Lions take the sting out of the Hornets Watford 1 - Millwall 2

I was happy and relieved after going to the Watford game and what a fantastic game it was. All of our players put in a sterling performance, Joe Bryan, who I have criticised in these columns played very well, Tristan Crama was also very good indeed. Tanganga and Cooper played very well also . In fact, Jake Cooper was my man of the match. I thought he had a great game, deft little touches under pressure, composure on the ball and very calm, he also made some crucial challenges. The midfield played really well and the front guys, brought a lot of energy. When we kicked off, I thought we started very brightly we had a few chances. George Honeyman intercepted a bit of sloppy play in defence but he appeared to lack confidence and rather than just having a shot at the side nettings tried to play Josh Coburn in but the moment had passed. We looked busy, we were creating chances we were getting on the ball and we were doing quite well and then we fell away towards the break and Watford went one up from a corner and I was left pretty despondent. I did think, here we go. It's going to be another one of ‘those days’. The Watford goal looked like a very sloppy affair to me, watching it on the replays Pollock crept in at the far post totally unmarked to nod the ball home. I couldn't believe it, such a poor defensive error. Its the type of very disappointing goal we tend to give away. Teams very seldom score ‘worldies’ against us. It always seems to be our own defensive failings that are our downfall . We lose concentration, we take our eye off the ball or the man we should pick up, or we lose the ball cheaply and we don't defend set pieces and crosses well enough.

Second Half Turn Around

The Second half commenced and it was a different story. Millwall played really well, a lot of high energy. Casper De Norre was absolutely superb in the middle as was Billy Mitchell. George Honeyman, playing on the right of an attacking midfield three had, I think, possibly his best game in a Millwall shirt. Emakhu had a difficult first half, but in the second half he stayed at it. That's what I liked. His head didn't drop and I was so pleased for him when he got the assist for De Norre’s goal. And then Coburn's goal was absolutely superb. What a move. It was out from defense by Joe Bryan to Bangura Williams who sent a lovely weighted pass across to Crama who sent a first touch cross into Coburn who headed in with a really high quality finish. I thought then that we had a very good chance of winning this game. Watford tried to rally and won lots of corners. I was worried about the the corners because I think we have been a bit shaky with them recently, indeed Watford’s first goal was from a corner and Kayembe scored direct from a corner for Watford at the Den, earlier in the season, however we defended our box well, and Jensen, who seems reluctant to come out for crosses pulled off a wonder save, from a headed corner right at the end to keep it two one and we drove home very happy indeed. From a Millwall perspective there were lots of positives to take away, a great reaction to a dreadful performance against Bristol City. Connolly looked good when he came on he won a couple of crucial free kicks. He is very good at protecting the ball and holding the ball up. It seemed to me quite a physical match. There was a lot of bumping and barring and physicality and I thought we held up well. So a very good victory on the road and its on to Elland Road on Wednesday

COME ON YOU LIONS !