Lee Gregory netted twice and Ryan Leonard once as Millwall comfortably beat the Blues 3-0 at the Den, highlighting the extent of the job now facing new manager Paul Lambert who was watching from the stands along with his staff. Gregory profited from Town’s set-piece frailties on 26 and 51 before Leonard made the most of a mix-up between skipper Luke Chambers and keeper Bartosz Bialkowski with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Andre Dozzell, Grant Ward and Trevoh Chalobah came back into the team for caretaker-manager Bryan Klug’s one game back in charge in a 3-5-2 system.

Ward returned to the right wing-back role he occupied in the first two games of Klug’s stint as caretaker-boss last season, having previously played there during the academy head of coaching and development’s time working at Spurs.

Chalobah lined up on the right of the centre of the defence with Matt Pennington on the left and skipper Luke Chambers in the centre with Jonas Knudsen the left wing-back.

In midfield, Dozzell joined Cole Skuse and Flynn Downes while Freddie Sears and Kayden Jackson were up front.

For Millwall, skipper Shaun Hutchinson returned from two months out for James Meredith, who dropped to sub, while Jiri Skalak came in for the injured Jed Wallace. Ex-Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe was on the bench.

After a rather confused minute’s silence with the game Millwall’s Remembrance Day fixture, the Lions started the more positively and went close on six when Hutchinson nodded over from a corner having been given a free header after Knudsen had slipped.

Following a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Gregory the Blues, wearing their all orange away strip, began to make an impression in the Millwall half, Downes turning his man on the right but his cross deflected behind the Town players in the area.

On 15 Knudsen whipped over a low ball from the left which was cleared just ahead of Sears at the near post.

But Millwall continued to see most of the ball, although without seriously threatening. On 22 they claimed a penalty when Shaun Williams went to ground as he exchanged passes with Gregory in the area but referee Robert Jones wasn’t interested.

A minute later, Ryan Leonard chested down a loose ball and shot not too far wide and in the 27th minute the Lions went in front.

Jake Cooper nodded Williams's corner from the right back into the six-yard box from the far post having risne above Chalobah and Gregory turned home from four feet. Town claimed a foul - probably a push on Cole Skuse as the ball came back in - but referee Jones wasn’t interested.

Set-piece goals have been Town’s Achilles’ heel all season and in the 31st minute they almost conceded another. Hutchinson knocked Shane Ferguson's freekick from the left back across goal and Cooper was just unable to add the final touch at the post.

Aside from the two crosses around the 15-minute mark the Blues had been largely been pressed back in their half with Millwall well in control.

The home side again went close to their second of the game from another set piece in the 39th minute. Ferguson’s freekick whipped in from the right and Elliott’s header rather fortuitously flew straight to Bartosz Bialkowski.

Dozzell had seen little of the ball but on 42 he was twice involved in a move which saw Ward break down the right and cross but far too deeply.

As the half moved into two minutes of injury time Pennington nodded a ball over the top back to the advancing Bialkowski.

The Lions were well worth their lead at the break having been much the better side with the Blues fortunate that they had conceded only the one set-piece goal.

Millwall had been in charge from virtually the start with Town struggling to keep possession and only fleetingly able to get Dozzell on the ball.

Millwall keeper Ben Amos will rarely have had a quieter 45 minutes with the Blues not registering a shot on or off target. If he hadn’t prior to the half, incoming manager Lambert - pictured top with, from left to right, first-team coach Matt Gill, assistant manager Stuart Taylor and fitness coach Jim Henry - will have had a good idea idea of what his new job will entail by its end.

The Blues were put through their paces by academy physio Jimmy Reynolds on the pitch prior to the second half with Klug, who as last season was again being assisted by Chris Hogg and Gerard Nash, switching Skuse, who had gone into the game carrying an ankle knock, making way for Jordan Spence with Ward moving into midfield.

Six minutes after the restart Millwall doubled their lead and again the goal came from a set piece. Leonard’s long throw on the left was flicked on by Cooper and Gregory turned home his second of the afternoon from close range.

Given Town’s history this season a comeback looked hugely unlikely but on 54 they at least managed their first shot of the afternoon, however Downes scuffed his 20-yard effort well wide.

Jackson, who had hardly been involved, was replaced by Lankester two minutes later before Millwall swapped Elliott for Steve Morison, moments after Pennington had been yellow-carded for a foul on Williams. On 63 Aiden O’Brien came on for Skalak.

