Wallace the braveheart for Lions
NEIL HARRIS believes passion and desire are the secrets of Millwall’s FA Cup success as they overcame AFC Wimbledon and reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the fourth time in 15 years.
‘What an achievement that is for a club of our size,’ said Harris, who played up front for the Lions when they lost to Manchester United in the 2004 final in Cardiff.
‘Why does the FA Cup bring the best out of us? We know what is needed in these ties and it is not always about being the best footballing team.
‘It is about the team with the biggest heart and the right footballing mentality, and the team who can win first and second balls and set plays.
‘That is why they’ve done so well under me in the competition. I am a very happy manager.’
For the second successive round, Murray Wallace was Millwall’s unlikely goal hero. Left-back Wallace appeared with a winner in stoppage time against Everton, at the Den, and struck after only five minutes at Kingsmeadow.
Wimbledon were unable to clear their lines from a corner and the ball worked its way to Ryan Leonard who crossed from the right for Wallace who arrived to meet it with a powerful header.
It was Millwall’s first goal since they beat Everton last month. ‘He’s wonderful fella,’ said Harris. ‘And he’s a top, top professional who leaves no stone unturned in the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch. He deserves the adulation and attention.
‘I needed a hero, someone to step up and be a match-winner — and he did that.’
Wimbledon, in the fifth round for the first time since the rebirth of the club, almost scored first in the opening seconds when Shane McLoughlin’s low cross was volleyed against the frame of the goal by striker Joe Pigott and refused to be discouraged by the early setback.
Michael Folivi fired wide when well placed and captain Deji Oshilaja headed over from a cross by Toby Sibbick, who caused problems with his pace, going forward on the right.
Another cross from Sibbick swerved and almost caught out Jordan Archer who scrambled back towards his goal and pushed it to safety at the expense of a corner. Wally Downes’s side played with similar purpose at the start of the second half. Sibbick drove over from the edge of the penalty area and Folivi forced a save from Archer.
But Wimbledon’s growing sense of adventure left them vulnerable on the counter attack and Aaron Ramsdale was required to make a fine save from Aiden O’Brien to keep them in the game.
Millwall slowly took control and dominated the final 30 minutes, creating enough chances to have made the final outcome much more comfortable.
Jake Cooper twice went close from set-pieces and Ramsdale saved twice from Shaun Williams and again from Jed Wallace as the visitors started to make their quality count.
‘I was pleased with the way the lads applied themselves,’ said Downes. ‘We were a match for Millwall and it was only a setpiece between us. If they get a chance they’re going to
punish you, which is exactly what happened.’
Harris is hoping for a quarterfinal clash with south London rivals Crystal Palace, who face Doncaster today. ‘No disrespect to Donny but if Palace get through I want to get them at the Den, and avoid Man City if we can,’ he said. ‘For 20,000 of our fans to see a cup quarter-final, is what I want. Financially, it is huge. We’ve had bad press and rightly so.
‘But today Millwall are being talked about for being in the last eight of the best cup competition in the world.’