The lowdown on Bristol City 4 Millwall 3 – More late agony for the Lions

For the second consecutive week Millwall conceded a late goal to consign themselves to defeat in the Championship – this time 4-3 at Bristol City.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Millwall: Jensen, Leonard, Hutchinson (Leahy 89), Cooper, Bryan, Saville, De Norre, Esse (McNamara 76’), Honeyman, Watmore (Emakhu 76), Bradshaw (Langstaff 83). Subs not used: Roberts, Trueman, Smith, Harding, Massey.

For the second week running Millwall found themselves 2-0 down. Anis Mehmeti opened the scoring in just the third minute, seizing on a Ryan Leonard mistake to fire past Lukas Jensen. The home side doubled their lead in the 12th minute. Sinclair Armstrong scored with a free header after getting in between Leonard and Shaun Hutchinson. Cue a stunning start to the second half from Millwall. Romain Esse pulled the Lions back into it with a fine solo effort in the 51st minute. Just two minutes later, the youngster won a penalty as George Tanner was adjudged to have handled – up stepped Tom Bradshaw to fire low into the bottom left-hand corner. A crazy turnaround was competed in the 64th minute as Duncan Watmore’s right footed volley found the top corner following a long throw. But, the Robins come roaring back. Fally Mayulu equalised in the 78th minute and with just two minutes of normal time to go Scott Twine found himself unmarked in the box and fired home the winner.

TACTICAL APPROACH

Neil Harris stuck with the same team and formation that started the 3-2 defeat to Watford at The Den last weekend. Despite being 2-0 down the Lions ended the first half the stronger of the two sides and that signalled that Harris thought he side could still get something out of the game.

STAR MAN

Romain Esse. The Millwall academy product showed his talent in both the attacking and defensive thirds. A real prospect showing his potential.

BEST MOMENT

Duncan Watmore’s superb volley to give Millwall the lead for the first time in the contest. He is of course predominantly a left-footed player but this was a special shot. The long throw into the box that was headed on by a Bristol City man and for Watmore to take it first time on his right foot was a terrific and special moment for him, his third goal of the season.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Millwall’s start and end to the game. The Lions really struggled to settle down in the early stages and saw their errors punished. The defending for the goals was criminal – especially for Twine’s winner in the latter stages, a simple ball into the box and the former Burnley man was left completely unmarked in the box to fire past Jensen and seal the win for City.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB

Defending was Millwall’s strong point at the back end of last season after Harris came back through the door in February, the South Londoners conceded just nine goals in their last 13 games and that was the main reason behind their road to recovery under Harris last season.

Most thought it was going to be Millwall’s attacking unit that was going to be a problem this season but it’s turning out be defensively where the side are really struggling.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“I wasn’t happy with the defending, we gave some poor goals away but, we’ve got back to 3-2 up. Praise my players for that. We get to 77 minutes, I thought we were really comfortable second half, by far the better team. Two-nil down, you get 3-2 up and get a bit leggy, you then need impact from the bench, look what Bristol City bring off their bench and the impact it makes on the game and that’s difference at this level.

“They brought on two good players, two good players that changed the game, a moment of quality. Can we defend better? Yes all four goals we can defend better, I’ve watched them back, we were off it, that’s seven poor goals that we have given away in two games, that’s not acceptable. We’ve scored five league goals and haven’t got a point yet. That’s really hard to take.”