Millwall produce improved away display at Rotherham…but grumbles likely to linger without victory over Boro

A week is a long time in football. And, fortunately for Millwall, a loaded schedule gave them the chance to swiftly eradicate any bad feeling from last weekend’s loss at Blackburn Rovers.

Wednesday night’s performance against Rotherham was a world away from the meek display the Lions produced at Ewood Park last Saturday – but it still wasn’t enough to bring Gary Rowett’s side some much needed respite on the road.

Millwall’s last three-point haul away from the Den came all the way back in March against Reading. Since then, the South Londoners have gone 12 matches without an away win – the longest run in the Championship at present.

And although things are better at the Den, Millwall’s miserable away form is beginning to pile more and more pressure on the Lions’ impressive home record.

Tomorrow’s SE16 meeting with Middlesbrough already feels far bigger than it did just a fortnight ago in the wake of some of Millwall’s recent performances.

On paper, Rotherham was probably the ideal fixture for the Lions to put their rotten away run to bed. But football is never quite that straightforward. In fact, the Millers headed into the contest boasting one of the best home records in the league, so a trip to the New York Stadium was always likely to be a tough assignment.

But even in the wake of a much-improved performance, which helped the Lions pocket just a second point of the season on the road, Wednesday night still felt like a massive missed opportunity. In truth, Rotherham were there for the taking – but Millwall look a team desperately short on confidence right now.

Rotherham appointed new boss Matt Taylor on the eve of the match but it was Millwall, rather than the Millers, who were playing like a side who had endured a turbulent build-up in the early stages.

A flurry of poor decisions inside 60 seconds from Murray Wallace and Jake Cooper saw Daniel Barlaser presented with an opportunity to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after just nine minutes. He made no mistake, leathering his spot-kick beyond George Long, whose gloves were stung.

That early setback left Millwall with a mountain to climb.

Jed Wallace has been the man to bail the Lions out of similar situations in the past. But Millwall have been searching for a new talisman since the winger’s summer exit.
Wallace’s departure coincided with the arrival of club-record signing Zian Flemming, whose influence has grown significantly in recent weeks – so it should have come as no surprise that it was the Dutchman who conjured up a moment of magic to restore parity.

Flemming has not been shy in having a pop from distance in recent weeks, and he finally found his range with a thunderous 25-yard strike via his weaker left foot that arched past Viktor Johansson into the top left-hand corner of the net.

The former Fortuna Sittard man had been virtually anonymous up until that point. And other than a gilt-edged chance that Tyler Burey spurned from close-range, the same could be said for Millwall’s attacking threat.

But Flemming and the Lions grew into the match after the break off the back of the 24-year-old’s wonder strike.

Flemming was instrumental in the second half and saw a 30-yard free-kick clip the crossbar. Tom Bradshaw also went close twice from set-pieces, but Millwall couldn’t find that elusive winning goal.

Although the Lions pocketed just the solitary point in Yorkshire, there were at least some positives from the long trek north. Millwall looked far more adventurous and showcased some of the guile that has been sorely lacking in recent away performances in a new 4-2-3-1 shape.

Rowett admitted after the match that he felt he had to change something in a bid to change Millwall’s miserable away form, a run that he admits has been “nowhere near good enough”.

The majority of Millwall’s points over the past 18 months have been accrued at the Den, but a consistent failure to pick up results on the road means that we are now at a stage where even the Lions’ home form is falling under increased scrutiny.

Millwall somehow find themselves four points off both the play-offs and the drop zone – typifying just how baffling the Championship is. There is currently no need for panic, nor scope to get carried away.

The main grumble from most this season has been centred around performances, rather than actual results. After all, prior to Wednesday night, all of Millwall’s league defeats this term had been inflicted by teams occupying a top-six spot.

Millwall will need to show a similar level of endeavour when they entertain Middlesbrough, a team  tipped to rival the Lions in the play-off race. The Teesside outfit – who sacked Chris Wilder on Monday – moved out of the relegation zone after a 1-0 win over Birmingham on Wednesday.

Millwall head into that match with positives to build upon, but there are plenty of issues that could still plague the Lions in the coming weeks, regardless of whatever shape they line up in. A switch to a 4-2-3-1 may have been the catalyst for a more adventurous performance, but that in itself has the scope to cause further headaches.

At first glance, a lack of width could end up leaving Millwall with more questions than answers if the Lions decide to fully abandon the five-man defensive shape that has become the norm.

For now, at least, Wednesday night’s performance was a step in the right direction following some uninspiring performances. But whether or not it will be enough to appease some of the grumbles of discontent in SE16 for long remains to be seen.

STAR MAN
Zian Flemming. The Dutch midfielder’s influence continues to grow. he should have a spring in his step after finally notching the spectacular goal that he’s threatened to bag in recent weeks.

BEST MOMENT
Zian Flemming’s outrageous 25-yard strike, on his weaker left foot.