th-9th pack and not much in it but now we have moved away and there were a lot of draws today also. West Brom and Boro look strong but some fancied sides dropped points today – the likes of Derby and Brentford. We now have a game at Blackburn to me that is like a free hit. They have not lost at home yet (I like stats like that as think if we were the home team; we would be due a loss!) and have started well but we can go there with no fear. A point or even three and it will have been a great week and set us up for a very winnable game against Hull before the next international break. It is two games I do not fear and if we carry on level of performance of recent games (Brum apart) we can definitely get some more points and be right up there.


Millwall – Got to say they are dire to watch. They might make Bolton look quite cultural at times! They knock it forward when they get it and rarely play through midfield. The ball over the top with Morison and Gregory to chase is their many ally. Their second tactic is to get on knock downs or flicks on from them. The third option is the set play as a result of the other team clearing the first or second option. It is very Bassett like in his pomp but as we saw under him is might effective at times as we saw glimpses of today. They have obviously got a great deal of success out of doing it and the promotion and playoff chasing campaigns over the last few seasons.

They have normally been well organised and committed but obviously this season they have not started well. By all accounts they have dominated some home games and been unfortunate not to win against the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds. Today that was not the case. Anything but a Blades win would have been an injustice. They can moan about the officials and penalties all they like but one was a stonewall one and stupid. The other was harsh but in general play for possession and chances; they were second best nearly all game save for a spell for 10 minutes after the break. They deserved nothing out of the game and if it had been 0-3 at half time you cannot say it would not have been fair. Second half they had a go and stunned us with two decent goals from their perspective but the score line was a bit ridiculous even giving them credit for turning it around. They had a chance to make it 3-1 which they missed and then after this we took control again. They gave a mindless spot kick away and then after this you could sense the lack of confidence and their only looked one winner. After we scored they lumped it forward and it was long throws and set plays. It was all a bit desperate. It is not great to watch. The two front lads work hard but other than the Gregory goal and one other chance he had – not sure they were too effective today. The midfield hardly had a kick most of the game and the defence offered lots of chances for us.

Last season they set up with a different formation to match us up and recall Harris being lauded for it. Today they seemed more of a 4-4-2 but it was hard to work out what they were doing. Williams played just in front of the midfield and maybe it was more of a 4-2-2-2 – they had little width and Williams seemed to play just behind Leonard, Wallace and O’Brien. They got badly exposed down the flanks where we had overload after overload all game and they never changed it. I suppose they got in front and felt the game turned but really this was just a mad spell and after we regrouped the pattern of domination continued.

They look stuck in a rut. They rely on their home form and getting the home crowd on side but today they were booed off at half time and full time. The fans seem restless but they have spent a bit of money at least for them in buying Bradshaw, Leonard etc. They have lost a key man in Saville and just too many ***** players have not hit form. They rely on work ethic and organisation and the aforementioned basic but quite effective tactics working. So far, they have been off in all facets of this and as a result lie 2nd bottom. I think with the front lads and the demands of Harris; they will pull away and remember they started badly last season but I don’t see them repeating last season and they will probably be just below mid table.

Opponent man of the match – Thought Amos was outstanding. He came and caught everything and made some decent saves. He looked very commanding and then saved superbly from the spot kick tipping it onto the bar. Gregory had a few moments and took his goal well. I thought Leonard did well in parts of the game with a good ball for the goal and a few surging runs we did not see much of at United but he was quiet for spells and passed around by our superior midfield. Cooper took his goal well but actually looked shaky as did his partner Webster – both players United have looked at if rumours are to be believed. Romeo the full backs showed some decent moments but other than that they looked poor individually and collectively.

Weak link – Not sure really as several players were off it. Williams gave away two penalties so has to be the winner or loser. He did put over a good corner but two penalties conceded taking some doing for a midfielder. I felt that is the most ineffective Morison has ever been against United – and he is a player that always seems to cause us problems with his aerial ability and strong running. I thought Williams, Leonard (other than a few bits) and O’Brien were completely ineffective and never got in the game. Webster and Cooper struggled with McGoldrick and Sharp’s movement and link play and Meredith was at full stretch and often badly exposed due to the formation.