Skipper Chambers scraped a shot well wide from the left of the area in the 67th minute after Millwall had made heavy weather of clearing Town’s first corner of the afternoon and the Blues had worked an opening on the left.

But on 70 Millwall made it 3-0 with Town again the architects of their own downfall. Ferguson pumped a long ball from deep into the area from deep and Chambers got in Bialkowski’s way as the keeper punched. With the Polish international grounded, the ball fell to Leonard 30 yards out from where he looped it into the corner of the net. For once not a set piece but a goal equally as poor as the earlier two.

Millwall denied Gregory a chance of a hat-trick by replacing him with Tom Bradshaw in the 75th minute. The striker was clearly not overly impressed to have been withdrawn. Gwion Edwards took over from Dozzell with nine minutes of the game remaining.

With the match over from a competitive perspective, the Blues saw more of the ball in the latter stages and on 88 Chalobah smashed a shot from a tight angle on the right which slammed against Amos’s left post and behind.

Another miserable afternoon for the 2,000-plus strong Town support was brought to a close with Millwall having settled for their three goals.

If new boss Lambert was unaware of the situation he is inheriting at Town he will now be well aware from watching another thoroughly lacklustre display.

Very much second best throughout, if anything the 3-0 scoreline flattered the Blues who looked like conceding from every set piece.

Town, now three points behind second-bottom Hull and five off safety, have shipped at least two goals in each of their away games this season barring the first two at Rotherham and Exeter.

The Lions, hardly one of the division’s top sides, although now up to 18th, were well in control throughout and cantered to what will be their easiest three points of the season.

"Chalobah’s late strike against the post, at a time when the match was already over as a contest and Millwall had essentially declared, was the only time the Blues, who now haven’t scored for three matches, came close to getting on the scoresheet.

Lambert is set to meet the players and staff tomorrow when he will begin what on today’s evidence looks the very tough job of rescuing Town’s season and preventing the Blues from dropping into the third tier for the first time in 62 years next May.

Millwall: Amos, Hutchinson (c), Cooper, Williams, Gregory (Bradshaw 75), Ferguson, Romeo, Elliott (Morison 57), M Wallace, Skalak (O’Brien 63), Leonard. Unused: Archer, McLaughlin, Meredith, Tunnicliffe.

Town: Bialkowski, Ward, Pennington, Chambers (c), Chalobah, Knudsen, Skuse (Spence 46), Downes, Dozzell (Edwards 81), Sears, Jackson (Lankester 56). Unused: Gerken, Nolan, Rowe, Nsiala. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside). Att: 15,386 (Town: 2,195).

Photo: Pagepix

warktheline added 18:33 - Oct 27 Food for thought! ‘Clueless' Evans was ‘feeling out' hapless Hurst's replacement well before and AFTER the Swansea game! Many on the forum at the time were ‘overwhelmed' with 3 points in Wales, and perceived ‘a turning of a corner'! How disturbing ‘clueless' was ‘streets ahead' !!!!! Lambert do yourself, and many more, a massive ‘turn', send Captain Calamity, the ( Ipswich should be happy with mediocracy ) Dane, and Skuse, to Outer Mongolia! Hurst ‘bottled it', I'm expecting much more from you ‘Dark Lord II'!!!!

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blueherts added 18:34 - Oct 27 For so long now we have been drifting like an aimless ship towards the drop . When you look at Sunderland dropping down and many others over the past 10 years - bigger teams than us have gone ( many come back stronger into Prem ) .I am not sure why we are any different . We have been bang average for couple of years saved by Bart and Waghorn last season and Bart seasons before Our confidence is shot , we have not had a midfield with any creativity and pace for years and our defence is all over the place - has been for afew years - Bart has saved them The positives are some of the younger academy players but the constants in this poor period are so glaringly obvious - Chambers and Skuse Lambert is no nonense but he will support our youth - I think we are bloody lucky to get him as when you look at the players and state we are in I am amazed frankly he came to us My initial thoughts was go for local / U23 team to run it but I think PL is a decent manager to have - but hope we keep Klug etc in the mix So lets hope he can make those calls that Mick and Paul H never made and start building confidence but also a solid back four - without that we are dead If we can get to Xmas and ME has a few pennies maybe we can get a striker or two I would get Morris and Wolfenden back now Huws must be close to coming back and he would be a captain for me if fit Poor goals today - schoolboy stuff - U9s - but we start from fresh tomorrow am We can get out of this but Lambert now sees the massive task ahead . Will support him all the way .

