Its that time again >>>>> Time is getting short if we are to cement a play-off place.
Defeat at Sheffield United on Tuesday night was a reminder of just how much work still needs to be done by Chris Wilder and his team.
No excuses.
Collectively and as individuals, we showed a lack of desire and mentality to win.
We played the ball long and didnt appear to know where the opposing net was.
At his Press Conference on Friday, Chris Wilder acknowledged a comment that the squad he had inherited was from previous "managers".
But he wasnt making excuses.
He made a thinly veiled promise that personnel can expect to be catching the train out in the summer. He will be "watching" attitudes and performances.
So lets look forward - we may be in the "here and now", but what we do today effects how we perform tomorrow.
Time is short in a long season - where games come thick and fast - "time" which Chris Wilder pointedly commented, will be available in the summer.
We are all aware that we are a bit short of "options" on the ground - a patched up side with key injuries to Payero and McGree. With two other players effectively parked-up in the treatment room all season and a core of players who play like Real Madrid at The Riverside and Sunderland at Bolton on an away-day! [Maybe not quite that bad].
Most of us are glad that Chris Wilder has the brief to sort this team out.
Whether its today, after we beat Chelsea or at the end of the season.
UTMB!
STAT ATTACK
The Championship Table [23:23 hrs GMT. 11/03/2022]
Form Tables - Home and Away: [These do not include Friday night`s 2-2 draw between West Brom and Huddersfield]
Millwall couldn’t make it six consecutive league wins for the first time since 1999 as they laboured to a goalless draw with Blackburn last time out, but there was still plenty of positives.
Sealing a fourth clean sheet across their last five games helped to extend their Championship unbeaten run to six (W5, D1) as Millwall attempt to make a late push into the play-off positions.
Much of Millwall’s recent success has come at The Den (W4, D1), where they’ve conceded just once across the last 450 minutes of play. Should they begin well, it could be lights out for visiting Middlesbrough, as only Luton (2.78) have averaged more points per game than Millwall (2.75) when scoring first at home (W7, D1) ahead of the round!
There are still more twists and turns to come in the Championship play-off race, but there were few positives for manager Chris Wilder to take from Middlesbrough’s latest defeat, a bullying 4-1 midweek loss to his former club Sheffield United. Simply put, inconsistency has held ‘Boro’ back from a comfortable top-six position this campaign, as they’ve now posted alternating results across the last ten matchdays (W5, D1, L4).
Middlesbrough’s problems seem to emanate on the road, as they remain winless across five straight away league games, a far cry from their current eight-game winning run of home league matches.
This H2H now acts as the second of three consecutive away games for Boro, and is a great opportunity to right some wrongs at a venue where Middlesbrough remain unbeaten across four of their last six visits (W3, D1, L2).
Players to watch: Towering 6’3” Millwall defender Jake Cooper has popped up with the only goal in their last two victories, whilst Boro’s own big man, 6’3” midfielder Matt Crooks is the joint-most booked player in the Championship with 11 yellows - he’s also scored three times across his last seven competitive appearances.
Hot stat: Middlesbrough have failed to win 18 of their last 22 away league games against London clubs (W4, D10, L8).
Millwall play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon trailing their next opponents by just two points in the Championship standings.
The two clubs occupy ninth and eighth place respectively, and defeat for either team would leave them as clear outsiders to earn a playoff spot at the end of the season.
However, Boro have failed to post successive wins since the turn of the year, with four defeats in nine matches leaving the North-East outfit outside of the top six.
With 11 matches remaining, the situation can be quickly rectified, but Middlesbrough have looked a shadow of their former selves, particularly away from home where nine goals have been conceded during three defeats in a row.
Wilder watched his former club Sheffield United blow Boro away earlier this week, the Blades prevailing by a 4-1 scoreline, and there are signs that minimal squad rotation is starting to take its toll.
