Five takeaways from Millwall’s 3-0 win over Posh – home form is best in second tier since 2001-02 + another target in sight
Richard Cawley picks out five takeaways from Millwall’s 3-0 victory against Peterborough United on Saturday.
The result means the Lions go into the final round of league matches with a chance of still reaching the play-offs.
HOME FORM DESERVES SO MANY PLAUDITS
Saturday’s 3-0 win over Peterborough United ensured that Millwall moved back to the top of the table for home form in the Championship this season.
Both Fulham and AFC Bournemouth, who still have matches left to play on their own patch, can still finish above them.
But the west Londoners need to beat Luton at Craven Cottage today to move to 46 points while the Cherries need to win their final two against Forest on Tuesday and then against the Gary Rowett’s side on the final day.
Even if Millwall are knocked off that particular perch, it shouldn’t detract from a sensational return at The Den.
The Lions’ total of 45 points is their second best since the turn of the millennium, with Mark McGhee’s team claiming 48 in the 2001-02 season when the club finished fourth (won 15, drew three and lost five) in the overall standings.
The 2017-18 season saw Neil Harris’ players narrowly miss out on the play-offs and they banked 43 points in SE16.
The current crop have only lost there once since January 15. In a division as tough as the Championship, that is some achievement.
ANOTHER TARGET IN SIGHT
Even a victory at AFC Bournemouth might not be enough to claim a play-off place but if Millwall do head back from the coast with a victory then they will finish on 72 points – the same total as the 2017-18 season. That is their best haul since regaining their Championship status.
And a dive into the history books shows that the only time the club had exceeded that since the turn of the year was in the 2001-02 campaign, already mentioned above, when they amassed 77 points.
SWING IT
There are two play-off places still up for grabs and Luton’s match at Fulham today could be very interesting if they were to ship a few goals. In saying that, the Whites have limped towards the finishing line – so much so that top spot no longer looks quite so guaranteed as a few weeks ago.
Millwall have an inferior goal difference by five on the Hatters and Sheffield United, who host the current table-toppers on the final day.
So there is potential. Millwall still face the task of winning at Bournemouth and probably need to do so by a comfortable margin.
They have not had a victory by more than one goal on the road this season and have drawn their last three.
The risk – the same as it was against Peterborough – is that in opening up and playing more adventurously you are far more liable to receive a damaging suckerpunch.
ONE WALLACE NEXT SEASON….OR TWO?
It seems a safe bet that Murray Wallace – crowned Millwall’s Player of the Year – will still be performing Cruyff turns at The Den next season. But will his namesake Jed.
If Saturday’s match was the latter’s final at The Den as a home player, then he once again underlined what a pivotal figure he has been in their consolidation at Championship level.
Jed was brought on in the 54th minute, along with Mason Bennett, as Rowett looked to rack up a bigger score against the relegated Posh. And, like so often, he contributed in the final third.
It was his low cross which was turned into his own net by Josh Knight. And then Millwall’s number seven switched it up with a higher delivery which George Saville emphatically headed home at the back post.
His season has been disrupted by injury but he has still produced 12 assists and six goals in 37 Championship outings. Plenty of clubs will be interested in him this summer, especially with no fee being involved.
AFOBE LOAN HAS WORKED OUT
The Stoke City striker is on 12 league goals this season – and 13 in all competitions – and needs one more to match Matt Smith’s total in the 2019-20 season, which is the biggest individual haul since Millwall returned to the Championship.
You can argue that Afobe has been a bit like the Lions, producing stronger displays and gathering momentum as the campaign has stretched on – nine of his goals have come since the turn of the year.
The 29-year-old is out of contract next summer and his displays – and scoring return – for the Lions provide food for thought.
Afobe’s excellent finish at the weekend underlined the quality he can provide in front of goal. Millwall have definitely got more bang for their buck from Afobe then they did with previous loans like Kenneth Zohore and Troy Parrott.
