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Millwall 3-1 Barnsley By Terry Bushell
MILLWALL'S summer signings Tony Cascarino
and George Lawrence were pleased as
punch at scoring on their home debuts.
Lawrence even gave a little victory jig as
hiscolleagues rushed to congratulate him on
his injury-time goal.
And Lions' manager John Docherty was also
chuffed. Having spent well-over £½ million on
new players in a massive financial, gamble
for promotion, he is under pressure for success.
He said afterwards: "It was lovely for the new
boys to be on the scoresheet, but there's still
a lot to do before I'll be totally satisfied."
The players received a thunderous welcome
back to a new League season - from the gods
as well as from the shirt-sleeved crowd on a
hot and humid day, the storm that flooded
Lewisham was brewing over the Den just as
the game started.
In a dull, goalless first half, it was Millwall
who did all the attacking. Barnsley did not
have a single attempt at goal.
A fierce shot from Les Briley was blocked by
Paul Futcher and a Lawrence volley from
the corner was stopped on the line at the
near post by Barnsley keeper Clive Baker.
Booked
Referee Michael Bailey had a word with
Cascarino for a challenge on Baker when he
stood no chance of getting the ball and with
Central defender Alan Walker for a foul on
Roger Wylde in the centre-circle. Bailey then
booked Cascarino for a late tackle on Futcher,
and ticked off Barnsley manager Alan Clarke
for protesting at the foul too much.
Millwall were all hustle and bustle in midfield,
with little guile and the Barnsley rearguard,
well marshalled by Futcher, dealt easily with
most of their attacks.
One of Millwall's best chances came when
Lawrence sold a clever dummy, allowing the
ball to run between his legs to Teddy
Sheringham and going immediately for
a quick pass. Baker blocked his close-range
shot however.
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At half-time, Millwall's other symbols of their new ambition
- new floodlights and shiny new blue seats in one part of the stand-
looked, without success on the field, superfluous.
But then six minutes into the second half Cascarino at last had bums
off those seats as supporters rose to cheer his goal.
Lawrence began the move out on the right when he passed back to right-back
Keith Stevens. Stevens put clear midfielder Hurlock with
a good, quick pass over the Barnsley defence. Hurlock’s sent over a high
cross, and Cascarino leapt to head the ball home for his first goal for the
club.
The goal stung the visitors into action and the match came alive,
brightening in complexion from the turgid grey it had been up till then.
Lions goalkeeper Brian Horne immediately had to make a brave challenge
at the feet of Gwyn Thomas, whose sharp runs from midfield were to be a danger
for the rest of the afternoon.
Barnsley sent on Mark Robinson at outside-left for his first appearance, in
place of the ineffectual Michael Clarke.
But five minutes later Millwall went two up. Sheringham, in his own
half, put Lawrence clear out on the right. Lawrence, in exactly the same position as
Hurlock when he made the first goal, centred, Cascarino headed, Baker saved,
and Sheringham, who had run 50 yards into the six yard box, pushed home the
rebound.
Confusion
Now
at
last Barnsley ventured upfield in earnest, and they came back
into contention when former Millwall winger Steve Lowndes ran through and
placed a shot past Horne following a lovely diagonal pass from Thomas that
caused confusion in the Millwall defence.
But of course the visitors' new inclination to attack left gaps in
their defence (which is why they didn't do it in the first place) and Cascarino should
have added to his goal when he rounded young defender Simon Jeffels. But his
shot, instead of tearing into the net, instead smashed into the brand new
Barclays League hoarding beyond the far post.
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Hurlock's Cross
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A belated rainstorm had spectators running for cover to the back of
the terraces, and while the vertical sheets of torrential rain poured down, referee
Bailey booked Wylde for a foul on Walker.
Lawrence's goal came by a header via a Briley free-kick. The ball hit the
inside of the past and appeared to be cleared off the line but Bailey ruled it had
crossed the line.
Millwall: Horne, Stevens, Sparham, Hurlock, Walker, Wood, Lawrence, Briley,
Sheringham, Cascarino, Byrne. Subs (not used): Morgan, Salman.
Barnsley: Baker, Joyce, Jeffels, Thomas, Gray, Futcher, Wylde, Agnew,
Lowndes, MacDonald, Clarke (Robinson 56 min). Other sub (not used):
Cross.
Ref: Bailey (Cambridge) Att: 6,017
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