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MILLWALL midfielder Tony Kinsella looks certain to miss tomorrow's Third Division
clash against Wigan Athletic at The Den. Kinsella who has replaced injured Les Briley for the last two matches, damage ankle ligaments in Tuesday night's win at Doncaster. Alan McLeary stands by as a replacement if neither recovers. Steve Lovell has a minor ankle injury but is expected to be fit. |
Meanwhile, defender Lindsay Smith, who finished up with eight stitches in a gashed
shin last Weekend, will be out of action until next month. Millwall are selling tickets for next Wednesday's Milk Cup tie at Chelsea at tomorrow's game. The club hope the sale of tickets win swell tomorrow's gate to over 6,000. The Milk Cup tie is all-ticket and Chelsea are giving Millwall 10,000 ticket for the North Stand. |
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By Brian Stater Millwall 4 Wigan 1 Millwall blasted their way to fourth spot in the Third Division table with a demolition job on sad Wigan - but it needed a shrewd tactical Switch to open the way to victory. Big Dave Cusack was forced out of the heart of Millwall's his slot at defence to cope with a menace that had the Lions on rack in the opening stages of Saturday's clash. Lions chief George Graham admitted, “Wigan played with a couple of men lying deep behind their front players. It caused a lot of problems an took a while to sort it out.” “Cusack pushed forward and played more in a deep midfield position. He won everything and was outstanding for us.” Millwall's worst moment came in seventh minute, when a ball from the lurking Graham Barrow split the defence and full-back Keith Stevens had to clear off the line from Steve Johnson. With Wigan tamed, the Lions got down to business with a sense of purpose. Kevin Bremner's persistence in trying to reach the by-line saw him rewarded with a 28th minute corner, and he promptly headed home from Nicky Chatterton's flag kick. Patience was the hall-mark of Millwall's second goal, which came 10 minutes later. |
A move down the right was going nowhere until Anton Otulakowski held on
to the ball and made room for a cross that Dean Neal controlled
sweetly before lashing into the net
from 20 yards, to notch-his sixth goal in seven games. And Bremner's persistence paid off again minutes after the break when he pounced on a shocking Steve Walsh pass to run through and slot the ball under Wigan goalkeeper Roy Tunks. Steve Lovell wrapped up the Millwall scoring when he headed home a free kick from skipper Les Briley five minutes from time. Wigan promptly replied with a goal amazingly, their first away from home this season when Johnson scored from the spot after Micky Nutton had tripped Mike Newell. But Millwall went back on the attack and could have scored two more, through Neal and Otulakowski, in the dying minutes. Delighted chief Graham afterwards summed up, saying, “Come to The Den if you want to see goals.” And with 16 already scored in just five home matches, he's certainly got a point. Millwall: Sansome, Stevens, Roffey, Briley, Nutton, Cusack, Lovell, Bemner, Neal, Chatterton, Otulakowski. Sub: McLeary. Wigan Athletic: Tunks, Butler, Comstive, Kelly, Walsh, Methven, Bailey (Cribley), Barrow, Johnson, Newell, Langley. Referee: K. W. Baker (Rugby). Attendance: 4,400. |
 Bremner's Beauty: Millwall ace Kevin Bremner powers home a header for Millwall's opener |
| Goal-den moments | |
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Millwal 4 Wigan 1 MILLWALL posed problems by Wigan for the first 25 minutes, soon solved them to sweep to victory in majestic style. With better finishing and a bit more tuck they could have increased the margin of their best win of the season by four more goals. Wigan, who had not scored away from home before this match, were unfortunate not to go ahead in the first eight minutes. Keith Stevens cleared off the line from Steve Johnson and then Les Briley repeated the feat when Paul Sansome and Dave Cusack were caught out of position. Gradually, Millwall found their rhythm and in the 29th minute, from only their second corner of the game, Kevin Bremner headed home Nicky Chatterton's accurate centre. Wigan's Graham Barrow was booked after crashing with Anton Otulakowski, but in the 38th minute Dean Neal with his sixth goal of the season - finished off a brilliant move with an equally brilliant shot, turning in the goalmouth to place the ball wide to Roy Tunks. Bremner increased the lead in the 56th minute. Tony Kelly and Steve Walsh made a hash of things and Bremner took advantage, placing the ball through the goalkeeper's legs for his fourth of the season. Wigan were now under pressure and Neal and Steve Lovell both went close before Sansome made another good save from from Newell. However, in the 85th minute, Lovell scored the goal he deserved. A minute later Mickey Nutton conceded a penalty - although the Lions players claimed the offence was outside the box - Johnson scoring from the spot. Referee Ken Baker of Rugby, should have awarded Millwall a penalty immediately afterwards for handball offence in the Wigan box. Much of the credit for this win must go to the brilliance of skipper Les Briley in midfield, and the way Dave Cusack marshalled the defence. Manager George Graham said: “I thought Briley was excellent. He is a good pro. It was exciting stuff with Bremner and Neal always dangerous. In the second half we had four men up on their two midfielders and this paid, good dividends.” “I thought Dave Cusack had one of his better games for us. With Steve Lowndes and Lindsey Smith. pushing for their places, everyone has to keep on their toes.” Millwall: Sansome, Stevens, Roffey, Briley, Nutton, Cusack, Lovell, Bremner, Neal, Chatterton, Otulakowski. Sub: McLeary. Wigan Athletic: Tunks, Butler, Comstive, Kelly, Walsh, Methven, Bailey (Cribley 60 mins), Barrow, Johnson, Newell, Langley. Ref K W Baker (Rugby) Att 4,400 |
 Lovell leads the Wigan defence a merry dance |