Although Boro have the strength-in-depth to turn things around, Saturday's trip to East London could prove pivotal with the club now only four points ahead of 11th-placed Preston North End.
Five successive victories were recorded during that run, the only blot on their copybook being a respectable goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers earlier this week.
Despite dropping points at Ewood Park, Gary Rowett will remain positive about their ongoing run of form, aware that none of their rivals will fancy playing his team in the current moment.
Despite scoring just eight times in six matches, only two strikes have been conceded, both of which have come in the 88th minute and beyond having held a 2-0 advantage on each occasion.
Millwall also head into this fixture with the second-best defensive record at home, shipping just 13 goals in 17 fixtures.
Given the respective form of the two clubs, you have to make Millwall favourites to prevail from this contest. However, Boro have reached a point where they need to rediscover some consistency, and that desire may be enough to earn a share of the spoils.
Millwall welcome Middlesbrough to The Den in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
www.millwallfc.co.uk
Millwall welcome Middlesbrough to The Den in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
The Lions' five-match winning run came to an end at Ewood Park on Tuesday night, but the hard-fought goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers did extend Gary Rowett's side's unbeaten record to six games ahead of the visit of Chris Wilder's men.
The manager lost another player to injury in Lancashire - Daniel Ballard - and it remains to be seen whether the defender will regain fitness in time to face Middlesbrough. If not, he will join a lengthy list which sees Ryan Leonard, Sheyi Ojo, Tom Bradshaw, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Oliver Burke, Luke Freeman and Shaun Hutchinson currently working their way back to full capacity. Mason Bennett, meanwhile, returned to take a place on the bench in midweek and could be in contention to start Saturday's game.
Craig Johns, Middlesbrough reporter for Gazette Boro, on Saturday’s visitors…
Ex-Sheffield United boss, Chris Wilder, replaced Neil Warnock back in November and has dramtically improved the North-East side.
“It’s been an incredible transformation really under Chris Wilder. They were 14th in the table and now they’ve climbed right up the table and put themselves in Play-Off contention. Tuesday night against Sheffield United was disappointing, and a bit of a blow that no one really saw coming. They were very poor. Wilder said himself, ‘if anybody watched that game they’d have said Boro were a long ball team.'
"They’re anything but. On Tuesday they went back to the style of football they were playing under previous manager Neil Warnock when put under pressure by The Blades. Under Chris Wilder they’ve been a side that look to get the ball down and play out from the back. They’re brave in possession and very similar to his Sheffield United team. They overload the final third and look to create chances through the wide men, particularly Isaiah Jones.”
Boro are set to face Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final, having defeated Manchester United and Spurs in a Cup run that has really helped improve the bond between the team and supporters.
“There’s an excellent connection between the supporters and the club. The fans have always been brilliant, but at the moment there’s a special connection. The FA Cup run, a magical shootout win against United and a win against Tottenham which I think Boro deserved.
"They controlled large spells of the game against Spurs and certainly played the way the manager would like. Those victories have really helped create a feel good factor around the whole club.”
Middlesbrough have picked up just one point on the road in their last five outings.
“It’s a strange one on the road at the minute. Boro have only picked up one point in their last five away matches, including three defeats in a row. Their performance against Sheffield United was the worst they’ve played under Wilder, but before that Barnsley was a mad 20 minutes at the start that gifted the opposition two goals. After that they dominated, but a mistake cost them and they lost 3-2. Against Bristol City they dominated the ball but they conceded two sloppy goals.
"For what ever reason in the final third they just couldn’t find the end product. On another day they could have picked up a result. It’s strange. Apart from Sheffield United, Boro haven’t played badly - they’ve deserved more, but for whatever reason they haven’t. It’s a bit of a monkey on the back that they need to shake off. They need to get that win away from home and get rid of that hoodoo that’s hanging over them.”
Academy graduate Isaiah Jones is the man in form for Saturday's visitors.
