If I'm going to a Millwall match, I'm often at the Dockers Stand. Not always, though - but in six out of eight matches, I was there. I wish I didn't watch all of them, though.
I was far more optimistic on the 5th August last year. Millwall had just secured a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough (away!) and were seventh after one match. That's not to mention they were twenty minutes away from the playoffs a few months ago, and so I was wondering whether my prediction that Millwall would finally get into the playoffs would prove right.
However, that hasn't been the case this season - far from it. By the end of the month they had been thrashed by cash-strapped Reading, and fans wanted Gary Rowett out after just three league matches. "Your football is shit", some of them chanted...I wasn't at the game, but I thought the fans may have been overreacting - even then, it was clear that initial hope had dissipated.
I wrote a blogpost on this match, full of brackets and occasional optimism. I described Millwall's performance as "a rather rough display" and "reminiscent of a Sam Allardyce satire", both statements I'd say represent Millwall quite well this season - too often, they were carved open and had no way to respond well. A lot of underwhelming performances from players all too often. I remember seeing Ryan Longman come off the bench and shoot from distance, the ball flying into the stands, and realising this season wouldn't be as straight-forward as I thought it could be. 18th in the league, at a time when Preston were top and Leeds and Southampton were finding the Championship tough - those were easier times.
The unspectacular form continued until my next game - a 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers. But by that point, Rowett was already out of the door, resigning despite the club being 15th. In stepped Adam Barrett for a few games; the style was much the same, the results much the same.
2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers
It was already dark and wet by the time we got to the stadium, me and my dad, along with a few friends. We missed Millwall taking the lead early on, so all we were greeted to was Blackburn taking their chances and going on to win. Their fans goaded us for missing out on the playoffs last season (at their hands), and a kid kept on swearing at the players. It wasn't the most cheerful atmosphere, and it felt like the club was going increasingly backwards. Another rough display, and the photos weren't all that great too.
An away game to Watford, where Millwall lost the lead twice to end up drawing, separated the two matches I watched under Barrett's management.
1-0 loss to Southampton
By this point, Southampton had finally learned how to play. Fourth in the league, albeit far behind automatic promotion, and unknowingly to everyone, in the midst of a twenty-two game unbeaten streak.
This was game number 7, and Millwall never really looked like stopping them. After a lengthy delay at the turnstiles, we could finally enter and watch another rough display. There were some chances at the end of the first half, but come the second half, it was back to defending, hoping a draw would be enough. And to give credit, their efforts were enough, until conceding in stoppage time. Still in 18th, and those faint playoff hopes were now largely gone.
It was unlikely Barrett would get the job permanently, and so it was no surprise someone else was chosen. The surprise was that it was someone young and inexperienced, formerly Frank Lampard's assistant at Chelsea. It was Joe Edwards, someone who tried to import foreign tactics like "playing out from the back" to The Den. And, in fairness, after a 4-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, it looked like things would be good. Yes, Wednesday were struggling in the league and it looked highly unlikely they'd be staying up, but four goals? That's insane.
Another trip to The Den later and...down to Earth.
3-0 loss to Coventry
Coventry, like Millwall, were around the playoffs (even nearly winning promotion a season earlier), but were in the bottom half of the table this time round. The last performance suggested Millwall had a chance, and Brooke Norton-Cuffy was even playing as a winger, where his dribbling could actually prove effective.
I wasn't at the Dockers Stand, rather Cold Blow Lane, but this merely meant I could hardly see a Millwall attack. Instead, I was greeted to Coventry scoring, and, as the sky got darker and the weather got colder, saw no real attempts by Millwall in the second half. And as the final whsitle blew, Millwall were back to 18th, a position that looked great many times that season.
The initial spark Edwards offered quickly faded after that, with three points from a possible 21, and Millwall were 20th on Christmas Day. And no, I wasn't thinking about the team when sitting round the dinner table, fearing the possibility we'd play Shrewsbury this time of year. But four defeats from four that I watched wasn't something I wanted, either.
It would get slightly better, though.
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