Millwall won out in a highly competitive and entertaining 1-0 contest against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. This victory was their first in five matches. The victory moved Millwall into fourth spot in the Sky Bet Championship standings. Femi Azeez, who scored the deciding goal, showed he’s capable of stepping up when it matters most. His long-range maiden strike earned three very important points for his side.
The match played out at The Den, where the mood was hostile at first but then became a cauldron of energy and inspiration. Millwall were looking to cash in on the advantage of home ground. They were up against a woeful Sheffield Wednesday side, who are rooted to the foot of the league table. It was an entertaining match, with chances at both ends, but it was Millwall’s firmest resolve that came through in the end.
Match Highlights
Millwall’s first significant chance came in the 20th minute when Caleb Taylor, attempting to connect with a good cross from Alfie Doughty, headed the ball wide. That rapid opportunity would play an omen as the blockbuster match produced multiple chances for both teams.
Sheffield Wednesday responded with a powerful strike from Jamal Lowe, whose shot rattled the outside of the post, nearly giving the visitors an early lead. Bailey Cadamarteri fired off an attempt from outside the box. It took a big deflection that had to be seen to be believed, forcing Millwall goalkeeper Crocombe to make a game-saving play.
Millwall came at us with everything they had. Barry Bannan almost produced an early wonder goal with an outrageous lob from more than 40 yards that had Crocombe backpedaling for his life. It didn’t have the most exciting first half, but boy did this game take off in the second half. This amendment unleashed a torrent of efforts from both teams.
Second Half Drama
In the second half, Millwall hit the woodwork on two occasions, underlining their attacking pressure and willingness to push forward at all costs to claim their three points. Their wastefulness was most evident in a key moment, when Camiel Neghli fired wildly over the bar after a dangerous build-up. Luke Cundle missed a gilt-edged chance when he skied an attempt from only six yards out.
Despite these missed chances, Millwall remained relentless. Taylor was looking to sneak the ball into the net. Bannan was defensively very good on the line to clear the effort though. And then the pressure released in an explosive way. Azeez had timed his run into the box to perfection and his stooping header wrapped up a routine victory for Millwall.
“I think certainly in the first half you could sense a bit of anxiety in the stadium, you could sense a bit of anxiety in the players.” – Alex Neil
Post-Match Reactions
After the game, both head coaches shared their perspectives on how their teams performed. Their manager Michael Appleton was equally relieved to get a very important win on the board after a horrific spell of bad results. He accepted Azeez’s goal to be vital and hailed the general staff performances from begin to have interaction in the complete match.
Sheffield Wednesday’s manager focused on the quality of the commitment and heart shown by his players in defeat.
“They did everything that they could today to get a result back home, and for me I saw again our boys play with a big heart, with their big discipline, with their big commitment, their togetherness and also with their courage to play.” – Henrik Pedersen
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