" Match report Millwall v Cardiff 11 Dec 2011 "

First of all a mention must go to Mr Wayne Nash. Nothing worse than finding out you have lost your ticket at the entrance to the away section. Of course there is always someone willing to sell you another one but it is even better when you get offered one for nothing. So from Premier One it is a big thank you to Mr Nash.

Really wished I put on my woolly socks for this game I said to myself when I parked up at Luton Parkway Station to get my train from there to London Bridge. It was cold walking to my train and I wondered if my poor toes would be able to handle the cold slabs of that dreary place called the New Den.

Anyway I arrived at the Barrow Boy and Bank pub via a detour of the Borough Market Place in London Bridge. Some barrow boy sent me through the market place after asking him where the pub was. I had to call Jules in the end for directions of which he replied "I can see you". Yep the barrow boy had his stall next to the pub and I bet he thought it was funny.

After a couple of drinks in the pub, Julies, his son and myself headed for the ground. So there was me wearing colours, the brave, while Jules tried to get off as a local, what a wimp.

We finally arrived at the ground via the special walkway for away fans. This walkway must have been about half a mile long with iron steel railing on each side. It felt like we were walking into a prison and with the stewards waiting to search us in the ground well that made it complete I suppose.

Over 1,300 Cardiff fans had made their way to the game and the concourse was packed out. I bumped into a few of the forum members such as Premier One, Jamie and TylerBluebird. Premier One was on form and had to tell me about Mr Nash then it was out with his camera.

I made my way to my seat about 5 minutes before kick off and the familiar site of the Wacker chav Millwall on our left were out in force. As I settled to wait for the teams to come out Claire made her way pass me tapping me on the shoulder. It was great to see so many of the forum members again.

Cardiff fielded three changes from the previous game. Marshall remained between the posts but the back defence line saw the return of Taylor. Hudson made a return to the starting line up as he partnered Turner and MacNaughton to make up the defence. In midfield Joe Ralls made his first start in a Cardiff shirt where he was partnered by Conway, Cowie, Whittingham and Kiss. Upfront Malki Mackay had decided to stick with Miller as the lone striker.

Cardiff dominated the early stages of the game as they attacked the goal furthest away from their fans. Kiss controlled the midfield with some strong tackles and when the home side tried to attack on the counter they were met by the burly Turner. Most of the play was played in the Millwall half that resulted with Whittingham getting a shot in on the edge of the box that was easily saved by the keeper.

Millwalls game plan in these early stages was to mark Whittingham out of the game which allowed Cardiff to control proceedings. However Whittingham did seem to enjoy time on the ball as Millwall basically struggled to hold onto the ball. Unfortunately his final pass seemed to fail to get to Miller as the Millwall crowed their defence. In this early stage you would be forgiven for guessing wrong the home team.

The next real chance fell to Kiss as he worked with MacNaughton down the right. Kiss managed to brake inside before leasing a shot that was deflected over the bar.

From this Cardiff won a concession of corners but each one was easily handled with by the home defence. However one corner, badly cleared, fell to Ralls who from 18 yards blasted the ball over.

Cardiff basically carried on dominating and whenever the home side tried to break away they were met by the solid statue of Turner who sent the ball back into the home half.

However it was one break away just before half time that nearly caught Cardiff cold. A break down the left exposed the visitors and as the play approach the edge of the Cardiff area a cross ball found a home striker alone. He took his chance first time and fortunately for the Cardiff the balled crashed against the crossbar.

Cardiff were forced to make a substitution with Mason coming on to replace Kiss. Cardiff struggled to adjust with the replacement and Millwall took advantage and nearly took the lead just before half time. On the counter again a curling shot form 18 yards went just pass Marshalls right post.

The second half was very much like the first in the early stages. Cardiff dominated but just could not break the Millwall defence line. Their first chance came halfway through the half when from 25 yards Whittingham finally found same space, tried his luck only to see his effort deflected for a corner. From the resulting corner Mason was first to the cross but could only head wide.

The game had gone stale and the supporters started to amuse themselves with the banter. From the left a sign with the word said "Jump". The away support responded with "Cardiff Cardiff Jump Jump Jump", with their fans jumping to the tune.

