The Lions of Millwall V The Lions of Boro

3pm, Saturday 12th April 2025

The Den, Millwall

 

Introduction.

(In a game that needs no introduction, here is an introductory paragraph about the game. The following may or may not contain factual inaccuracies, fabrications and an occasional lie.)

Michael Carrick, once again, picks up the pieces after the Boro suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Dirty Leeds. The negatives amongst you might say we should've conceded three goals, as two of them were rightly, incorrectly, ruled out for being offside.  But I say, had Carrick not insisted that the forwards all swap boots to see if Iheanacho could find a lucky pair, our shooting might have been a bit more on target and we would have outscored Dirty Leeds, and secured a well deserved victory. I have it on good authority that "Shoot for the Moon..."  was a major theme in Carrick's pre match talk. It's not his fault he forgot to say that it wasn't a literal instruction and more a play on the idea of winning the game and staying in the playoffs. 

We totally deserved to get at least a point. If for no other reason than Dirty Leeds scoring a goal a full eleven minutes after the 90 minutes were up, to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat back in the 2019-20 season. Not that I hold a grudge. My Dirty Leeds supporting cousin said that last nights game (the one on Tuesday 8th April 2025) was a good game but the officials were corrupt and that Dirty Leeds are the best team in the league and would be clear at the top by now if they hadn't bottled it in the last 6 games. I countered that we are the best team in the league and would be clear at the top if we didn't bottle it every 20 minutes during games. Any way, enough about that, what's next? 

Millwall.

Millwall away is what is next. Without looking for evidence, I'd guess that Millwall are upper-mid-table, probably within reach of the playoffs but with no real hope of achieving a top 6 spot, unless some better teams have a dreadful run of form in the remaining games. Josh Coburn is cup-tidied for this game as he is one of our own, not one of their own, so he will not play. Which is a blow for them because he's scored about 30 goals so far this season. Other players that used to be one of our own but are now actually belonging to Millwall include George "£7m!?!?" Saville (who I'm guessing is their player manager with Neil Harris on another hiatus in his Millwall Managerial Career), The Ginger Juninho AKA Duncan Watmore, who will probably be injured because he is made of fine bone china, and the goalkeeper from Karate Kid AKA Liam Roberts who is currently serving a 5 year ban for kicking the left ear clean off Jean-Phillippe Mateta's head in a recent FA Cup game.  

We can expect a violence filled game and an intimidating atmosphere in a stadium that is literally named after where real Lions live. There will probably be loads of red cards for Millwall and the crowd will no doubt sing and shout horrible things about our players to try and make them think about anything other than the game. 

What are them hooligans saying about us? Visit  > https://millwallonline.com/forum/threads/2024-25-league-ladders-game-47-middlesbrough-home.57240/ < to see for yourself, if you dare...

Closing Thoughts.

This game couldn't come at a better time for Boro and their fans. A 3pm kick off on a Saturday afternoon is a nice traditional time for a football game to be played. Especially with it being all the way in London, it gives any Boro fans wanting to go and watch plenty of time to get there and probably even time to catch last orders in the local before bed time on Saturday night. 

Kelechi Iheanacho will hopefully resume his roll as chief cheer leader from the bench for this game. It was always lovely to see him celebrating as the other strikers scored goals when he wasn't on the pitch. He obviously really cares and you can see he tries hard when he's on the pitch. I would also try really hard for the team, but I would also be largely useless, aside from the occasional good touch and flattering assist. But I can guarantee I won't even make the bench on Saturday. It's so unfair. 

We might have some central defenders ready to get injured again for this one. Unless Dael Fry hasn't really been injured and he's just been retraining as a  centre forward, I'd expect him to start along side RVDB. But it'll probably be Johnny Howson staring there with Iheanacho as Carrick moves him to a deeper role. Seriously though, that sprint back he did before he came off would be enough to convince Carrick and Woody that he's worth a go there, especially with his shots looking more like clearances anyway.

Its a tough one to call so I'm going to predict that we could and should win this one but I can't guarantee it.

Talking Points.

Starting Line up?

Can we stay in the Top 6?

How much should we pay to sign Iling-Junior on a perm in the summer?

How many might we win by?

 

 

 

Just realised this thread wasn't approved given the url, sorry Marvin! Up and running now. 

Starting Line up?

