MOR’S UP THE WALL
Steve’s promotion celebrations put on ice after pitch invasion
MILLWALL celebrated a Championship return – but only after their fans had been cleared from the Wembley pitch.
Cult hero Steve Morison grabbed t he 85th- minute winner to start a right Old Kent Road knees-up.
But a final whistle pitch invasion soured the moment for him.
“The fans have ruined it for me at the moment,” he said in the immediate aftermath of the victory.
“I can’t celebrate but it’s fantastic to be back in the Championship.”
Beaten Bradford boss Stuart McCall was also angry with the pitch invaders.
“I’m very disappointed in the stewarding allowing their fans to get over the halfway line,” he said.
“I had fans goading me and my players and I was close to clocking one or two of them I can tell you. They need to look at that.
“Wembley has got to learn. Everyone in the whole place knew that the fans were coming on, so get the stewards on and form a line halfway.
“I don’t understand why fans want to come on and goad me, the staff and players when they’ve won the game. Just enjoy your moment.
“It’s not sour grapes. Ten minutes after the event the stewards came on but where were they at the full-time whistle?
“It’s something to learn from. It happens all the time. It’s not just Millwall.
“Stay in your own half and celebrate with your own players and your own team, fine. Don’t come and start goading. We’re feeling bad enough as it is. It’s not nice.
Just enjoy your moment. As for us, it’s raw at the moment. All I can say is thanks for your efforts this season.”
When the final whistle blew Millwall players began to dance with joy as fans leapt over barriers.
Lions boss Neil Harris desperately tried to usher them back but it proved a thankless task.
Now the club surely faces a severe reprimand or a hefty fine.
Why do their fans let them down so much?
It led to the delay of the trophy ceremony and cast a shadow on an otherwise great day for the club.
The pitch invasion soured a wonderful game that was decided by some Morison magic.
He volleyed into the roof of the net from close range after Shaun Williams crossed and Lee Gregory touched on with a flying header.
His goal made up for the heartbreak of losing at this stage to Barnsley last season and for other near misses over the years.
Millwall are guaranteed £5million for promotion but it is the lure of the £200million on offer for those who can then cross into the Promised Land of the Premier League which is even more tantalising.
Millwall finished sixth in League One – one place below Bradford who gave it their all and finished with a flourish. But their inability to turn possession into goals cost them dear.
The brilliance of Lions keeper Jordan Archer stopped Bradford taking the lead following a sweeping move from deep in their own half. As the ball found its way to Mark Marshall he spotted Billy Clarke on a run and his pass was perfect. So was the reaction of Archer, who flung out an arm to deflect his shot wide. This was the mouth-watering play-off final we had expected. There was fine attacking football, solid defending and excellent individuals like Marshall who pulled Bradford’s strings. Then there was Millwall striker Morison who never allowed the Bradford defence to settle. Both keepers also played their part in a frantic final, which might have lacked decent goal attempts but more than made up for it in action. Bradford always threatened to pose Millwall problems, particularly with their pace. And Marshall was a constant thorn, creating openings as Bradford made the early running. But they lacked a cutting edge. Millwall often had to rely on hoofing the ball long to create their own openings until their nerves settled and the game became more cut and thrust.
Marshall could not be contained and eventually the Lions’ frustration boiled over when Aiden O’Brien was booked in the 58th minute for cynically blocking one of his many dashes.
Jed Wallace wasted a great chance to put Millwall ahead when he raced on to Gregory’s 61st minute pass but he shot wide from 12 yards.
That sparked a flurry of Millwall attacks which stretched Bradford’s defence to the limit.
For Bradford, manager McCall was on holiday when he was offered the job last summer and he arrived to find he did not have enough pros to field a side.
He can be proud of what he has achieved in such a short spell – even if the ultimate glory went to Millwall and their over-enthusiastic supporters.