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Millwall 1 Stockport County 0

Simon Smedley
19/11/2008

COUNTY’S proud unbeaten away league record was finally broken on Saturday, but they played a hugely impressive part in a pulsating clash.

A late goal from Lions’ sub David Martin proved enough for the Hatters’ fellow high-fliers.

Jim Gannon made three changes to his starting line-up, with Dominic Blizzard most notably coming in out of the cold. Paul Turnbull and Anthony Pilkington also returned, while the suspended Stephen Gleeson was out altogether. Gary Dicker and Carl Baker dropped to the bench.

The subject of Millwall’s attacking style of play came up in the press room ahead of the game, and alarmingly that was highlighted with barely 10 seconds on the clock.

Amidst the white hot atmosphere inside the Den, striker Neil Harris found space down the right immediately, turned inside Jimmy McNulty, and Owain fon Williams had to produce an excellent save down low to keep a powerful angled shot.

The passionate home fans were almost silenced after eight minutes though. McNulty played in Pilkington, and after moving the ball on a few yards his superbly-struck 25-yard drive was just about tipped onto the crossbar by diving ‘keeper David Forde. Craig Davies followed up, but Forde did well to smother his close-range effort.

Leon McSweeney saw a shot blocked, but back came the hosts in what was a cracking contest as Chris Hackett saw a similarly powerful shot also blocked.

The fearless young Hatters appeared to take inspiration from the intimidating atmosphere and McSweeney saw another shot blocked after he had turned Lewis Grabban inside out, then Turnbull’s goal-bound shot was frantically deflected over for a corner by centre-back Tony Craig.

Millwall evened up the woodwork count five minutes before half-time. Marc Laird stooped to meet a Hackett cross, but the acrobatic fon Williams brilliantly tipped his header onto the post.

The already cautioned Davies was replaced by Matty McNeil at the break, then it was County who went close soon after the restart. Pilkington’s low drive was inadvertently guided just past the post by skipper Michael Raynes.

Lions’ front-man Harris then twice went close in quick succession. First he blazed over after latching onto Tresor Kandol’s flick, then Johnny Mullins cleared his effort off the line with fon Williams already beaten.

After a spell of pressure Millwall finally broke the deadlock after 74 minutes. The roof almost came off the Den when sub Martin rifled home a deflected free-kick after Harris had been upended inches outside the County box.

The Hatters were never going to wilt though, and there was a strong penalty claim minutes later as McSweeney looked to have been impeded as he raced into the box.

Sub Peter Thompson couldn’t quite get a shot away as he blew County’s best late chance of a leveller, while at the other end Martin came closest to doubling his own and Millwall’s tally.