Due to easter this is the second of 4 games in 13 days so I do expect some rotation from Carrick. I think it may also provide him with an excuse to drop Iheanacho. Carrick rarely changes but given that we know Millwall will try to bully us physically, I could see him bringing in Fry. As he won't want to drop Howson I can see a 4-3-3 or going 3 at the back.

Travers

Dijksteel - Fry - Rav - Iling Jr

Hackney - Howson - Morris

Forss/Whittaker - Conway - Azaz

This may look like 3 at the back with Howson playing just in front of Fry and Rav while Dijksteel and IJ act as wingbacks. TBH, that's what I would do. I think what Carrick will do is stick with 4-2-3-1 and Howson in defence with a reshuffle in the three behind Conway: Whittaker (R) - Azaz (C) - Burgzorg (L).

Can we stay in the Top 6?

I thought so until last night. Looks like Bristol City have got some self-belief meaning we probably have to overtake Coventry and I don't see that happening. Still, despite their good run I don't rate Lampard that highly and I'm not convinced he'll handle the pressure very well. 

How much should we pay to sign Iling-Junior on a perm in the summer?

It's not going to happen. Pretty sure he will go out on loan to a top tier league on the continent. Villa will be looking for £10-£15m for him if they sell.

How many might we win by?

We have a decent record at the Den, surprisingly. That said, I expect we us to win by zero. Millwall are in decent form largely because they don't have any pressure on them. They'll know that beating us will put them level on points with us; they're still not getting into the playoffs but they'll be enjoying the chance to push really hard until the end. (Bit like us last season.) I predict 2-2. 

4-0 to the boro

Grand OP @marvin

The importance of this game for both teams is enormous.

We can not afford to lose this no other way of stating that (in fact very very close to a must win game)

I didn’t realise until last night that Milwall are only 3pts behind us. They’ll be right up for this one after winning at Sheffield United. A win and they’re well and truly in the hunt for a top 6 finish. 

A win for us would be absolutely huge. I’d fancy us for playoffs if we win, but if we lose then I can’t see us closing a potential 5 point gap with 4 games remaining. 

Thankfully Coburn won't be available.

Not sure it's a must win. But ideally we can't afford to lose ground on Coventry/Bristol City this weekend who also have away games.

So if we lose, but those 2 lose as well, then we're in the same position.

I'd probably shake hands if you gave me the same table as it is now, come 5pm on Saturday (3pts off Bristol and 2pts off Cov), knowing we have the easiest game of the season next up and those two have much trickier games.

I can see us winning at Millwall & moving back into the top 6. With Leeds out of the way the 4 games, leading up to the 5th & final game v Coventry, are winnable with Azaz & Conway in amongst the goals 

Advice please. Thinking of taking my 9yo to milwall at the weekend as there are 450 tickets on the door according to mfc website 

been to most London grounds but never milwall. Always been a bit scared, but we haven’t been to a game this year so it felt right to give it a go. 

do you know how likely it is we will get a ticket and what time to turn up to get them? I don’t want to go all the way over there and not get them. My boy would be gutted. Also if we have to go early to get them I don’t fancy hanging round in the isle of dogs beforehand! 

any advice welcome and gratefully received. Thank you X 

Win or bust for me, assuming Coventry and Bristol City don't lose anyway.

Edited April 10, 2025Apr 10 by TeaCider24

They seem to be quite obsessed with Walls on their thread 🤔 now I appreciate interior design as much as the next man but this is next level!

Milwall 1 - 0 Boro (Ajay Matthews 86’)

Any fitness updates from press conference?

1 hour ago, Marvanelli said:

Thankfully Coburn won't be available.

Not sure it's a must win. But ideally we can't afford to lose ground on Coventry/Bristol City this weekend who also have away games.

So if we lose, but those 2 lose as well, then we're in the same position.

I'd probably shake hands if you gave me the same table as it is now, come 5pm on Saturday (3pts off Bristol and 2pts off Cov), knowing we have the easiest game of the season next up and those two have much trickier games.

At the end of the day and to be in charge of our own fortunes this is a must win game, we can not afford to allow the points gap to increase

1 hour ago, TeaCider24 said:

Win or bust for me, assuming Coventry and Bristol City don't lose anyway.

You can't imagine both teams losing over the weekend their own fate is in their hands absolute pressure games now and who has the guts and desire to keep on going.

Both of them are at this moment in a far better position than Boro