Henderson 7/10 – Had little to do again but picked the ball out twice. I have to say he was a bit hesitant on the first goal and sort of game and then went back. He would not have saved it but he kind of got in no mans land. The second goal he had no chance. Other than that, he made one smart save from Gregory in the first half when he got in. His handling and general play was fine. Some classic time wasting at the death too! Seemed well chuffed on full time too!

Freeman 7.5/10 – Thought he got forward really well and supported the attacks when he could. Always looking to get in especially first half and they struggled to pick him up. He caused all sorts of problems. His final ball was mixed but at times it was like having another striker. Second half he was not as influential but then towards the end started to get in more. Had one half chance blocked.

Stevens 7/10 – A clumsy challenge saw him booked and he did well to play the rest of the game without putting any silly tackles in. He defended ok and did got forward and cause problems but felt his final ball was not as good as it had been recently. He was a bit sloppy at times but then others zipped forward and like with Freeman saw us have an extra man. Don’t think he was poor but we did actually improve when Johnson came on.

Egan 6/10 – Thought that was poorest he has been for a while. He did ok for half an hour but then took a whack and had to get his head bandaged and then lost a few headers or lost his man. Was not sure who was closest to Cooper who scored but it seemed to be his man and he certainly seemed closest to Gregory who got away from him to score. He then gave it away on another occasion too and had a poor spell. Recovered and did when a few late headers as they chucked the ball forward.

O’Connell 7/10 – Solid overall. As the closest man to Morison, I felt he often won his headers and really restricted him to hardly anything at all. He often causes us all sorts of problems but did not win many headers, flicks or get away from him at all but two he did lose saw the chance at the end of the first half and then when O’Brien missed but that was it really. Still these were two big chances. He used it well and also got forward when he could. Of course, all the defence was culpable when they had ‘their’ spell but so was all the team.

Basham 7.5/10 – Decent performance again and I felt just does what he does. Saw him come forward more today than he has since Bolton. He really got up the pitch and helped force them back. His general play was good and his passing and touch has been very consistent this season. Just seems to come onto the ball and was always an outlet down that right side. We had 2 v 1 or 3 v 2 all game and his energy and fitness were a big part of that. Maybe on the goal he was a bit slow to get across but think it was Egan’s man.

Fleck 7/10 – Odd game. Ordinary and very good all in one game! I felt at times he was sloppy and quite slow and seemed still not quite back to his best. His passing at times was a bit short. He did a few decent things and then second half after we went behind I felt had a really good final half hour. He started to make this winding runs and jinks and helped create us numerous overloads. He started to dictate play with Duffy and was heavily involved in the better things we did. I will say if we are looking across the city he was still far superior to Barry Bannan who was dreadful last night and completely outplayed by the Leeds midfield!

Norwood 7.5/10 – Like Fleck at time he was a bit sloppy but for the most part helped us completely control midfield. He seemed to be always on the ball and his range of passing came to the fore again. He knocked it short and long and was constantly our playmaker. He always seems to be available. His set plays were a bit mixed. Hit the wall with a good chance from a free kick and I felt some of his corners were a bit close the excellent Amos. One was great when Bash flicked on and Sharp missed. Still the final half hour he again started to move us forward and be influential again.

Duffy 8/10 – Today he lasted almost the entire game and I felt rather than the usual notion that he tired; he got better as the game went on. He was involved in all three goals with an assist for the Sharp header; being fouled on the penalty and then the assist for the winner. He was always available and they struggled mightily to deal with him. He actually gave it away a few times first half as things did not quite come off but kept at it and I felt was really brave with his running at them and forward passes that always put them on the back foot. He seemed to get stronger and was a constant thorn in their side. At times teams cannot handle his touch and running. He is so ***** to us.

