Tuesday 17 April 2012

Millwall 2-0 Leicester City


Millwall secured their championship status with a dominating 2-1 win over Leicester, pretty much ending their chances of earning a play-off place. The lions have gone now unbeaten in four games, winning three in the process. Goals either side of half time from strike pair Andy Keogh and Harry Kane secured the win for the lions.



Leicester the visitors came out the strongest in the opening minutes with Ben Marshall firing tame shots as goal. Whereas attacking right back Lee Peltier caused problems with his crosses, but the Millwall defence dealt with it easily. Millwall have also managed to keep 3 straight clean sheets. After coping from early pressure it was Millwall who opened the scoring on 22 minutes. A Paul Robinson flick down from a James Henry corner fell to Kane who smashed it past Kasper Schmeichel and bags his third goal in three games during Kane's impressive loan spell from Spurs. Leicester almost found an equaliser minutes later. The impressive Marshall’s pass was helped on by Wes Morgan which Fell to once internationally capped David Nugent, but saw his shot somehow and impressively saved by Taylor.



The Lions almost caught Leicester on the counter attack as Shane Lowry’s long clearance up field fell to loanee Kane. He was through on goal to shoot, but Sol Bamba’s perfectly-timed tackle was enough to push the ball out for a corner. The game was a high intensity one with the 3 points vital for both teams but different reasons, Leicester still having the outside chance of a play-off place, whereas 3 points for the lions would mathematically save them from the drop zone and secure their championship status for a year.



The second half began with both teams calmed down and the play was of a lower intensity, but it was soon to liven up with a penalty awarded to Millwall. Good play from Irishman Andy Keogh to pull away from the onrushing defender Sol Bamba, Keogh slotted the ball towards Kane as he was brought down by Paul Koncheskey; the ref had no choice but to point to the spot. It was Keogh who took the penalty. The Irishman stepped up and produced a cheeky finish, chipping the ball into the middle of the goal to bag his seventh goal for the club since joining in January.



Leicester tried to find some way back into the game by introducing   striker Steve Howard and midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Lloyd Dyer into the game. Despite Leicester going all-out attack it was Millwall with the best chance to score, it fell to Josh Wright who hit a magnificent volley from 30 yards out, only for it to be tipped over brilliant by Schmeichel. Somehow the referee gave a goal-kick to the foxes.

The visitors ultra-attacking approach paid off 10 minutes of time, courtesy of substitute Drinkwater, a drilled shot from a Nugent lay-off to half Millwall’s lead, with 5 minutes to add on Millwall threw bodies at the ball too try and block the full out Leicester attack., however they just couldn’t break them down. The final score ended 2-1 in favour of the lions and to make sure Kenny Jacket’s men secured championship football for the 2012/13 season. The Lions move on to Coventry City away at the Ricoh in a game in which the Sky blues could be relegated if they lose too Millwall and Bristol City win at home to West Ham

Monday 9 April 2012

Millwall 2-0 Hull City

Goals from strike pair Harry Kane and Andy Keogh secured millwall a vital 2 nil win over Hull City, which meant the lions recorded their 1,000th home league win, on the day that lions legend Barry Kitchener live was celebrated and remembered. ‘Kitch’ passed away last Friday after a very short battle with cancer, kitch still holds the record for most appearances for millwall with other 600 games played.  players from the past were present at the Den to celebrate kitch's life as floral tributes were laid and both teams took part in a minute’s applause The visitors looks to get a stronghold in the opening few minutes through Richard Garcia. He cut inside the box and released a shot for it only to be saved by a Maik Taylor block. As the first half went on the lions started to assert their dominance, as they took the lead on 25 minutes as James Henry’s inswinging corner from the left was headed home at the far post by Harry Kane to put the home side a goal up. Henry keeping up his great record against Hull with 5 assists in 3 games against the Tigers. Hull could simply not handle Kane and the loanee also nearly had a second shortly after, but his effort was brilliantly saved by the hull goalie. Another great chance to Lions came on 33 minutes as Tony Craig’s delivery was flicked on by Andy Keogh, but the outstretched Kane could only just miss the ball. The lions continued to control the game but could not find a killer 2nd goal. Another chance came from Josh Wright, as he sent a curling shot wide from close range after Kane found his initial effort blocked by the Hull defence. Hull brought on Matty Fryatt in the second half to try and find an equaliser, And despite Hull having more of the play in the second half, the home side were more then capable of handling the attack then taking a fast counter attack to the hull defence. clever play from Keogh saw him advance into the area, cut inside and was tripped in the box. Referee Darren Deadman had no choice but to give a penalty and the lions had the chance to kill the game off. It was Keogh who cooly slotted away to secure the win and leave Hull with no points out the last available 15  The  victory saw the lions climb one place to 19th as they now sit five points above the drop zone. The Lions play relegation rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday night which is seen as a vital game for both teams.