Millwall v Swansea Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - The New Den Date - 30 September 2023 Kick off - 3:00pm Following their much needed 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, next up for Michael Duff’s injury-hit Swansea squad is a tough looking trip to Millwall. Last Saturday, the Swans eased the pressure on head coach Michael Duff by claiming a comprehensive first Championship win of the season against Sheffield Wednesday. Jamal Lowe marked his first home appearance since rejoining Swansea with a goal and an assist, steering his side into a first-half lead from the penalty spot after Pol Valentin fouled Josh Ginnelly. After Wednesday defender Bambo Diaby hit the crossbar on the hour, the home side pulled clear thanks to measured finishes from Jerry Yates and Charlie Patino. Duff's maiden Championship win as Swans boss came at the eighth time of asking, and ended the club's longest winless league start since 1991. However, that win has come at a cost, with news emerging today that Ginnelly and Woods - who both went off injured during the first half - will be out for lengthy periods: Ginnelly will miss the rest of the season whilst Woods is expected to be absent for 3 months. It was also confirmed today that Joey Allen is out for 3 months as well. Whilst the Swans were beating the Owls, West Brom were being held to a battling draw by Millwall at The Hawthorns, making it four games without victory for the Baggies. Albion were indebted to a penalty save from Alex Palmer on 28 minutes, when he turned Zian Flemming's spot-kick around the post. Lions’ keeper Bartosz Bialkowski made an instinctive stop to deny Matt Phillips, while Alex Mowatt and Brandon Thomas-Asante thudded the bar as Albion sought to win it. Millwall - who are 11th in the Championship - have now lost only one of their past nine games against the Baggies. The Swans have played Millwall on 56 previous occasions, winning 23, losing 20 and drawing 13. In the corresponding fixture last season, the Swans lost 2-1: John Busby will be the man in the middle on Saturday and it will mark the seventh time that the Berinsfield native has overseen a Swans match following his promotion to Select Group 2 ahead of the 2021-22 season. Interestingly, the first of these seven games was also against Millwall. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium in September 2021. Five players were booked with Flynn Downes and Ryan Bennett shown yellow cards for the Swans. Busby began as an assistant referee and served in the EFL for eight years before switching to the whistle and joining the National List of Referees in 2016. Last season, he was the fourth official for a Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. This season he has overseen five matches – four in the Championship – handing out a total of 34 yellow cards and one red. On Saturday, he will be assisted by Richard Wild and Daniel Leach. Scott Simpson will be the fourth official. Whilst the win last Saturday was, as far as the Jack Army is concerned, well overdue, the performance itself was not wholly convincing. However, securing all 3 points was the important thing. Turning to Saturday, defeat could see the Swans return to the relegation zone if either Boro can beat Watford, or Rotherham can beat Cardiff. Can the Swans back up that victory over the Owls with another over the Lions on Saturday? In all honesty, I don’t think so. I’d be happy to return home with a point, but I expect the Swans to lose 2-0. Hope I’m wrong
40 passes before Yates was pulled back and the penalty given by the Lino - the ref had waved it away but the Lino flagged.
Howler from their goalie - Grimes’ shot was straight at him (& not too powerful) and he let it go through him
