Millwall 1-2 reading. Match report

Goals either side of the half from Hal Robson-Kanu and sub Adam Le-Fondre continued the royals good run in their hunt for promotion and condemned Millwall too a 2-1 defeat, meaning the lions are winless in the league at home in 2012 as they try to fight off relegation to league 1.  Both teams canceled each other out for the first 15 minutes of the game with shots from Spurs loanee Harry Kane, and former Royals academy graduate and first teamer James Henry both dragging shots wide of Adam Federici's goal. The first meaningful chance lead to the first goal of the day on 19 mins when winger Hameur Bouazza's header was flicked on by Kane too frontman Andy Keogh who cooly slotted away to score his 3rd goal of the season for the lions and too put Millwall one nil up. Millwall almost extended their lead when eccentric winger Bouazza cross/shot bounced off the crossbar as Kane failed to connect with the follow up. From scoring  Millwall controlled the possession and Reading were restricted to long range efforts such as from Mikele leighterwood which sailed harmlessly over. The first realistic chance for the Royals fell too set piece specialist Ian Harte after captain Paul Robinson gave away a cheap foul on the edge of the box, Harte hit it just over the bar as Reading tried to equalise before the end of 45 mins, and in stoppage Tom that's exactly what they got. Specialist Harte drifted in a corner which was punched acrobatically by keeper David Forde, but unfortunately the ball fell to Hal Robson-Kanu, once a Millwall target, volleyed furiously into the top  corner past a helpless forde to earn an somewhat undeserved equaliser.  The second half began and emulated the first, both teams having a fair share of possession and struggling to calve out chances. If Reading had a set piece specialist in Harte then Millwall had their very own, Alegerian temperamental winger Hameur Bouazza, he had a free kick from 30 yards out that span over the bar. As the game went on chances were starting to settle, but only for the Millwall side as Josh Wright, who scored absolute wonder strike at Burnley the week before, took a long range effort that went just wide. Then finally a golden chance for the lions as James Henry whipped in a ball for Harry Kane, only for Kane to miss the ball completely unmarked. With just under 20 minutes left to go the millwall defence was caught asleep with a through ball, it was aimed for substitute Adam Le-Fondre who was yards offside,but he left the ball for Jason Roberts to sprint onto and run into the millwall box, Roberts attack dragged Forde out of his goal meaning he could slot the ball back to Le-Fondre to pass the ball into an empty net, to add insult to Injury Le-Fondre also look offside when Roberts passed. From this point on Reading invited on the Millwall attacking charge, but they could not provide the creative spark in the closing minutes. A lay off from sub Dany N'guessen too Andy Keogh lead to a strike that went just wide, N'guessen went from provider to attacker as he had a wild shot from the edge of the box, which lead too more danger for the supporters watching in the west lower stand then too Federici's goal. The final chance to salvage a point for the lions fell to skipper Paul Robinson, who could only head straight to the keepers hands. This game summed up the lions performance in the season, a dominating performance destroyed by simple mistakes. The defeat left Millwall in 19th in the Npower Championship 6 points clear of the dreaded drop zone but still in one of the pole positions to survive in the division.   

Bouazza-luxury or starter?