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cunning_stunt added 18:35 - Oct 27 Obviously Evans and Hurst must take a huge amount of responsibility for this hideous mess. However, I believe Roy Keane is also culpable. When he was appointed, Evans threw a stack of money his way in an attempt to get us promoted, but failed miserably. This served to burn Evans' fingers and he has acted in a relatively miserly way ever since, denying any of his subsequent managers the funds to build a squad that could consistently challenge for promotion. Keane was also responsible for weakening the structure of the club, as well as selling many of our most promising younger players for relatively small transfer fees. This should not be forgotten. If Lambert keeps us in the Championship this season, he may well deserve a statue outside the ground.

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rfretwell added 18:43 - Oct 27 By far the poorest team I have ever had the displeasure of watching in Town colours and I saw Andy Nelson hold the League title aloft on the Cornhill all those years ago. Atrocious second half. Knudsen continually lofting balls to opponents. Spence and Ward haven't kicked on, Jackson did nothing , no threat in the air whatsoever from anyone. The Bart/Chambers mix up for their 3rd would have been comical if it wasn't so tragic. The young lads gave their all but none of it is enough at this level. Relegation is 100% certain - January I too far off to wait for proper higher level signings. Lambert has an almighty job in his hands.

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rfretwell added 18:43 - Oct 27 By far the poorest team I have ever had the displeasure of watching in Town colours and I saw Andy Nelson hold the League title aloft on the Cornhill all those years ago. Atrocious second half. Knudsen continually lofting balls to opponents. Spence and Ward haven't kicked on, Jackson did nothing , no threat in the air whatsoever from anyone. The Bart/Chambers mix up for their 3rd would have been comical if it wasn't so tragic. The young lads gave their all but none of it is enough at this level. Relegation is 100% certain - January I too far off to wait for proper higher level signings. Lambert has an almighty job in his hands.

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Swn98 added 18:43 - Oct 27 Respect to Bryan Klug for stepping up to the plate in the clubs hour of need yet again. Paul Lambert has got a hard task ahead of him news site commentators throw up all sorts of reasons for our poor displays Chambers Spence Knudsen Bart etc etc our forwards lack of goals,Lambert needs to address the biggest problem in the club and that's the midfield if you can't provide the forwards with ammunition they can't score goals like wise if the midfield can't hold the ball and distribute it the defence are always under the cosh. It was interesting to here Mick Mills say Lamberts got to perform a miracle to get us back to where MM left us funny old game.

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Suffolkboy added 18:47 - Oct 27 Lots to pick over here : but did we really think there'd be measurable evidence of a turnaround given its ONLY 2 days since ' the little one ' left us IN such a mess of essentially his own making ? Let's get truly real-- the stuffing has been knocked out of our boys , confidence shattered and any firm of belief torn away by thorough incompetence of the thankfully now departed management team . So from now forward , please let's put BEHIND what's gone on , accept a huge mistake was made and PH promoted to a level exposing his incompetence . The way is forward ; let's start accepting the present and judging by improvements Paul Lambert & co will surely bring -- though it may take time & he will need to re -instil team spirit , confident organisation AND will be helped if we give unqualified support ! Come on you Blues .

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blueboy1981 added 18:55 - Oct 27 ......... someone still as pathetic as ever I see, and still hiding behind that Keyboard...... !!
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blueboy1981 added 19:05 - Oct 27 ...... at least you know who you are, if nothing else.
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Swn98 added 19:06 - Oct 27 BB exercising my democratic right to air my views if you dont like it tough.
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grinch added 19:06 - Oct 27 The players look shell shocked I liked the look of the team line up but alas they were poor. Why do into individuals always slate sure we were even poorer today when he went off. Lambert will start In the morning and players can be transformed when they are given correct guidance and direction and a sensible way of playing. He is a decent manager and may be able to turn it around. I expect there will be other managers sacked in this division before the end of the season so there will be hope. Also Evans has had to pay off a whole management team and buy in another one which will all cost which no of mentions people keep saying he is pocketing money but the accounts don't show that he is still paying for a club that hemerages cash so blaming him is a little wrong. I think he has done correct with Lambert all the garbage that he was Narwich is rediculous he is a manager and we need him as others say Royale was Narwich but because he did alright you forgive him for his time there. Just stop the angst against the owner and hopefully get behind the new Ipswich manager otherwise the supporters will bring this club downwards with the constant moaning from s minority of the crowd do us a favour go join MM and now PH and give your support to another team and drag them down

