Murray has hunger for more glory
MURRAY WALLACE used to wash dishes in a restaurant kitchen. Now he hopes Millwall are served up a tasty tie in tonight’s draw.
Scottish defender Wallace ended
AFC Wimbledon’s cup dreams with his fifth-minute header.
He was also the man whose deciding goal helped turf out Everton in the previous round.
Now Murray and his Millwall team-mates
– in the quarter-finals for the second time in three years – want a home tie.
One thing is for certain – on this evidence few will fancy playing them at the Den.
It was at the Peking Village restaurant in Eaglesham near East Kilbride where the teenage Wallace, now 26, used to wash dishes while making his way through Rangers’ youth sides.
He said: “It was a bit of pocket money, £20 and a free meal at the end of the night, so I can’t complain.
“I was in the kitchen – not front of house. They kept the good-looking people for that.”
Millwall are one of only two teams outside the Premier League left in the competition – along with Swansea – but will still fancy their chances of making cup history.
Wallace said: “That atmosphere at the Den against Everton was unbelievable. We want more nights like that.” Compact little Kingsmeadow was packed with 4,795 fans on Saturday – a classic cup setting.
Millwall almost made the worst possible start, when Joe Pigott volleyed Shane McLoughlin’s cross against a post.
But then Ryan Leonard got away on the right, crossed accurately – and there was Wallace arriving at the far post.
The Dons had their chances but Millwall defended stubbornly.
Wally Downes’ League One basement boys now return to the struggle against the drop and a trip to Rochdale tomorrow.
Manager Downes said: “I have to use this as a gritty lesson and the fact that they competed well with a team from the division above.
“We have missed the chance to get into the FA Cup final but we now have 14 cup finals to play. There is one target left, and that is staying up.” AFC WIMBLEDON (3-5-2):
Ramsdale; Oshilaja, Nightingale, McDonald; Sibbick, McLoughlin, Hartigan (Pinnock 63), Wordsworth, Garratt (Barcham 46); Pigott (Connolly 63), Folivi. Booked: Wordsworth.
MILLWALL (4-4-2): Archer; Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, M Wallace; J Wallace, Leonard, Williams, Ferguson; Gregory (Hutchinson 90), O’Brien (Elliott 65). Booked: M Wallace. Goal: M Wallace 5.
Referee: J Moss (West Yorks).