UP AND AWAY GO YEOVIL!
ED UPSON was the toast of Somerset after his late strike earned Yeovil their first ever win in the second tier of English football.
The midfielder struck with three minutes remaining to give the Glovers – who were playing Non-League football a decade ago – the perfect start to their Championship campaign.
Boss Gary Johnson says he is using the fact the club were written off as relegation certainties before a ball had even been kicked as the motivation to keep the club in the division.
Johnson said:“We are used to people telling us we are going to get relegated, and with our budget we really should be, but we use it as a strength.
“Anything we do is a bonus. But we have a group of lads who know how to put in a shift and work for each other.
“They will all improve as they are a young lot.
“I think we deserved that win. I thought we were the better side in the first half without having any real chances.
“We left it a bit late, but it was a nice feeling when the goal went in that late because they did not have any time to recover.
“The boys are buzzing, but it is just one game. It means nothing if we lose the next 45.
“So, we have to keep our feet on the ground.We have to keep working.
“Maybe Millwall underestimated us, but I’m not sure they did because Steve (Lomas) is more professional than that.
“He knew he was the one under pressure to win the game.
“They were at home, they have been in this division for a few years now and they had brought in a few new signings.
“But they will get it right eventually. I have had these players for a while now, whereas he is new to the group.”
Millwall had the best of the opening chances with the returning Steve Morison going close with a header, before strike partner Andy Keogh saw his glancing effort go wide.
But it was winger James Henry who had the two best chances of the game.
The first came just before half time, when he exchanged a neat one-two with Morison on the edge of the area and looked favourite to score, but Yeovil keeper Marek Stech did well to save with his feet.
In the second half, Morison was played in by Nicky Bailey and the ball came to Henry on the edge of the area.
But, with the goal open, he could not keep his effort on target.
Then, with just three minutes remaining, Millwall failed to deal with a corner and the ball fell to Upson on the edge of the box.
He took one touch before firing past David Forde.
Millwall manager Steve Lomas said: “We only have ourselves to blame. We had five decent chances and we have to take them.
“Their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves, but it was a typical first game of the season where no-one really wanted to put their foot on the ball.
“But, once you don’t take your chances and the longer the game goes on, you leave yourself open to the sucker punch, and that is what happened.
“From our point of view, an unopposed shot on the edge of the area is not good enough.
“I thought it should have been 0-0, but if you don’t take your chances then they come back to haunt you.”
Millwall were booed off at the end of the game, but Lomas did not seem too concerned by the crowd’s reaction and said the side will improve.
He added: “I can understand the fans’ frustration.
“I was frustrated, but we will get better as the season goes on.”