4

grinch added 19:07 - Oct 27 well done fans today great support
3

Nobbysnuts added 19:14 - Oct 27 Good luck Paul. This is the worst shower of sh#te I have ever seen represent this football club. If you can turn this around you really will be the 2nd coming of the Lord. Appalling absolutely appalling.
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Zondervanromeo added 19:14 - Oct 27 Paul Lambert can definitely save us am sure of it ! Heard mick mills saying should maybe try to bring back tommy smith from America that would be a good starting point & I think sign darren bent think lambert had him at villa hoping they get on !as I think will need to Gamble on him up front as can't see where the goals are going to come from ! both players are available now

1

dubblue added 19:36 - Oct 27 From what I saw today Paul Lambert will need to be a miracle worker to save us. We continue to make basic errors in defence and have no creativity up front. Our only hope is to pick up some good transfers in January. Will ME open the cheque book or expect PL to sell some players first? What players have we got that would attract a good fee Bart or Dozzell?
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IvorFeeling added 19:41 - Oct 27 There are many issues we have and that is just not in the first team. The club is not a place you would want to work at the moment and I can't see a way back this season. Not sure how Paul Lambert is going to make a silk purse from a pigs ear, can't even believe the best around would make a difference. 5pts from safety and a -14 GD there is very little chance of coming back. The club has been in a downward spiral for the past 10 years and it will take a massive amount of dedication and cash to sort this out. It is time for ME to step aside and until that happens our situation will not improve.

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Cakeman added 20:01 - Oct 27 Disappointing to read the usual negative comments regarding Chambers. Fully agree he has faults and makes mistakes but I must defend him by adding to make mistakes you have to be doing something. Chambers is always trying and never shirks by going in where it hurts. No matter how tough it gets he is there to try to help the cause. This is unlike some of his defender colleagues who often hide and go missing. Chambers is also a very good captain who in effect is trying to keep the Titanic afloat. It is easy to Captain a team of mega stars so please give him the respect he deserves. From what I read he also does a great job off the field by looking after the squad.

5

sixtyblue added 20:12 - Oct 27 Well today's performance was a Halloween horror show,now let us see a few players get a rocket up the arse.
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sixtyblue added 20:15 - Oct 27 That performance today was a Halloween horror show,now let's see what happens when most of the players get a rocket up the arse.
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Taricco_Fan added 20:24 - Oct 27 Lambert will need to perform miracles to turn this mess around. The squad is bereft of Championship quality. Even the old guard of the McCarthy era have been largely disappointing which is not a surprise in some cases. I have no doubt Lambert will organise, implement a clearly-defined game plan and instill some confidence, but the squad at his disposal is the weakest I have ever known. For starters, who will score the goals? Sears and Jackson are lightweight strikers in this division who don't look capable of ten goals between them. Really worrying.

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Lightningboy added 20:25 - Oct 27 Well I genuinely wish Paul Lambert the very best of luck cos he's going to need it...along with about 6 or 7 decent players in January. If we can reach 20 points by the turn of the year then this is salvagable...the situation Hurst (and Evans) have left our club in though is shocking..I for one am glad to see the back of Hurst - a cheap appointment & Evans has got what he deserved. Looking at the league table tonight I can only wonder how Hurst managed to actually get us 9 points with this squad?!

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stringtheory added 20:32 - Oct 27 PH has left a mess. Hope Paul Lambert's experience can repair the damage, especially to the players we have that are championship quality. The lack of confidence and belief is plain to see, if he can fix that then we have a chance.
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Michael101 added 20:39 - Oct 27 Well said swn98 it's the first time I have marked you up but what you said about the midfield is spot on,not so sure about your last line though. The toy has been setting in for many years now.
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Michael101 added 20:41 - Oct 27 Sorry should be. ROT
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Monarch_Blue added 20:42 - Oct 27 With the pile of poo he's got to work with, Paul Lambert is on a hiding to nothing....even Paul Daniels would struggle. Now that's tragic!!!
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