View from the South – Millwall v Birmingham City 2021/22

 I had managed to acquire a ticket earlier in the week for this game. This was going to be the first away game I’d got to get to this season. Tickets have been hard to come by despite the fact that I have a season ticket which demonstrates that despite all the travails of our great club over the last decade, our core support remains solid. It seems that whenever I seem to identify a match that I could reasonably get to in terms of distance and travel time, the tickets always seem to be sold out by the time I’m eligible. I decided to take a punt and winged off an email to the ticket office on the off chance of a return. They called back within minutes and my ticket duly arrived by post the following day.

Saturday dawned to gorgeous sunshine albeit cold and before setting off to Farnborough Main station, Mrs Bazza insisted that I did not leave without thick coat, hat and gloves with a scarf thrown in for good measure. “Here!”she said; “not a Birmingham City scarf!” she said reprovingly. I did point out that to wear one would be suicidal given that I was going to the Den. Even my wife who totally lacks any football genes knows that Millwall is a venue not to wear your heart on your sleeve and your colours anywhere about your person if you wish to remain healthy!

I arrived at the station where the ticket machines in the car park have been disabled since I was last there and I had to download a bloody App and go through a process I could have done without in order to pay. After what seemed like ages with my train imminent my car parking fee was confirmed so all was well with the world. The train was packed and there was a very loud, mask-less Scouser on the train chatting up several local girls who were out on a hen day up to London. Tedious talk of drinking and innuendous remarks prevailed and they weren’t drunk at this stage so heaven only knows what happened later!

Respite came soon enough as we reached Waterloo and I was able to transfer across to London Bridge, an area I know well having trained at Guy’s Hospital Medical School in the seventies. From there a short journey to South Bermondsey brought me to the ground. Gary Rowett and Paul Robinson, great servants for our club are now at Millwall of course as is Maikel Kieftenbeld although it was doubtful he would play. If I thought the atmosphere was a bit brash on the train from Farnborough, the train from London Bridge was worse. It was full of South East London’s finest singing their songs about nobody liking them; is it really any surprise? It was a relief to get off at South Bermondsey and walk incognito to the ground. I was a little early and having got in, the first port of call was the gents. Bad as St Andrew’s in only having freezing cold water to wash hands with but at least Stan’s has drying facilities. There were no towels or dryers in a toilet! How are people meant to wash their hands effectively in circumstances like that? I had to content with shaking my hands until they were dry as I could get them.

It was time for a pie and a pint. They had Carlsberg on tap; £5.50 a pint! The pie was another £4.70 so do the maths. The pie was at least hot, well baked and tasty so it wasn’t all bad. I met a father and son combo in the form of Sam and Jim. Sam is now living in London and his Dad had travelled down from Worcestershire. If you are reading this it was good to meet you lads. I will give Millwall one thing; the view from the away end stand is excellent. (see picture)

The news on the team front was that Sarkic was out and Neil Etheridge was restored to the team with Connal Trueman on the bench. Blues got off to a dreadful start and we’re getting out fought from the off. Millwall were clearly up for the physical contest and in the first period of the game at least, Blues simply weren’t at it. A routine corner on 10 minutes was taken short with far too many Blues defenders ball watching. The ball was cut back by Shaun Hutchinson who made the byline from the corner much too easily. Murray Wallace’s initial shot was blocked but he made no mistake with his second from ten yards giving Etheridge no chance. Worse was to follow on 41 minutes when another corner from the other side of the pitch was delivered to the near post where Tom Bradshaw met with a free run to head powerfully in. Shocking defending again and the game in truth was probably up at this stage. In the interim Blues huffed and puffed and worked the ball well at times as far as the last third when all too often possession was coughed up and too many midfield duels were lost. We frankly looked lightweight in the middle of the park as Riley McGree, Sunjic and young Jordan James were no match for the hardworking, industrious hosts. 2-0 down at half time and it was clear that something had to change to try and salvage something from a poor performance.

Lukas Jutkiewicz came on for the ineffective Jeremie Bela and we reverted to a flat back four in a 4-3-3 formation. It did have an effect as Blues looked more dynamic and we’re moving the ball better. Birmingham were starting to have attempts although good blocking by the home defenders prevented the score changing until following a flowing move and a lovely flick pass by Hogan into the path of Troy Deeney on the edge of the area gave the man who is one of our own a sight on goal. The finish was a beauty into the top corner to give the travelling support something to cheer. Blues did have a go but simply found the stubborn Millwall rearguard too difficult to penetrate a second time.

With Blues pressing for an equaliser, Pedersen lost possession deep in the defensive third which allowed Dan McNamara to get into the box and cut back for an unmarked George Evans who made no mistake from close range. The game was up. It could have been worse since Etheridge was kept busy and made three excellent saves to keep the score respectable. Millwall also had another goal chalked off for offside. Blues had their moments; Marc Roberts headed agonisingly a coat of paint the wrong side of the post from a corner and Chuks Aneke missed a sitter from 12 yards or so near the end when it was more difficult to shoot wide than on target. He later had a fierce left footed shot from similar range saved well from Bialkowski. Blues were well beaten in the end and Millwall deserved their win. They were more physical, passed it better and their movement was better. They were the better side but it was no more than I expected with the deficiencies in our team at present. We simply weren’t good enough over the whole piece.

The Good: The standing ovation from all areas of the ground and the pause in the game, so the players and officials could also pay tribute. This moving event took place in the sixth minute for little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, a six -year-old little boy who tragically died from injuries of gross abuse and was finally murdered by his stepmother. Rest in peace little man. May your father and stepmother both rot in hell.

The Bad: With regards to the defending for all three of the goals we conceded especially the two corners, there are no words!

The Ugly: The gents had freezing cold water to wash hands with and nothing to dry them! I wonder what Elf and Safety would say about that!

Millwall: Bartosz Bialkowski 6, Dan McNamara 7, Murray Wallace 7, Shaun Hutchinson 7, Jake Cooper 7, Jed Wallace 8 (Maikel Kieftenbeld 83, N/A) Tom Bradshaw 8 (Mason Bennett 89, N/A) Scott Malone 7 (Alex Pearce 86, N/A) Benik Afobe 8, Billy Mitchell 7, George Evans 7.

Subs not used: George Long , Matt Smith, Sheyi Ojo, George Saville.

Goals: M Wallace 10, Bradshaw 41, George Evans 73.

Yellow cards: None

Birmingham City: Neil Etheridge 7, Krystian Pederson 6, Marc Roberts 6, Dion Sanderson 6, Ivan Sunjic 6, Jeremie Bela 5 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 45, 7) Riley McGree 6, Jordan Graham 5, Jordan James 6, Scott Hogan 6 (Chuks Aneke 80, 5) Troy Deeney 7.

Subs not used: Connal Trueman, George Friend, Juan Familia-Castillo, Harlee Dean, Remi Walker George Hall.

Goals: Deeney 56.

Yellow cards: Pedersen 20, Roberts 50.

Referee: Andy Woolmer: 7; solid game by the officials. Nothing controversial in the game. It was Blues who were poor in the first half that lost this game.

Attendance: 14,324 (2,152 bluenoses)

Bazza KRO