Millwall 1-0 Town - Half-Time Saturday, 18th Jan 2014 16:08 A freak goal from debutant right-back Ryan Fredericks sees the Blues trailing 1-0 to Millwall at the break. Earlier in the half, Luke Hyam was stretchered off with a leg injury. Skipper Carlos Edwards started on the right-side of a four-man midfield, making his first league start since the 3-1 home victory over Blackburn on December 3rd, as the Blues — wearing last season’s white and black away kit - switched back to 4-4-2 with Daryl Murphy back up front after recovering from his thigh injury. Millwall, whose new manager Ian Holloway was in charge at the Den for the first time, included ex-Blues Liam Trotter and Lee Martin from the start, while former loan keeper Stephen Bywater was on the bench. Neither team had created anything before Town midfielder Luke Hyam underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch for an injury to his right leg after an eighth-minute challenge with fellow former Northgate High School pupil Trotter. The Town players quickly called on physio Matt Byard having kicked the ball out of play and the 22-year-old was eventually taken off on a stretcher with Jay Tabb replacing him and going to the left with Tunnicliffe switching to the centre. Trotter curled a shot wide from 20 yards in the 16th minute with the home side having settled better after the delay for Hyam’s injury. On 26, with Town still to really get going, an error by Cole Skuse in the centre circle allowed Martin a run in on goal but, having turned inside Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra, the midfielder’s low shot failed to test Gerken. A minute later, McGoldrick scuffed the Blues’ first effort of the game through to Millwall keeper David Forde. The Town top scorer created a better chance for his strike partner Murphy soon afterwards with a clever flick but the Irishman’s well-struck shot from the left of the area was too close to Forde. Aaron Cresswell volleyed Edwards’s 34th minute cross into the ground with the Blues finally starting to settle and get on top. But, five minutes before the break, the home side went in front. Debutant full-back Ryan Fredericks, who signed on loan from Tottenham yesterday, sent in a deep cross from the right which somehow flew over keeper Gerken’s head, under the bar and into the net. Town looked to hit back via McGoldrick but his effort was blocked by Lions skipper Danny Shittu. Before play could restart — and shortly before the fourth official signalled six additional minutes - Millwall keeper Forde was replaced by ex-Town loanee Stephen Bywater. Edwards and Millwall’s Scott Malone got their names in the book for a clash after the Blues skipper had been fouled not far outside the area on the right, the Lions defender believing the Trinidadian had dived. The resultant freekick came to nothing. The Blues were unable to get back on terms before referee Eddie Ilderton — who had frustrated the Town players on a number of occasions during the half — blew his whistle. After the early injury to Hyam, Town took a long time to get going but had just started to get on top before Fredericks’s freak goal which Gerken will have been disappointed to have conceded. Overall though, manager Mick McCarthy will have been disappointed with the display. Town: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Edwards (c), Hyam (Tabb 13), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Hunt, Anderson, Nouble, Taylor. Millwall: Forde (Bywater 44), Fredericks, Shittu (c), Lowry, Malone, Trotter, Bailey, Martin, Keogh, Morison, McDonald. Subs: Bywater, Beevers, Wright, Abdou, Woolford, Feeney, Marquis. Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear). Att: 12,125 (Town: 1,398)
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