Leicester were even scared to take a throw-in
AMILLWALL fan in a baseball cap and grey jumper marched 30 yards along the front of the Dockers Stand unopposed by stewards to hurl expletives and hand gestures toward a boisterous corner of Leicester City’s away support at The Den.
He strutted back to his mates, laughing ghing and boasting of his exploits. By the time thee final whistle bleww and Millwall had sealed an historic FA Cup fifth-round victory against the e Premier Leaguee champions, they ey were joined by thousands of others thers on the pitch.
That corner whereh ththe Dockers Stand meets the away north stand can be particularly hostile. It is the same spot where linesman Mark Scholes was pelted by bottles when Millwall faced Aston Villa in the FA Cup in 2013.
On Saturday, it proved too much for Leicester left back Ben Chilwell who marshalled that flank in the first half. The 20- year- old, an england Under 21 international coveted by Arsenal, is supposedly one of the brightest young defenders in the country, but according to Millwall striker Steve Morison, he could not handle the onslaught of abuse.
‘ He was taking throw- ins and after a couple of bits of verbal he didn’t want to take one,’ Morison said. ‘I’m not being funny, he said his fingers hurt him — come on, we’re playing a game of football.
‘He didn’t want to take a throwin after that. He asked the centre half to take the throw-ins in the first half. You either sink or swim when you come here. So far three Premier League teams have come here and they’ve sunk.’
Bournemouth made 11 changes and drowned in the third round. Watford made seven changes and suffered the same fate.
Leicester — 10 changes — held firm for 89 minutes until they were enveloped in the whirlpool of 18,000 baying supporters — Millwall’s highest attendance in 16 years — and Shaun Cummings stole the win for his side, who played with 10 men for a third of the game when Jake Cooper was dismissed.
The fans spilled on to the pitch in a celebration that had a strong undercurrent of aggression.
Police on horseback were required to separate a Millwall mob attempting to get at Leicester’s supporters as both sides launched bottles and glasses at each other.
The stadium announcer did his best to clear them. ‘Will you please get off the goals,’ he pleaded as youngsters swung from the crossbars, ‘ they’re needed for Tuesday night.’
One Leicester fan was wheeled to an ambulance after claiming he had been hit by an object on the back of his neck. There were also accusations that away supporter buses had windows smashed and three arrests were made. ‘ We spoke about it before, we wanted to be hostile,’ Morison, 33, added. ‘ We were hostile on the pitch. We weren’t knocking someone over and asking if they’re OK and picking them up, we’re here to win a football game.
Millwall manager Neil Harris — who refused to condemn the post-match troubles, claiming he ‘didn’t see what happened’ — was only 30 seconds into his dressing-room debrief when he turned his players’ attention to the visit of Chesterfield tomorrow as they chase a play-off place.
But Harris still went home and watched Match of the Day for highlights of his quarterfinal opponents, Tottenham. For him, the achievement of the Lincoln City brothers, manager Danny Cowley and assistant Nicky, beating Burnley surpassed his own.
‘Danny and Nicky are very good friends,’ Harris said. ‘They were Pe teachers at my son’s school. They were very popular with the pupils. They are Pe teachers, it’s not real teaching, is it?’
It was Leicester who were taught a lesson at The Den. Next up? A Champions League trip to Seville on Wednesday. The nightmare could go on.