Bouazza- Starter or luxury?  Hameur bouazza has been quoted in an Algerian newspaper as saying "I can confirm my divorce from Millwall," said Bouazza. "I've been unclear on why I've not been starting games. "I told the manager and chairman I'm good enough to play in their team with my eyes shut. "The manager hasn't given me reason. I need to find a club that believes in me." These comments came to light after the lions terrific win against burnley at turf moor in which bouazza played in  These comments if are translated correctly show complete complete arrogance on bouazzas part and that he should not disrespect the club that gave him a second chance of playing football in England. If bouazza felt any doubt about playing for the club he should have told manager kenny jackett that he wanted to move on.  Bouazza signed from Arles-Avignon on a short term deal during January 2011 and I'm sure millwall fans will remember his first goal for the lions, a thunderous strike against Middlesbrough. he went to play 12 games for the lions before the end of the season,mainly from the bench but kenny jackett rewarded the algerian winger with a permanent contract, which the majority of lions fans agreed with. Due to summer transfers bouazza was the only recognisable left winger in the lions squad, he started off the season well with some hard working displays, but a month later he started to fast during Ramadan which also lead too tired,slow games from him. Later on in the season jackett would try a different approach in his team, by playing left back Scott Barron in left wing.  Finally in January jackett bolstered his squad by signing Ryan mason from spurs on loan, and Andrew Keogh from wolves, who can both play on the wing. Some fine performances from both players left bouazza down the pecking order, also a injury somewhat dented his chances of a starting place.  From watching bouazza millwall fans will see that he does have a certain quality about him, but this do also lead to a certain arrogance with himself about his ability, this can also lead to attitude problems. 8 clubs in 9 years including loans shows it.  At times like this in the season millwall need 11 battlers,passionate players fighting tooth and nail for the team. And bouazza has a certain "swagger" about him that thinks hes actually better then he is, plays like he's going against Sergio ramos in Madrid, no the left wing down the den. And for these reason I believe bouazza should go or left to rot in the reserves, to show that no-one is bigger then the club, and don't bite the hand that feeds you. But overall, it's jackets choice.   

Millwall 1-3 Middlesbrough

Millwall 1-3 Middlesbrough 

Two first half goals from Marvin Emnes and a strike from super sub Curtis Main secured a win for Middlesbrough as they continued to hunt for promotion and condemned millwall to no wins at home for the lions in 2012. 

Middlesbrough dominated the first half with their attacking football registering shots from Lukas  jutkiewicz within the first ten minuets, the first was a brilliant save by David forde from a jutkiewicz looping shot turned away for a corner, while the second was a more easier routine save from a header. 'boro had a golden chance to take the lead after four minutes from a Barry Robson corner managed to evade everyone, it fell to Marvin Emnes who somehow managed to head over a close range header over. Middlesborough  continued their attacking dominating play through out the first half and made it count on fourteen minutes, Barry Robson's corner fell to Rhys Williams who's shot deflected into the goal off top scorer Marvin Emnes, a scrappy goal by anyone standards which millwall really should have cleared. This may have been a lucky goal by the Dutchman's standards but his next goal would be all his own work,  the Dutchman added his second of the game  by skipping past millwall skipper Paul Robinson with ease and firing into the bottom corner, two-nil to 'boro and the lions were being out played in every department. 

Millwall pushed on for the remainder of the first half and the effort was rewarded just before half time, Liam trotter flicked on Scott baron's free kick to top scorer darius Henderson who headed in unmarked from close range. 

Millwall knew they would have to come and attack Middlesbrough to get anything out of the game, so made two subs to try and change the game, Alan dunne came on for Scott Barron and josh wright was replaced by jimmy abdou, meaning trotter could move more forward in attack. 

The lions came out and dominated the game but couldn't make any use of their possession on the ball, a mix up between the 'boro defenders lead to a chance for the lions Tallisman Liam trotter as he ran through, but could only manage to put his shot over the bar. Middlesbrough play in the second half was to not concede an equaliser rather then try and kill off the game and this continued to play into the lions hands, Alan dunne ran through the 'boro defence only for his last touch let him down and then to collide with goalie Jason steele, this ment a six minute stoppage in the game as they sweated on the goalies fitness,but he managed to continue. 

Millwall continued to battle for a equaliser and had a string of chances in 3 chances in as many minutes. Spurs loanee Harry Kane had a low shot easily saved by Steele, Steele was to stop another shot by the lions but this time from Liam feeney as Steele produced a wonder save, darius Henderson also headed wide from a corner as millwall were getting closer to an equaliser.

Middlesbrough killed the game off with their only real attack in the second half as good work from juilo arca lead sub Curtis main inbetween the millwall centre backs to slot away. Millwall still pushed on despite the third goal but too no avail.