Lions four-midable!

Monday, 16/08/2010

by Millwall’s Shoot Blogger, Rob Gallagher.

After last week’s scintillating win over Bristol City and a good away win at Wycombe in the League Cup, Millwall entertained Hull in their first Championship match at the Den for four years. And, in case you’re wondering, it was worth the wait!

It is never easy playing against a newly relegated side – especially one with a new manager, talent throughout and being touted as favourites to go back up. 

However, the Lions once again confounded the ‘experts’, who had them down as “relegation certainties”, by producing one of the best performances seen by a Millwall side in living memory.  

Accused – by me – of making a slow start last week at Bristol City, the Lions came out of the traps early against Hull and soon made their territorial advantage count with  Steve Morison opening the scoring with a header from a James Henry corner. 

Note that name – James Henry. Fifteen minutes later Kevin Lisbie scored his first goal in a Lions shirt with a diving header from a James Henry cross. Note Henry again.

The Tigers had very little to offer and while they showed some nice passes and the good control you would expect from a former Premier League side, Millwall continued to carve them open. 

After the break, Morison struck again from a James Henry corner and Liam Trotter completed the rout tucking away a Beckham-esque cross from – you’ve guessed it – the outstanding James Henry.

Now, I’m not one to get carried away but if the Lions continue to put in shifts like this they could have a very successful year. I think, however, this will depend largely upon the service our strikers receive.

Step forth James Henry - a £200k bargain from Reading. Henry showed today undoubted international-class and with England Under-21 manager looking on from the stands, who knows? Maybe an England Under-21 call-up could be in the offing. 

Let’s hope James can keep this sort of form up for the rest of the season!

Next Saturday it’s Leeds away which is always a tasty encounter. Millwall fans will be hoping for more of the same and an emulation of the 2-0 win they enjoyed at Elland Road last season.

My prediction: Leeds 0 – 3 Millwall (see, I told you I’m not one to get carried away. Ahem.)

Finally, I have a request to you (dear reader), Shoot, the F.A. and the Football League… with Millwall top of the Championship, is it alright if we end the season now?! 

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