Millwall vs. Sheffield United - Part 2

Last updated : 19 August 2016 By @blades_mad1889

 

Last season’s beaten Play-Off Finalists had made a convincing start to the season. Having beaten Oldham Athletic 3-0 on day one they have acquired four points following a 2-2 draw at MK Dons a week ago. However there they good start hit a massive dent when they were beaten 5-1 at Peterborough United in midweek.

Peterborough ended Millwall's unbeaten start to the season in emphatic style with a 5-1 demolition job at the ABAX Stadium. Marcus Maddison and Paul Taylor both struck early blows as the hosts raced into a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes. Gwion Edwards added another goal before the break and then hit Posh's fourth seven minutes after the restart. Tom Nichols made it five in the 67th minute before Steve Morison pulled one back.

Neil Harris' Millwall side - who were losing finalists in the League One play-offs last season - looked completely out-of-sorts from start to finish. Maddison's sixth-minute opener had an element of fortune as his cross from the right touchline evaded the Lions defenders and sailed into the net. Yet Taylor's finish, just 90 seconds later, was more emphatic as he drilled a low shot past Jordan Archer after good work from strike partner Nichols.

Millwall midfielder Jimmy Abdou fired over the hosts' bar after Aiden O'Brien had teased Ben Alnwick out of his goal. Yet Nichols' deft chip allowed Edwards to head past Archer on 20 minutes. The same pair combined to put the game to bed on 52 minutes, as Edwards tucked away Nichols' cross from close range.

Former-Exeter striker Nichols got his reward for three assists when he slotted in the rebound after Archer failed to hold Jermaine Anderson's shot. Morison grabbed a late goal for the visitors, yet it was hardly any consolation.

Millwall boss Neil Harris will be without Shaun Hutchinson for the clash with Sheffield United but hopes to have David Worrall back in his squad. Defender Hutchinson, who had been struggling with a hamstring problem, came on as a second-half substitute but lasted less than five minutes before being forced off in Tuesday night's crushing 5-1 defeat at Peterborough.

Worrall was an unused sub at London Road and Harris confirmed he did not want to risk the winger as he nursed a tight hamstring. Shaun Williams remains a doubt after he suffered a knock to the head against MK Dons.

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