By Stephen Eighteen
March 19 2004

If ever a group of fans deserve this moment of glory it is Millwall’s...the question is, can the Lions bring some to long-suffering supporters? Judging by Dennis Wise's initial impact, perhaps the answer is yes! Just last month, the club’s name was once again put through the ringer after racism allegations that shocked and hurt the vast majority of well-behaved supporters.
Of course this is nothing new, and while the attitude amongst fans to bad press publicity has become increasingly apathetic, nobody is more worthy of the sudden media flattery than the 7,000 Den diehards who have remained fiercely loyal to their side over the years.
And the same could be said about the manager Dennis Wise. As a player, he more than nearly any other footballer in the country has been an easy target for the press to dish out stick to.
How satisfying it must be for him to see the same cynics who have taken so much pleasure out of his every indiscretion over the years to be now eating out of his hand.
Wise will surely choose carefully whom he will grant an interview from the glut of requests that will flood his way in the next month.
It pays to have a long memory, and the times when you’re down is when you know who your real friends are.
The euphoria currently felt by fans will be sure to provide an electric atmosphere for the Den derby against West Ham at midday on Sunday.
But now comes an even bigger test for Wise. After all of the successes of recent weeks, the big question is whether the manager continues to get his players to perform at the same high level for the rest of the season.
With the furore of the cup run, it has been almost ignored that this Sunday’s match will be the first time the two rivals have met at in south London since the Lions ran out 2-1 winners in the Old Den in 1992.
With a trip to Milton Keynes to face bottom club Wimbledon on Wednesday, Wise will need to counter the physical effects of tiredness in what is still a small squad.
But more than that, he must work on the players’ minds to keep them revved up for every forthcoming occasion, whoever the opposition.
These may be exciting times for all concerned at Millwall, but it would be a tragedy if the club did not fully reap every possible reward on offer.
*The West Ham match is all ticket, and fans must purchase their tickets before 5pm on Friday.
PREDICTION – Millwall 1 West Ham 1.