Another miserable day at the office for injury-hit Millwall: 0-3 against jubilant Wrexham

By Patrick van Ijzendoorn
3 hours ago
2 min read

EFL Championship

Millwall (0) 0

Wrexham (1) 3 Sturge o.g. 28, Moore 52, Ekomie 68

After the 5-1 drubbing in Southampton last Saturday, Millwall suffered another big defeat as Wrexham tamed The Lions in their Den: 0-3. Alex Neil’s injury-plagued side managed to create only one decent chance in a disappointing display.

‘We need to make sure that is just a bump in the road,’ Neil wrote in the match program, referring to the defeat against The Saints. But it was not to be. His side nevertheless started well under the lights, and in the 11th minute Mark Sykes probably should have done better when he had an excellent shooting chance from an angle in the box, but his effort went a few yards wide. That was basically all Millwall had to show their faithful on this mild late summer evening in Bermondsey.

The visitors from North-Wales, who won here 0-2 just over a year ago, didn’t create much either. However, the game's dynamic shifted after half an hour, contrary to the flow of play. In a swift break center-forward Kieffer Moore found John Windass, who was fouled. Referee Oliver Langford correctly signalled advantage as Moore was able to collect the loose ball. He passed it to the Burkinabe wingback Issa Kabore whose attempted cross was diverted into the Millwall-goal by the unlucky Zak Sturge.

The Wall could not find an answer to this unfortunate setback. Long balls were easily dealt with by the Wrexham-defense, while Millwall’s talisman Josh Coburn had a night to forget. It was a huge difference compared to Millwall’s excellent and faultless display against Norwich City eleven days ago, arguably the best game under Neil so far. Just before the break things got worse for the hosts, when Casper the Norre picked up an injury, another one for Millwall. The Belgium was replaced with the industrious but ineffective Camiel Neghli.

After the interval the hunt for an equalizer remained fruitless; while Wrexham enjoyed the space Millwall left at the back. Lewis O'Brien missed a great chance after beautiful work, again, by Moore. His shot from ten yards flew in the direction of the 663 Wrexham-fans on the upper-tier. The away support could cheer a few minutes later when Moore hit the target from 20 yards. This 34-year old journeyman haunted Jake Cooper and his defenders. That was basically it for the home side, but the pain was far from over.

On their way to the first win after two draws and one defeat, Wrexham were enjoying themselves. Millwall, meanwhile, lost Coburn with a suspected injury. After the 0-3 by Jacques Ekomie, a 23-year Man of the March from Gabon, The Den quickly emptied. ‘Where's your famous atmosphere?’ the Welsh sang, taunting the home fans who remained on the stands. The only highlight for The Lions on this tough night was the return of Romain Esse. Millwall desperately need their lost boy as they travel to Bolton coming Saturday.