30 MILLWALL www.newsatden.co.uk/
Bradshaw bags again as Millwall stun the leaders
Southwark News, Thursday February 23 2023
The Lions have still only lost two Championship games at The Den so far this season
THE LINE-UPS 1 Long
4-2-3-1 2 15 McNamara Cresswell
5 Cooper
Malone 88’
Malone 83’
23 Saville
16 Shackleton 39 Honeyman
3 M Wallace
Esse 72’
Leonard 72’
10 Flemming
19 Watmore
Championship Millwall - 1 Bradshaw 85’ Burnley - 1 Barnes 51’
Bradshaw 73’
21 Voglsammer Emakhu 87’
10 Barnes 19 Zaroury Cork 83’
29 Maatsen Taylor 83’
11 Twine
Gudmundsson 73’
24 Cullen
8 Brownhill
28 Al Dakhil
18 Ekdal
1 Muric
Date: Tuesday 21 February 2023 Attendance: 13,542 Referee: James Linington Man of the Match: Zian Flemming
22 Vitinho Tella 87’
14 Roberts 4-2-3-1
Head to Head 29% 12 3 3 7
Possession Shots off target Shots on target Corners Fouls
Lions prove their top-six credentials by frustrating champions-elect Burnley at Den
71% 17 3 6 11
By Alex Jones at The Den alexj@southwarknews.co.uk Claiming the scalp of an automatic promotion contender is a major accomplishment for any side in the Championship, but doing it twice in the space of three days is the sign of a side that can truly challenge at the top end of the table.
Millwall were halfway there heading into Tuesday’s home match against league leaders Burnley, having downed Sheffield United at The Den in an incredible 3-2 win thanks to Tom Bradshaw’s hat-trick. However, fans were shocked to see
that the striker was not named in the starting lineup, with manager Gary Rowett revealing that he had a swollen ankle in the buildup to the game. It forced the Lions to reshuffle their front four, with Andreas Voglsammer moving up front while George Honeyman and Duncan Watmore played either side of Zian Flemming. It felt like the opening stages of the game would define the course of the match as Burnley took control immediately, dominating large parts of possession while leaving Millwall to chase shadows. Jamie Shackleton’s heavy touch in the eighth minute looked to have given Anass Zaroury a golden chance to open the scoring, but George Long got down low to deny him for a corner. Just seconds later, the visitors came again as Vitinho’s cross from the right flank met Ashley Barnes in the middle of the box, but the veteran striker launched his effort wide of the post as the Clarets continued to push forward. While their patience was key in the final third, Burnley’s discipline was far from perfect in their own half, giving
away a number of free-kicks in their own half. Millwall were unable to take advantage, however, with Flemming smacking the wall from their best chance of the opening stages. It looked like the pressure would become too much for Gary Rowett’s men as Burnley continued to press, forcing countless errors and continuing to threaten as the half wore on. However, in the 21st minute, Flemming looked to catch Arijanet Muric off his line with an audacious lob on the halfway line, firing just wide. It woke up the home crowd, who got behind their team as they started to turn the tide. Jake Cooper regularly pushed up from the back for Millwall’s freekick situations, diverting his headers narrowly off target as his side grew in confidence. It was clear that their direct approach was working, as was their pressing, with Burnley looking to play out from the back at every opportunity. The Lions won the ball back high up the pitch eight minutes before the break, with Flemming gifted space to
curl a long-range effort into the palms of Muric - their first shot on target of the half. Yet it was Burnley who had the last chance before half-time, with Scott Twine scooping a shot past the post from a fluid counterattack before the flag was raised for offside. Zaroury came forward with the first chance of the second half, bringing the ball inside from the left flank before blasting his shot miles off target. While Millwall fans enjoyed the moment, there was a real sense of frustration when they won a rare corner up the other end of the pitch, which Voglsammer smashed straight out of play for a goal kick. Muric’s goal kick caught the Lions off guard, and before they knew it, Vitinho had popped up with the ball down the right, crossing into the box for Twine. His initial effort was blocked, but Ashley Barnes was on hand to prod the ball into the back of the net to give Burnley the lead in the 51st minute. Millwall looked for an immediate response as Flemming broke down the right side of the pitch. He was brought down on the edge of the area for a free-
