Millwall v Burnley


Into the Den

By TheLongside.co.uk
April 21 2006

The Longside previews this weekend's fixture in South East London against already relegated Millwall. Can the Clarets pick up their first away win since November in our last away fixture of the season?

 Millwall v Burnley

 

 Welcome to The Den

 

This weekend sees the Clarets travel to the New Den to face Millwall in a week that has seen the Lions relegated, and manager David Tuttle resign.

 

It has certainly been a season to forget for Millwall, and relegation was confirmed on Monday as they lost 2-0 to Southampton at St Mary’s. Sheffield Wednesday’s victory at the Withdean by the same scoreline meant that Crewe and Brighton will also be joining Millwall in League One next season.

 

On 21st June last year Steve Claridge took over from Dennis Wise as manager at the New Den after having two spells with Millwall as a player. But just 36 days later Claridge was sacked, with Colin Lee taking over the hot-seat.

 

Before a ball was even kicked, Claridge was out. Claridge had been in a meeting with former chairman Theo Paphitis, asking if Colin Lee could be taken on in a coaching capacity. The meeting ended however with Claridge sacked, with Lee ironically taking over.

 

Lee was then made Director of Football in December with assistant manager David Tuttle promoted to manager. The intention was for a high profile candidate to then take over permanently. Tuttle has now gone and Millwall will appoint a new manager in the summer, with former Nottingham Forest and Barnsley manager Paul Hart becoming the bookies' early favourite.

 

 Looking towards the Cold Blow Lane End

 

The whole situation at The Den has been nothing short of farcical, but the appointments and sacking of the managers have been a result of constant movements within the boardroom, with the three chairman Millwall have had this season preferring their own choices.

 

Back to today though and the chairman is currently Peter de Savary, and coaches Alan McLeary and Tony Burns will take temporary charge of the Lions for the visit of Burnley.

 

Onto the teams now, and the Clarets have doubts over Chris McCann who picked a hamstring injury in the draw with Crystal Palace, and Phil Bardsley who could still be doubtful with the ankle injury which saw him miss the Palace game. Michael Ricketts could return after sitting out the last two games also with an ankle injury, which has only just come to light after rumours circulated that the on loan man had fallen out of favour.

 

Millwall meanwhile will be without Barry Hayles, Josh Simpson and Jody Morris, all out with knee injuries, and midfielder Alan Dunne who sustained a fractured cheekbone in Monday's defeat at Southampton. Captain and Millwall supporters player of the year Dave Livermore may now be rested after playing with a foot injury in recent weeks in a bid to stave off relegation.

 

The last game between the two sides was the fiery 2-1 win for Burnley at Turf Moor back in November. The game saw three Millwall players sent off as well as Burnley's James O'Connor, who later had his red card rescinded.

 

The East Stand at Millwall

 

The Lions took the lead after just 47 seconds through Jermaine Wright, and despite coming out for the second half with just 10 men following Ben May's half-time dismissal, it took the Clarets until the 76th minute to draw level. Nathan Dyer capped a wonderful debut on loan from Southampton with the equaliser, before Wade Elliott gave the Clarets all three points just four minutes later.

 

This weekend's game surely will not be as eventful, but with Millwall already relegated it gives the Clarets the chance of getting that elusive away win, the first since November.

 

Up the Clarets.

 

 

Many thanks as always to Tim Rigby for the images.

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