Sharp 7/10 – Odd one as for chances missed he would be a lot lower. Should have buried a few really good chances and the penalty was a bad miss. A good save but a decent height even it was struck well. At half time he looked annoyed even after he had rectified it with the goal. He took his header well as the cross although decent needed him to generate some power on it. He can be quite decent in the air and maybe better at this sort of skill in terms of headed goals than McGoldrick. He kept going and I felt held it up really well and his overall play was much better today. He brought others into play and linked well. Love the fact that after he missed he kept going and still scored and 2nd half was a tight call on the offside goal.

McGoldrick 8/10 – What a signing he has been. He missed another decent headed chance and at times I felt he looked languid for spells but that is what makes him so good as he does not waste energy. He gets involved when he needs to. His close control and ability to bring others into play is superb. He comes back into midfield and uses his body and skill to help us keep the ball. He showed some lovely skills to embarrass the defence at times and was unlucky a few times to not quite get in but he kept working hard and took his penalty well. He was then in the right spot to score again. In a real rich vein and at the moment, Clarke will have to wait his chance. Just hope he can stay fit as the moment he looks the player that teams were talking about spending millions on 4 or 5 years ago. A real bonus signing in what he has done and a huge surprise how good and effective he has been.

Subs –


Johnson – Stevens was doing ok but we needed more attacking threat and he gave us that. Got in 2 or 3 times and ran down the wing. Showed his pace and put a few dangerous crosses in. Helped put them on the back foot even more. Saw some decent footwork and powerful running. Just another body that helped push them back even further. Only knock is a couple of bizarre clearances. One he sliced right into the danger area from out wide and another where he gave it to them as we were looking to see it out. Overall, made a difference though.

Stearman – We knew they would knock it longer. Even more so than they had before so came on for Duffy. Recall him getting his head on at least one ball that came forward. Handy lad to come on when we need to defend and has done this at the death in the last few weeks.

Clarke – Brought on as they won a long throw and spent final part helping defend the high ball from set plays.




Wilder 8/10 – Got criticised last week for his changes and how we adapted tactically which contributed to us nearly not winning. Today he stuck with the same team and we played excellent first half. We were on it from the off and controlled things. Disappointed how we started the second and this is becoming a bit of a theme as are these mad throwaways where it does not matter how well we play, we cannot switch off and give away such soft goals. Massive credit this wee for not changing it much tactically. He put Johnson on and this worked too but overall, he had faith that we would regroup and the way we played would get what we deserved. Had faith in the way we played and the players and they repaid him.

Referee – Andy Davies. Was he an away-er (not sure that is a word)? Did we actual get one that helped us? Not sure. They may think so. I thought he was poor from the fact he booked Stevens early and this created problems. He then had to book players for similar tackles and Leonard and Wallace went in the book for then. Freeman and Egan were more booking than the previous two for cynical fouls. He gave us a few 50-50 challenges I felt but it has been a while since I felt a ref maybe gave us a few in that regard. The offside was close in terms of the other officials. Two big calls went for us. The first I felt was soft at the time and not sure the player could do much about it. I would have been furious if they had been given against us. However, I have watched it back and he did raise his hands for no reason. Not sure it was in the box if I am honest but it was bizarre to have his hands up there. The second was just daft and the player has to wonder what he was doing. The lack of appeals by a few Millwall players near him told a story I felt despite the fans fury. Still not often you get two penalties at Millwall. I felt he did have a poor day though and struggled with the advantage both ways. I felt he made a rod for his own back with the early booking and think he got a few things wrong both ways. Still the penalties might have been given by a lot of refs watching them back.

Fans – Made a lot of racket and close to 2,000 there. Loved the sarcastic way they sarcastically mocked and did the Millwall roar at the end and then erupted into ‘United! United!’ at the end. Those that have been to Millwall last 3 or 4 times deserved to finally see the side win. Tremendous to do it at that end in front of them right at the end too. Sure, there will be a bigger following at Blackburn too; despite it being midweek and the red button.