Then Millwall finally broke free of their own half and created their own chance. From a cross from the right across the area the ball ended up at a Millwall foot. The ball was sent back across the Cardiff area resulting in it just going wide of the far post. Once again Cardiff were caught out on the counter.

On the 70th minute Gestede placed Conway.

As the game went into the last quarter all of a sudden it opened up. Whittingham sent a perfectly aimed cross into the area for Miller. The lone striker managed ot get his head to it but could not direct it pass the keeper who made a dramatic save.

Cardiff pressed forward but were exposed to the breakaway. MacNaughton raced down the right and sent a powerful shot into the area that was deflected for another corner. From this corner by Whittingham the cross found Turner at the far post. Turner headed towards the goal forcing a point blank save from the keeper. The ball fell to Gestede but from 12 yards out all he could do was blast the ball over.

Cardiff had all the possession now and pressed the Millwall defence back. As the ball was moved around Whittingham beat the defence line and collected a pass on the edge of the area where he sent the ball back across the area. With only a Cardiff foot needing to get a touch to it to direct the ball home the Millwall defence managed to get back to clear.

The next chance fell to Ralls who picked the ball up just outside the Millwall area after another flow of passes. Ralls managed to work some space but could only watch as his shot went directly to the keeper who had no trouble getting his body behind the ball.

As the game approached full time the home side nearly stole the points. From a counter attack they sent a dangerous cross from the right across the Cardiff area. A Millwall forward, all alone, managed to head the ball down and towards goal. Fortunately the header was too clean and the ball bounced off the ground and over the bar.

After that the game ended with the score remaining nil all.

The banter between the fans carried on well after the final whistle. So much so that most of the away supporters did not realise the players and Malkays appreciations. The Millwall wackers ot our left kept us entertained as we got the come on from them. "Come and join us" we replied. With a number of us in commando gear and the Wackers being kids it made for entertaining business.

We were held behind in the compound for about 20 minutes while the home fans went home. I took note of what a cold night it was and what a bit of a run down place we were in. Very much like some of Cardiff if I am being honest, no wonder we have quite a bit of common history with our hosts today I though.

Summing up: Don't this many clubs are going to come to the Den and go away with much. Forget their position in the league if you want to know that no game is easy in this division then today what a prime example of that.

Cheers Ian ..great report as usual .....I'm just hoping your next match report is a winning one

Great report, don't know how u remember it all!!

One thing I disagree on is being called a "wimp"

I did it for the safety of my son!!!!!

It was my strong welsh accent I was worried about any Cockneys hearing!!!!

Great seeing u again Ian, Watford next, depending on how ur getting down u could drive to mine and I'm driving to Watford

Great write up superb as usual,!! I Havent been there since some midweek cup game back in the 90's which was entertaining with the locals ha ha !!! may go back next year sounded great atmosphere on the radio

Cheers Ian, one of your best write ups yet.

As always a very good match report and as always a fair assessment of matters going on both sides of the whitwash.
So glad you mentioned the cold too, I thought I may have been the only one feeling it.

Jes

First of all a mention must go to Mr Wayne Nash. Nothing worse than finding out you have lost your ticket at the entrance to the away section. Of course there is always someone willing to sell you another one but it is even better when you get offered one for nothing. So from Premier One it is a big thank you to Mr Nash.

CHEERS IAN YOU PROMISED, AND YOU DELIVERED.

great day out again i bumped into a lot of old faces was great to see boys from the bob bank i aint seen in months, some who are responsible for taking me to watch my first city game back in the early 80's

great day out, I was shattered by the time we got back on the bus.

on that note cheers to all on the bus for another great trip, some good banter, and yet again the curse of the millwall home journey got us,
as we found ourselfes on the bottom of the M25 after 2:30 hrs.

had some fun though, couple of us went for a burger in Muccky D's when we stopped, the criteria for ordering was,
you had to sing your order to the assistant,
hahahahahaha they didnt know what to do when fishy started a dance to go with his order as well

as i said great day out.
thanks for reminding me about the game ian

Thank you Ian, its Boro next for you.