Match Day Thread Millwall v Preston North End @ The New Den 3/8/2019

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Last season Millwall 1 Preston North End 3

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Millwall new signings

Mahoney £990,000
Bodvarsson £765,000
add into that experienced keeper Frank Fielding from Bristol City

So we start the season as we ended it with a trip to the Nation's capital with the delights of Bermondsey awaiting the Whites. Having been twice for an away ground it is a decent place to go to play a side whose support are down to earth and tell it how it is, sadly cricket duties mean I will miss out on this one.
Given there is still time to bring in new players the make up of both sides could change before Saturday.

 

The last time Millwall faced Preston for the first game of the season at the Den was 1981 which was Tommy Docherty's first game as manager, Millwall won 2-1
Also the first game of the 1982/83 season was at Deepdale where Preston won 3-2

 

Match Officials: Millwall Away

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The opening game of the 2019/20 season sees a familiar face taking charge of the Lilywhites’ trip to The Den to take on Millwall.

The appointed referee is Stephen Martin, who also had the whistle for the same fixture last season, when Alex Neil’s men came out 3-1 winners, back in February.

That was one of the match official’s three games officiating both North End and the Lions in 2018/19, the others being PNE’s wins at Nottingham Forest and at home to Ipswich Town and Neil Harris’ side’s win over Derby County at home and their New Year’s Day win at Portman Road.


Since coming onto the EFL lists back in 2012/13, the Staffordshire referee has officiated 13 North End games, at least one a season for all the years he has been on the league groupings.

His first game was a goalless draw against Leyton Orient back in March 2013, whilst other memorable games include our 3-0 win at Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup in 2014, a 3-0 home win over Cardiff City in 2016 and a 3-1 win at Oldham’s Boundary Park in 2014.

He has also refereed seven Millwall games in that time, this being his fourth visit to The Den since joining the EFL as a match official.

The other members of the third team involved in Saturday’s game are assistants Andrew Fox and Nigel Lugg and fourth official Alan Young.

 

Millwall 1 Wallace Preston North End 0


Millwall 1 Preston North End 0

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A solitary first half goal from Millwall gave the home side the three points on the opening day of the season at The Den.

Jed Wallace gave the Lions the lead just past the half hour mark, volleying home left-footed from a Connor Mahoney ball in from the left and this proved to be the match-winner despite North End dominating possession.

It was a blood and thunder start, player amongst a cacophony of noise from both sets of supporters with Neil Harris’ side having the first opportunity, Wallace with a shot from 20 yards tipped over after a left-wing corner from Shaun Williams was headed out by Andrew Hughes.

But the better of the chances in the middle of the opening period of the season fell to PNE. Firstly, a corner, after excellent move down the right, saw Barkhuizen feed Sean Maguire to get in behind the right back and drill the ball across, only to see it cut out by Millwall skipper Alex Pearce.

And on eight minutes an Alan Browne on half-volley from the resulting cleared corner from edge of ‘D’ was heading into the top right-hand corner until a brilliant header off line by big striker Mat Smith.

The opening goal came on 33 minutes though as summer signing from Bournemouth, Mahoney, crossed from the left and the ball volleyed home by Wallace; Declan Rudd getting both hands to it, but couldn’t keep it out.

After the goal, the best chances before the break still came for the sign in green. A drilled cross from Hughes on the left, after excellent cross-field ball from debutant Patrick Bauer, hit Maguire rather than a directed header and he wasn’t able to keep the effort down.

And in first half injury time, Maguire curled an effort just wide of right-hand post from the left-hand corner of box after a Paul Gallagher through ball from a swift counter-attack started by Brad Potts mid-way inside his own half.

The second half saw the visitors dominant in possession, with the manager making three attacking substitutions to try and get back into the game.

Jayden Stockley, Billy Bodin and a second debutant in Andre Green were all thrown into the mix for the Lilywhites as they went in search of, at the very least, an equaliser.

And in the penultimate minute there was a huge shout for a penalty as Maguire collected the ball from Stockley’s knock down on the edge of the six-yard box and looked destined for a clear shot on goal only for a tackle to bring him down, but referee Steve Martin waved play on.

This proved to be pivotal as despite the four minutes of added time, North End were unable to get the goal that would have given them a deserved point from the game.

Millwall line-up: Fielding (Bialkowski, 43), M Wallace, Cooper, Williams, J Wallace, Thompson, Smith (Bradshaw, 78), Romeo, Pearce (c), Mahoney, O’Brien (Leonard, 69). Subs not used: Hutchinson, Ferguson, Bodvarsson, Skalak.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke (c), Hughes, Pearson, Bauer, Davies, Barkhuizen (Stockley, 57), Gallagher (Green, 73), Maguire, Browne, Potts (Bodin, 56). Subs not used: Ripley, Fisher, Johnson, Storey.

Attendance: TBC (TBC PNE fans)

Referee: Mr S Martin

 

Millwall boss Neil Harris:

"The team were in complete control. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't remember my goalkeeper making a save.

"There was a different feel (to last season), I've got a different group of lads. What was special was the group that's building in that changing room got to play in and witness that atmosphere. That was quite phenomenal.

"It surprised me but it was great and I was delighted for the fans. The fact we finished last season with disappointment, relief in the end, and over the course of the summer the excitement has grown because of the acquisitions that we've made."

Preston manager Alex Neil:

"I don't think there was much in the way of chances for either team - apart from the goal, Declan (Rudd) only had one other save to make so it wasn't a great game.

"We didn't do enough, it was a very average performance from us.

"We always knew it was going to be tough game. Millwall turn the ball up to (Matt) Smith, they get round it, play for second balls, put it wide, get balls into the box and put you under pressure.

"That is exactly what happened and in the first half, we didn't deal with it well enough."



No shots on target

 

South London press view

https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/category/sport/millwall-football/

 

60% of the game but no shots on target. Not good. Glad Campbell deal is off. Don't need a journeyman, need fresh talent.