“Certainly Isaiah Jones, the right-wing back. Wilder looks to overload the final third and force the opposition back. Jones has been absolutely fantastic. He’s starting to attract interest from Premier League clubs such as Tottenham and Arsenal. He is a young lad and this is his first full season playing men's football. He’s been an absolute revelation coming through the academy. He’s a winger by trade, but Wilder of course plays him at right-wing back. There’s a lot of talk about Djed Spence at Forest.
"Boro has the chance to recall him in January but they chose to respect Spence’s wishes and keep him out on loan because of how good Jones was playing. They felt bringing him back could harm Jones’ development. Middlesbrough are a good team that like to play intricate triangles. They like to be patient and pick there time. The midfield are a big part of their game. If they manage to take control of a game, it usually ends with Boro breaking down the opposition. That midfield battle will be key."
Johns is hopeful Wilder's team can leave SE16 with all three points.
"It's a big match for Boro. Tuesday's performance was a reminder that Wilder has only been here for four months and he is still trying to implement his style on the team. I would expect a reaction on Saturday. They haven't lost two games in a row under Wilder. When ever they have lost they produce a big performance in reaction. His style will be drilled into the players ahead of this match.
"It could be a tough game. Millwall are a tough and physical opposition. Boro showed that they have that too against Luton. I expect Middlesbrough will head to The Den confident of taking three points."
Jed Wallace - the soon-to-be 28 year old midfielder - has been a fixture at Millwall since 2016. Initially on loan from Wolves - made permanent in 2017.
There was much speculation that Burnley [seem to be linked to everybody] and Forest, were keen on signing him, but he told the BBC he`s never happier than when he pulls on the Lion`s blue shirt:
Millwall midfielder Jed Wallace says he was "never that close" to leaving the Championship club during the January transfer window.
www.bbc.co.uk
[Published 9th March2022]
Jed Wallace: Midfielder was 'never that close' to leaving Championship club in January
Millwall midfielder Jed Wallace says he was "never that close" to leaving the Championship club during the January transfer window.
Nottingham Forest were strongly linked with a move for the 27-year-old who is out of contract in the summer.
But Wallace said he would "always give his all for the club" as they push for promotion this season.
He has scored six goals in 29 games for the Lions this campaign, who are four points off the play-offs.
Millwall's five-match winning run ended in a 0-0 draw away at Blackburn on Tuesday.
Wallace suffered a quad injury in December and insisted his focus was always on returning to the pitch at Millwall.
"My overriding feeling in January was I wanted to get back playing football and I know when I'm playing at The Den I'm enjoying myself," he told BBC Radio London.
"I think my performances have shown that.
"Whether I've got 10 years or one day left on my contract I'll give my all for the club because the club has done a lot for me in the last five years."
Millwall have taken 16 points from their last available 18 but were fortunate to come away from Ewood Park with a point, having failed to register a single shot in the whole 90 minutes.
They are in ninth place on 53 points - two points behind Saturday's eighth-place opponents Middlesbrough, who they face at The Den.
Their winning run has put them in contention for a late push for the play-offs and Wallace, who joined the club in 2017, said it would be "funny" to see Millwall in the Premier League next season.
"I think secretly there will be a lot of football fans around the country who quite like the prospect of going to Millwall home and away," he added.
"I think they'd quite enjoy it, as much as they might not want to admit it.
"The old, working class football clubs in this country are what football's foundations are built on and I think deep down a lot of British football fans really appreciate them clubs.
"Obviously I want us to get promoted but imagine if Luton got promoted, what a great story that would be.
"That's the beauty of football, you get these clubs that do so much in terms of transfers and it's a wide open league."
Joining the club at the age of 16, after impressing the scouts during a non-league game, Teddy was quickly signed up to the Lions and made his debut at just 17.
After a few loans out, Sheringham became the first-choice striker in the 1986-87 season and formed a formidable partnership with Tony Cascarino. The following season saw Millwall promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history, and Sheringham continued his goal scoring form in the top-flight.
