Shoot!’s FA Cup Awards (Third Round)

Team of the Round: Millwall

Neil Harris would probably have been forgiven for paying a little less attention to the FA Cup, as his side face a tough battle from now until the end of the season to get back into the League One play-offs.

But clearly the temptation of a Premier League scalp was too much, as his Millwall side provided one of the shocks of the round to knock Eddie Howe’s weakened AFC Bournemouth side out of the Cup.

Howe had made eleven changes to the side that blew a three-goal lead at home to Arsenal just four days before, and his ‘second eleven’ came up well short at The Den.

On another day, Millwall would have been punished for some considerably under-par finishing from their usually dynamic duo, Steve Morison and Lee Gregory. Only Morison will be able to tell you how he failed to slip the ball into the empty net following a defensive mix-up, but the Millwall faithful were quick to forgive as it was Morison who headed the Lions in front twenty-six minutes in.

Gregory was next up to miss a golden chance for the home side, who could’ve had the game wrapped up within the first-half. Fred Onyedinma ran from the edge of his own box, dancing past Bournemouth players, before feeding Gregory, who dragged his left footed shot wide.

Just after the break Millwall should have paid the price for missed opportunities, but Lys Mousett headed a wonderful chance wide of the post. Millwall eventually and deservedly got their second, on forty-nine minutes. Sean Cummings found himself in the six-yard box to tap in a rebound from Morison’s pass that goalkeeper Adam Federici couldn’t hold.

The League One side seemed to have the game in the bag already, but things could’ve been different had Callum Wilson’s goal not been disallowed for offside.

Instead, there was still time for a final Millwall goal late in added time. Great work from Morison to win the ball back epitomised how Harris’ side had worked all day, and eventually the flowing counter attack was finished in style by Shane Ferguson, who drilled his shot across Federici and into the bottom corner.

A terrific hard-working and spirited performance from Millwall rightfully earned their place in the hat for the fourth round.

As for Bournemouth, it could be a long, long time before we see boss Howe make eleven changes again.