Well yesterday was an anti climax.
Along with the anticipation of the Premier League kicking off, 3pm yesterday had a really positive feeling with it.
Back in the old routine of soccersaturday on one channel and Colin Fray on the radio. I was all set up for an exciting afternoon of football.
Well it lasted 7 minutes.
Inswinging corner from Millwall, backward flick from Henderson, 1-0 Millwall and so, so easy.
I don't understand where last season's dominance in the air has gone. Morgan and Chambers used to be ever reliable if a ball was put into the box.
Now this season, there's been the chance at Barnsley, we looked nervous the whole game against County and now this. Something needs to be done, sharpish.
At the other end of the pitch, it wasn't any better. As much as I was happy to see two up front in Garner and Findley, the emotion was short lived as either of them were rarely involved.
Fray and McGovern said it on numerous occasions yesterday of how slow we move up the pitch. Time and time again, we got the ball and played it nicely from left to right without making any progression.
Millwall were quite happy to get 11 men behind the ball and wait for us to make a mistake.
The one time we did move the ball with pace, saw Cohen get in round the back and drive a low ball across the area to which Findley chipped onto the post.
But 13 minutes from time, Millwall showed us how to do it. After keeping possession for a number of minutes, the ball was given away and four passes later, the ball was in the back of the net. 2-0 Millwall. A blistering attack on the break and we couldn't handle it. The ball was sweeped home by Liam Trotter who was superb for the Lions all afternoon.
McClaren said post match that we didn't look like scoring all game. He was spot on.
No disrespect to Barnsley or Millwall but I don't expect either of them to be challenging come the end of April. Granted, there's a long way to go and the first win will kick start things. But that first win isn't go to come if we can't score goals.
Cue the introduction of Matt Derbyshire and Ishmael Miller. Very astute signings in my opinion and I cannot wait to see them in the garibaldi red shirts. They've got a lot of pressure on them. But given the chance, they're proven goal scorers. They really do need to hit the ground running.
So, two games gone already. Bring on tuesday night away at Doncaster. Let's kill two birds with one stone as we can get our first win of the season along with our first away win.
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