Despite relegation a few years later, the striker remained at the club and scored an astonishing 37 goals – breaking all of the club’s goal scoring records in the process.
Colin Cooper will forever be remembered as one of the team who played that first game of the 86 season at Victoria Park. Alongside Tony Mowbray, Gary Palister, Bernie Slaven and Gary Parkinson he embodied the spirit of hope and determination that wouldnt let Boro die.
In 1991 he was sold to Millwall for £300K and was to return later as a player and also as coach.
Millwall - facing Administration, sold him to Forest for £1.7M where he became Captain and helped them into the Premier League in 1998 - ahead of Boro in second place! He hung up his boots in 2006.
Colin spoke to Anthony Vickers about his time at Millwall:
COLIN Cooper says it is not just an initial and a lion on the badge that Boro and Millwall have in common.
www.gazettelive.co.uk
[Initially published 14th October 2011]
Millwall are a special club for Colin Cooper
COLIN Cooper says it is not just an initial and a lion on the badge that Boro and Millwall have in common.
The one time England defender wore both shirts as a player and remains popular with the two sets of fans.
And Cooper, now a coach with Boro’s Academy, insists the clubs from tough working class areas share some key characteristics.
“Millwall is a really good football club,” said Cooper, who left Boro in 1990 for £300,000 to be reunited with former boss Bruce Rioch at the Den and join an ambitious team that included Teddy Sheringham and Terry Hurlock. “I loved it down there. It was a good couple of years for me and Millwall are still a bit of a special club for me.
“There’s a lot of similarities between Millwall and the Boro, believe me.
“They may be in different parts of the country but the backgrounds are very similar.
“There’s a proud tradition of ship-building and dockers and there are honest, hard-working local people who watch the club and are involved in the club at every level.
“Both sets of fans are very passionate and eager and wear their club’s badge with pride.
“They can both generate a great atmosphere and home or away these are always good
games. There’s always a bit of edge, a bit of tension. I really look forward to them.
“The supporters at both clubs demand commitment. All you have to show them is you wear your heart on your sleeves and you are prepared to work your socks off for their club.
"I was only at Millwall for two seasons but, when I left, I like to think I left the fans there with that opinion of me.
“I stay in touch with a few good people down there and some of them are heavily involved with the Findlay Cooper Trust and for that I am grateful.
“Millwall fans backed the charity matches we did and a few even came to cheer me on in the Middlesbrough 10k so for me there is a real affinity.”
Despite Millwall’s lowly league position Cooper believes it will be a testing game for Boro.
“Millwall are a good team and the way Kenny Jackett has had them playing has been effective in recent years,” he said.
“They will be organised, they will be strong and they will work their socks off. We will need to play well as a unit to break them down.
“Teams down there after 10 games are low on confidence and, while they go out to make a fight of every single game, if they go a goal behind that resolve may be broken.”
George Saville says his decision to rejoin Millwall was a “no-brainer” after signing on a long-term contract.
londonnewsonline.co.uk
[First Published 3rd July 2021] [Edited]
‘No brainer’ – George Saville on his decision to sign up again for Millwall
George Saville says his decision to rejoin Millwall was a “no-brainer” after signing on a long-term contract.
Saville made 110 appearances and scored 11 goals over a three year spell at Middlesbrough after signing from the Lions in 2019.
This is the 28-year-old’s fourth spell at the club and he becomes Gary Rowett’s fifth signing of the summer.
Speaking to Millwall’s club website, Saville said: “I still had another year left at Middlesbrough, but the move happened so fast and I didn’t really have to think about. My agent told me this is what’s happening, and the decision was made for me. It’s a no brainer.
“The move came about just this week, I spoke to Neil Warnock on the first day back and that was that really, the move suited all parties. Middlesbrough weren’t keen to let me go into my final year and I wanted to get back to Millwall.
