All’s Cresswell that ends well for loan star Charlie
CHARLIE CRESSWELL was Millwall’s matchwinner as the on-loan Leeds teenager grabbed two goals in a sensational debut.
England Under-21s defender Cresswell twice took advantage of shocking Stoke defending from corners, with a towering first-half header and then a volley after the break.
And that saw Gary Rowett’s perennial overachievers snatch the three points to send the home fans wild at a Den bathed in sunshine.
Cresswell started just one Premier League game for Leeds last season, and delighted Lions boss Rowett said: “I said to him afterwards, debuts don’t get much better for a young player.
“I had told him that he might have to be patient but when Shaun Hutchinson got injured that made team selection very easy for today, and Charlie went straight in.
“It wasn’t just the way he attacked both goals, but the way he defended – showing composure after getting booked in the first half – and a range of passing. It was a really good start.”
The away supporters jeered as their former striker Benik Afobe – now signed permanently by Millwall – fluffed a chance after three minutes.
But the smiles were wiped off their faces when George Honeyman’s corner was met by fellow Lions’ debutant Cresswell from six yards.
Scott Malone was through in the 22nd minute but checked back and the chance was gone.
And Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was the most relieved man in The Den in the 33rd minute, horribly allowing a Tyrese Campbell shot to squirm through him before just clawing the ball clear.
Cresswell was booked for a bad foul on City debutant Aden Flint – but Millwall were out of the blocks quickly after the break, with Afobe and Tom Bradshaw going close.
Bradshaw then had a stunning volley ruled out for offside, and Cresswell was denied a second headed goal by a brilliant save from Joe Bursik.
But from the resulting corner – a second in 30 seconds from Malone – he volleyed in with the freedom of the six-yard box once again.
Millwall’s record £2million signing Zian Flemming, a summer capture from Fortuna Sittard, was introduced from the bench.
Stoke boss Michael O’Neill said: “We didn’t learn from the set-piece goal in the first half.
“We knew they are strong on set pieces and had worked on it, so that’s the disappointing aspect.
“The second goal, it’s a volley and not even a header in that area.”
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 6; Cresswell 9, Cooper 8, M Wallace 8; Leonard 7, Mitchell 7, Shackleton 6 (Saville (76) 6), Malone 8; Honeyman 7 (Flemming (76) 6), Bradshaw 7 (Bennett (76) 6); Afobe 7
STOKE: Bursik 6; Taylor 5, Flint 5, Wilmot 5 (Kilkenny (80) 6); Clarke 6, Laurent 6, Clucas 6 (Smallbone (66) 6), Tymon 5; Baker 6; Gayle 4 (Brown (58) 6) , Campbell 6
STAR MAN: Charlie Cresswell – Incredible debut for on-loan teenager.
REF: K Stroud