Alex Grace’s big-match verdict on Boro 3 Millwall 0 – High press puts Lions to the sword

BY ALEX GRACE

Should Millwall not pick up a victory at Bristol City tomorrow night then it will be the first time in 23 years that they have gone 11 league games without claiming maximum points.

The Lions are on their worst league run in seven years. It’s now 10 Championship matches without a win, the last time that happened was August 2013 when former West Ham United midfielder Steve Lomas was in charge in SE16.

Saturday was a chastening defeat. It’s not often that Millwall are blown away but a side that are normally so defensively strong were put to the sword by the high press of Middlesbrough.

Neil Warnock started with a 4-2-4 formation – the intention was to clearly suffocate the Lions defence and it worked as their wing-backs were unable to get forward.

Scott Malone could not get on the ball and the usual relationship that he has with Jake Cooper was non-existent. The three centre-backs were under constant pressure.

The tone may well have been set early doors. Former Lions midfielder George Saville was able to win a header unchallenged in the middle of the park in the very first minute.

Boro were winning all the battles in the first half and that is how the opening goal came about.

Chuba Akpom and Saville combined well in the centre of the pitch before the latter neatly found Marvin Johnson, who crossed for an unmarked Duncan Watmore to tap home from four yards out.

A key factor in Millwall’s 2018-19 struggles were the fact they would concede two goals in quick succession and that is what happened here. Failure to retain possession in midfield led to the hosts once again building pressure. Former Charlton defender Anferneee Dijksteel was afforded too much space on the right hand-side and found Marcus Tavernier whose thumping effort nestled in the bottom corner leaving Bart Bialkowski with no chance.

Millwall’s first-half misery was compounded on the 20-minute mark when Watmore got his second and Boro’s third. In a way it summed up Millwall’s recent run. Saville’s shot fell right into the path of Watmore, who was six yards out and couldn’t miss.

Lions boss Gary Rowett was clearly frustrated and replaced Alex Pearce with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson after just 24 minutes but it did not help the cause. One-way traffic continued to be the course of the game as half-time approached.

The second period saw an improvement from Rowett’s side but they did not do enough to warrant anything from the contest. The introduction of Ben Thompson, Matt Smith and Tyler Burey did bring Millwall into the game. Thompson went close, forcing Fulham loanee Marcus Bettinelli into a full stretch save but that was as good as it got.

One positive was Burey getting a decent run out – he was the Lions’ brightest spark.

Rowett admitted post-match that a huge response will be needed from his side. However, it does not get any easier. Play-off chasing Bristol City are up next at Ashton Gate and failure to win there would put almighty pressure on Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest at The Den.

Star Man
Duncan Watmore. The former Sunderland man was always in and around the action and was in the right place at the right time for both of his goals and took both well.

Moment of the match
Marcus Tavernier’s goal was a wonderful strike. He cut past Malone superbly and thundered his strike into the far corner leaving Bialkowski with no chance.