“I didn’t think long and hard over the move, as soon as the clubs started talking that was it, I knew I was coming. It’s risk free as I know what to expect.
“Gary Rowett has built solid foundations over the last couple of years, the club is progressing in a positive way. He said he wants me to come in and add to the goals.
“The last two seasons the gaffer has really pushed this club forward, and finished high up in the league. The spine of the team is really good and he’s brought in quality to complement what’s already here.
“That season [2017/18] was brilliant for me and the club as a whole. For me I’m mentally in a better place now than I was then. I have more experience, I’ve still got the same drive and hunger. I’m fully motivated.
“Experience is really important in the Championship, it can win you football games when you don’t deserve to win the game. That can really change the season. Experience can sometimes get you over the line in certain moments.
“Pre-season camps are really important, it gets the lads together and gets you away from the environment. It boosts morale.
“I’ve played with Benik, I’ve played with Scott when I was here when I was a lot younger. It’s a group I’m really familiar with, I’m just looking forward to getting back with the boys. I want to help them and the football club.”
28th December 2010 and a crucial win for Middlesbrough at bottom-of-the-table Preston North End. Leroy Lita celebrated his 26th birthday with 2 goals and David Wheater got the other in the 3-1 win. Boro moved 1 point clear of the relegation zone while Preston remained 5 points away from safety.
Beyond Our Wilderest Dreams: [r00fie1c.12/03/2022]
Chris Wilder is well aware that players and fans alike, look to him as the "leader" to provide a team determined and capable of winning. Not just to take the plaudits when we win, but to answer serious questions when we lose. He highlighted at his Media conference on Friday [11/03/2022] that players experience "highs" and "lows", but the Manager experiences them more. Players will go home, but the Manager is accountable to fans, the club, the media.....every move is under the microscope.
He was even more "hurt" after Tuesdays "performance" [?] at Bramall Lane. After his mammoth achievements - building a club worthy of the badge from a rag-bag of players going nowhere fast. In front of a sell-out crowd - his arrival was announced as he arrived on the touchline and he received warm applause. But thats where the cordial entente` ended.
He is acutely aware that the away form is unacceptable: asked whether he could put his finger on a single cause he appeared as baffled as the fans: was it "mentality", limited "options", players at his disposal? On the latter point, he said he had to work with the players he has available in the "here and now", reminding us that most of the players are from "previous Management". That doesnt include the most recent incumbent - of course: players like Jonny Howson, Dael Fry, Marc Bola, Paddy McNair and Marcus Tavernier have either been bought by other Managers or come up through the youth team. There is an imbalance in the team and the time to work with all of them has been limited. As he repeated - coming in November meant straight down to work. No time for training or longer-term preparation. He made it clear he was pointing out pertinent facts, rather than passing blame.
One particularly interesting comment was when he hinted that players would be "observed" - attitudes and approach to training, keeping themselves fit and healthy and applying themselves to their tasks. It didnt sound like just keeping an eye on training - but identifying weaknesses in character which could be rectified - if not - they may well be out the door come summer.
Chris Wilder sets the bar very high - for himself, his Management, Medical and Recruitment team, players and staff. He says it like it is. what you see is what you get. When the rewards dont come, he reflects on everything and everybody - Could things have been done differently? Could he have arranged the team more effectively? What have I misjudged? Who wasnt pulling their weight on the pitch?
But today is another day - the three points are vital if we are to consider play-offs as a realistic possibility. One point from the last five away games means we arent going to get to the play-offs.
He has a bluntness - where he tells journalists straight and if they ask "daft" questions he responds straight away by telling them so. There are also occasions where a genuine smile creeps across his face - almost as if he knows whats coming next - with a grin that says "Im not telling you mate - so keep guessing"!!!!
Defeat at Sheffield United on Tuesday night was a reminder of just how much work still needs to be done by Chris Wilder and his team.
