Alex Grace’s four takeaways from Millwall’s 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield
Millwall were denied just a second win under Joe Edwards after a 97th-minute penalty ensured Huddersfield a share of points in a big battle at the bottom of the Championship table. The Lions looked set to win for the first time in six matches after Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s scrambled effort had given them a 1-0 lead, but they could not see it out.
The result leaves them two points above the bottom three after Sheffield Wednesday’s late comeback win over QPR.
Here are Alex Grace’s four takeaways from another frustrating encounter at The Den.
MORE POINTS THROWN AWAY
When you desperately need points, the last thing you can afford to do is throw them away, and in their last two games, Millwall have done exactly that. Yes, the first of those two games was at high-flying Leicester, but Millwall were comfortable and not looking under any pressure before Matija Sarkic’s error gave Leicester the confidence boost they needed to turn on the style and inflict a 10th defeat of the season.
Joe Edwards has now twice come close to delivering that first home win of his reign, but both times has been denied by the Lions, giving away a penalty. Granted, the one against Sunderland was unlucky, but replays have shown how tough a call it was on Ryan Leonard to penalise him for a foul on Jack Clarke.
However, on this occasion, the referee got it spot on. George Saville’s handball in the box is perhaps one that a few years ago may not have been given, but in this era of football, it’ll be given all day long. You could see how disappointed he was – down on his haunches at full time, knowing he had just made a very costly mistake. In the current situation, those are mistakes that Millwall can not afford to make.
NISBET AND BRADSHAW IN THE TEAM AS EDWARDS TWEAKS FORMATION
Edwards has realised that he needs to get both of his strikers on the pitch. Kevin Nisbet has been in a solid run of form. He scored at Leicester and had a few chances against Huddersfield, but I also feel this team needs Tom Bradshaw in it.
It’s not a team full of creativity and goals, so having both strikers on the pitch will certainly help the goals for the column. Gary Rowett tried to get both strikers on the pitch and set up in a 5-2-1-2 formation, the same as the one now being adopted by his successor.
Bradshaw works hard and will do a lot of the graft, with Nisbet being the man to finish off those chances. Nisbet’s goals so far have shown his poaching ability. Something Millwall have missed in recent seasons are going to need a lot of in the next few months to pull them away from the relegation fight.
THE SARKIC VS BART DISCUSSION
Matija Sarkic has not had the easiest reintegration into the starting lineup. He was at fault for Cardiff’s winner in his first game back in the side. He was also at fault for two of Leicester’s three goals last Wednesday and looked shaky at times against Huddersfield.
Picture : Keith Gillard
Yes, it’s early in his comeback and having been out for a period of time, it will take him a little while to adapt and get back used to playing on a regular basis. His match sharpness is down and that will only improve with more gamer time.
Bialkokwsi may well feel hard done by having been dropped after some very good performances against Coventry and Ipswich. The Pole had looked to have been getting stronger and stronger over the games he played – compare those performances to the one we saw against Reading in the League Cup back in August, it’s safe to say he had come a long way.
LEAGUE TABLE TAKING SHAPE
As we come into the festive period, the league table is taking firm shape. Leicester and Ipswich are running away in the automatic promotion places, a bit like Burnley and Sheffield United did last season. The bottom section of the table is also beginning to take shape.
However, it’s a lot tighter around the bottom of the table. Just seven points separate Coventry in 15th and QPR in 22nd. The Lions face both Stoke and QPR in their next two games. A chance to really pull away from those sides should they get the wins and results elsewhere favour them.
The Christmas period is always defined as a potential season setting period. Where you find yourselves after that period sets you up for the remainder of the campaign. A strong festive period for the Lions could well see them pulling clear of the relegation places and once again looking towards midtable and the top half of the table. A section where they have been used to living over the last few seasons.
Everyone wants to see them back in that section rather than battling at the bottom. Make no mistake, this period of games is so important to everyone associated with the club. Get it right, and there is a good second half of the season to look forward to; get it wrong, and we could be looking at a very long and hard second half of the season.
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