Four takeaways from Millwall’s 1-0 loss to Forest – injuries could change transfer window shopping list as injuries bite again
Former Millwall striker Lewis Grabban scored a stoppage time winner as Nottingham Forest kept up their push to snare a Championship play-off place.
The experienced forward followed up from close range after Bart Bialkowski could only get a hand to Philip Zinckernagel’s dinked effort.
Jed Wallace, the subject of two bids from Forest, missed the match. The attacker had trained earlier in the week but a scan showed a minor muscle tear.
HOME RUN ENDS
Millwall had been unbeaten in five Championship games at home – winning three of those – and were left to rue missed chances as they lost in SE16 in the league for the first time since October 16.
Their two best chances fell to Ben Thompson and Benik Afobe in the second half. The former, making a first appearance since late September, horribly miscued a 69th minute chance after good work by fellow substitute Mason Bennett. Bennett also created Afobe’s opportunity right near the end of normal time, but Brice Samba kept his close-range attempt out.
Grabban’s 12th goal of the season was a simple one, finishing off from virtually on the goal-line after Bialkowski was only able to partially deal with Zinckernagel’s chip.
INJURIES DON’T HELP
You don’t want to look for excuses, but Millwall lost Tom Bradshaw and Sheyi Ojo by the start of the second half.
Bradshaw, who had scored in his last five league matches, injured his left knee as he looked to work a shooting chance in the box.
The forward, who signed a contract extension until the summer of 2024 on Thursday, did the ACL in his right knee at Brentford in November 2018.
Bradshaw’s situation will become clearer after a scan but manager Gary Rowett revealed the striker heard something “pop”, which doesn’t sound like it will bring good news.
Ojo also needed an extended spell of treatment in the first period and made way for Thompson at the interval. Both players have been in good form of late, so it made the two early enforced changes even more of a headache for Rowett.
Whenever Millwall look to be on the verge of a clean bill of health then then suffer a fresh spate of issues. Ryan Leonard, Dan Ballard, George Saville and Jed Wallace also missed the match too.
NO JED….AGAIN
Jed Wallace’s last appearance in a Millwall shirt was the 2-1 defeat at Peterborough on December 11.
So often he has been the player to produce that moment of quality to help make sure the ball ends up in the back of the net.
You felt that Saturday would have been the perfect kind of match for him, with plenty of space to exploit as the two teams – knowing a draw would not be of much use with ground to make up on the play-off zone – both pressed for a winner in an open and entertaining second period.
There are plenty of fans who felt his absence at the weekend was convenient – not facing a club who are big admirers and have tried to land him in this window – but Millwall were adamant that he had a scan which revealed a minor muscle tear.
TRADING PLACES
Millwall were looking to bring in an attacking midfielder in this window and have seen offers rejected for Derby’s Louie Sibley and Fortuna Sittard’s Zian Flemming.
But Bradshaw’s injury – if it is the worst case scenario – could mean that a striker is added to their shopping list.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has been so far out of the first-team picture this season that the Lions seem likely to still be perfectly happy for the Icelandic international to move on, provided any interested club pay a sizeable chunk of his wages.
Matt Smith has made just six Championship starts this season, the last of those in the 1-0 win over Reading on November 2 when he was replaced at the break. The big targetman only has six months to run on his terms and has also attracted interest. Now you wonder if Millwall would have to do business in before they countenance Smith heading out the exit door.
Rowett’s other options are to put Bennett or Wallace – provided he doesn’t leave before the deadline – as Afobe’s partner.
If they do strengthen in that position then a loan might be the easiest way to find a short-term fix.