Article: Millwall 2-2 Peterborough United | Football, Millwall

Millwall threw away yet another 2-0 lead away to be pegged back to 2-2, this time against Championship new boys Peterborough down the Den Last night. Liam Trotter’s simple finish and Hamuer Boazza’s neat 2nd half strike gave Millwall a deserved 2-0 lead, but the Posh, like a London looter, made a smash and grab to take home half the spoils from this encounter.

Jimmy Abdou’s cameo on Saturday earned him his first start this league campaign, with Kenny Jackett deciding move away from the 4-4-2 formation that served so well for the Lions in their opening two matches. Johnny Marquiz was sacrificed for Jimmy as Jackett opted for “4-3-3” with Henderson being the main man up top, with wingers James Henry and Buoazza accompanying him in the front line. Jimmy, Tam Mkanadwire and Trotter were the midfield trio, whilst the back 5 was the same as the first 2 games. Though it was said on the tannoy as 4-3-3, to me and many others in the stands, it was a glorified 4-5-1.

As like on Saturday, Millwall came out of the blocks sharp and energetic, though no real chances were created. Posh had a shot fizz over the bar, whilst Millwall tried to penetrate down the wings.

Our first real chance came on 10 minutes when referee N. Swarbrick, who, unlike so many refs that come to The Den, was pretty lenient to Millwall on the night and gave a free kick 25 yards out, a little to the left of centre. Both Henry and Buoazza wanted to take the set-piece, but it was Henry who struck it low and hard towards the bottom right hand corner, but Posh Keeper Dave Jones parried it around the post, the first of many top class saves he made throughout the evening.

Back down the other end and the visitors were starting to create chances, with their number 10, the long haired George Boyd, the chief instigator of the Posh’s attacking play. He played a smart ball through ‘Wall’s back line and found David Ball, but after taking a touch to set up his shot, Paul Robinson’s last ditch tackle averted the danger.

Posh won a corner a couple of minutes later and ‘Keeper David Forde came to collect when he dropped the ball. It was pinging round the Lion’s box like a pin-ball machine before it dropped to Boyd 12 yards out, whose shot smashed the post before being hooked away.

From there, Millwall started to take a grip of the game. Jimmy was all over the place, breaking up anything that Posh tried to move through the middle. He was fouled around 40 yard from goal and Buoazza stepped over the ball and the 3 home stands awaited a blistering effort, but it never came. Instead Buoazza lofted a cross to the back post where Henderson rose the highest but his goal-bound header was pushed behind by Jones.

Buoazza was finding space on both wings and twice had shots from narrow angles from either side saved by Jones.

The break-through finally came on 32 minutes. Henderson was found on the edge of the area where he tricked past one tackle before laying the ball off into trotter’s path and he calmly slotted the ball home from 18 yards to give the home side a 1-goal advantage.
Trotter almost had his 2nd of the game 5 minutes before Half- Time but again was thwarted by Jones in the Posh goal. A ball was lofted up from Alan Dunne to Henderson, who cushioned a header to Trotter on the edge of the box. Trotter chested the ball down and volleyed it towards the top right corner. Most of the ground was on their feet as the ball looked to be heading in but Jones somehow got across and made a world class save to palm the ball out for a corner.

The second half started a lot like the first, with both teams trying to knock the ball about, to try and carve an opening.

On 55 minutes, the Lions doubled their lead. Henderson was found around 20 yards from goal, where he flicked the ball into Buoazza, who was making his way into the box from the right. His first touch was exquisite as it took him past the defender before he drilled the ball home into the bottom left hand corner with his right foot. This forced Darren Ferguson to make a sub with striker Ball coming off for Taylor.

2-0, ‘Wall looking comfortable on the ball, where have I heard that before? It looked as though the points were in the bag as play between both teams didn’t amount to much. The Lions were happy to play around with the ball as the Oles started from the Millwall fans.

Another sub from Sir Alex’s son on 65 minutes seemed to turn the game back towards Posh. Rowe was replaced by Tunnicliffe and 5 minutes later, Posh were back in the game. Tunnicliffe’s looped pass forwards from midfield found Frecklington who volleyed from the edge of the box, his effort beating the outstretched Forde and squeezing inside the post for 2-1.

On 75 minutes came the most important passage of play in this football match. Posh were caught out at the back as Millwall attacked with numbers and Buoazza slipped Trotter through on goal. As he entered the area just left of goal, his curling right foot effort was spectacularly saved by Jones, whose fingertips pushed the ball onto the post. From that save the ball was cleared, and Robinson and a Posh player battled for the ball in the midfield. The posh player came out on top and squared it to Taylor who was 25 yards out. He took a touch then cracked a low hard strike on target. The ball seemed to take an age to hit the net, and it felt like Forde should have got down to save it, but he was beaten and the visitors were level.

From there it was panic stations for the Lions as they tried to recover from the damage that Posh had done, but everything that ‘Wall tried was rushed and frustrating. Buoazza tried cutting in on his left foot from the right wing, had to side-step a couple of challenges before driving towards goal. The shot hit a defender and fell kindly to Trotter 8 yards out. Instead of shooting with his left foot which his body was positioned perfectly to do, he tried to use the outside of his right boot, made a hash of it and the ball trickled to the grateful Jones.

On 89 minutes Jackett finally decided to make a change to try and salvage all 3 points as it was Posh’s turn to play keep ball. Josh McQuoid and Johnny Marquis were both introduced for the knackered Henderson and Man of the Match Abdou. 2 decent chances were created in the 5 minutes of injury time, 1st Marquis teed up Buoazza who blasted one towards the bottom corner but Jones was again there to push it round the post, and the 2nd when Marquis set up a strike for McQuoid whose shot did not have enough sting to beat Jones.

Henry typified the 2nd half performance of Millwall, with the last chance of the game. He cut in from the left but instead of trying to find someone in the box, he tried a long range super goal which he ballooned well over the bar.

The final whistle was met by both applause and the odd boo in the home stands, whilst Posh’s 500 travelling contingent down the other end celebrated like it was a win, which it must have felt like.

So, it’s off to table toppers Southampton on Saturday. We will need a little extra down there to get a result, namely a 3 goal cushion.

 

Sounds like sour grapes

 

Not at all, bit below sums it up really. We're gutted to draw while your fans were delighted. 2pts dropped as far as I'm concerned. I will say this for the posh, you can pass the ball around very well

The final whistle was met by both applause and the odd boo in the home stands, whilst Posh’s 500 travelling contingent down the other end celebrated like it was a win, which it must have felt like.

 

Shame we cant defend to be true when your 2 up you would expect to collect the points hope its as exciting down london road
Glad to see millwall fans are not like some whums are here and best of luck for the rest of season