Match Preview: Millwall v Pompey

All you need to know about Carabao Cup test

10 August 2021

There will be plenty of familiar faces on show at The Den in this evening’s Carabao Cup first round tie (7.45pm kick-off).

Pompey stars John Marquis, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Shaun Williams are all returning to their former club.

Meanwhile, Millwall can call upon the services of ex-Fratton favourites Ben Thompson and Jed Wallace in their midfield.

The latter was on target at the weekend, as Gary Rowett’s troops – who finished 11th in the second tier last term – drew 1-1 at QPR.

It is the first meeting between the sides since both occupied the Championship during the 2011/12 campaign.

The Londoners won both contests 1-0, with a certain Harry Kane netting the winner at Fratton Park during a Lions loan spell.

Pompey reached the second round of this competition last term, as an unconvincing penalty victory at Stevenage was followed by an exit at the hands of top-flight Brighton.

Millwall made it one step further, seeing off Crawley and Cheltenham before falling to Burnley on home soil.

In the event of this evening’s contest finishing all square after 90 minutes, the tie will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Sky Sports Football following the conclusion of Wednesday evening’s televised match.

TEAM NEWS
New signings Joe Morrell and Louis Thompson will not feature against Millwall after the midfielders completed moves to Pompey.

Paul Downing and Ellis Harrison are approaching a return to full fitness, while Jayden Reid (knee) and Liam Vincent (shin) are both sidelined.

Striker Mason Bennett (ankle) is missing for the hosts, who also have a doubt over defender Jake Cooper (back).

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Danny Cowley and Clark Robertson or watch the video below.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 19 wins
Millwall: 16 wins
25 draws

At Millwall
Pompey: 6 wins
Millwall: 10 wins
14 draws

TICKETS
Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets for the game. Please do not travel if you have not got a ticket.

Those fans who are collecting tickets at the ground should visit the North Stand ticket office, which is located by the away turnstiles.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Assistants: Marc Wilson and Greg Read
Fourth Official: Paul Yates

MATCH COVERAGE
iFollow subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andy Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from around 7.20pm this evening.

Please note that there is no live video stream of Carabao Cup games on iFollow, including for overseas supporters.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Wednesday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent.

BETTING
Millwall are the 11/10 favourites with VBET to win the tie after 90 minutes, while Pompey can be backed at 13/5.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for this evening’s game. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN CARABAO CUP
Games kick-off at 7.45pm unless stated

Tonight
Cardiff v Sutton (7pm)
Hartlepool v Crewe (7pm)
Crawley v Gillingham (7.30pm)
Barrow v Scunthorpe
Birmingham v Colchester
Blackburn v Morecambe
Bristol Rovers v Cheltenham
Cambridge v Swindon
Charlton v AFC Wimbledon
Derby v Salford
Exeter v Wycombe
Forest Green v Bristol City
Hull v Wigan
Ipswich v Newport
Mansfield v Preston
Oldham v Tranmere
Peterborough v Plymouth
Port Vale v Sunderland
Rotherham v Accrington
Sheffield United v Carlisle
Shrewsbury v Lincoln
Stevenage v Luton
Stoke v Fleetwood
Walsall v Doncaster
Bolton v Barnsley (8pm)
Reading v Swansea (8pm)

Tomorrow
Blackpool v Middlesbrough
Burton v Oxford
Coventry v Northampton
Leyton Orient v QPR
Nottingham Forest v Bradford

LAST SEASON IN ROUND ONE

Match Reports

Millwall 2 Pompey 1

Blues exit Carabao Cup at The Den

10 August 2021

Ronan Curtis in Carabao Cup action for Pompey at MIllwall — Photo: Jason Brown

An early goal from Reeco Hackett-Fairchild was not enough to keep Pompey in the Carabao Cup, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Millwall.

And they had to play almost half the match with just 10 men following Callum Johnson’s red card early in the second half.

It was a fine effort from Hackett-Fairchild that broke the deadlock, but Scott Malone and George Saville netted in quick succession to give the Championship side an interval advantage.

Johnson was then dismissed for a late challenge, although Hackett-Fairchild almost snatched a late leveller for the Blues.

Danny Cowley made three changes from the side that won at Fleetwood in the league at the weekend.

Shaun Williams came in for his competitive debut against his former club, while there were also starts for Johnson and Hackett-Fairchild.

Lee Brown, Kieron Freeman and Marcus Harness all dropped to the bench and Connor Ogilvie reverted to his usual left-back position.

Ex-Fratton favourite Jed Wallace was handed a start by the home side, but Ben Thompson had to be content with a place among the substitutes.

Pompey made a perfect start to the contest, as HACKETT-FAIRCHILD roamed forward and cut onto his left foot before slamming home an unstoppable shot to open his account for the club.

The visiting support had been in fine voice from long before kick-off and that goal only served to whip them into more of a frenzy.

But Millwall grew into the game and started to enjoy more possession before levelling the tie midway through the first half.

Alex Bass got down to deal with an angled drive from Wallace, but Malone reacted quickest to fire the loose ball into the net.

And it soon got worse for the Blues after Sean Raggett had thrown himself into the path of a Tom Bradshaw effort.

The ball was recycled back into the box and Saville was left in far too much space to slot past Bass and turn the match on its head.

It might have got even worse for Pompey just before the break, as Ryan Tunnicliffe played a loose pass inside his own box.

Benik Afone was the grateful recipient of the ball, only for Bass to come to his team-mate’s rescue with a fine stop.

Half Time: Millwall 2 Pompey 1

Cowley made a switch at the break, with Leicester loanee George Hirst leading the line in place of John Marquis.

And there was plenty of controversy once the action got back underway, with Johnson at the centre of it.

First the defender appealed for a penalty when his cross appeared to hit an arm in the area, but referee Charles Breakspear was not interested.

And the official upset the Pompey right-back even more moments later, brandishing a straight red card for a challenge on Bradshaw.

Cowley was forced into another change, with Gassan Ahadme the man to make way for Kieron Freeman.

Williams also made way just past the hour mark and received an ovation from both sets of supporters as he trudged off to be replaced by Michael Jacobs.

The game was drifting, with the Londoners content to keep possession, but the Pompey fans made their own entertainment in the stands.

They serenaded Thompson as he warmed up for the home side and asked for waves from both Cowley brothers.

Millwall had a chance to wrap things up on 76 minutes, with a firm header from substitute Matt Smith coming back off the post.

And Bass then came quickly off his line to narrow the angle for Mahlon Romeo and force the wing-back to shoot wide.

Pompey almost made them pay for their profligacy, as Hackett-Fairchild raced clear on the closing stages.

He eventually managed to squeeze a shot past George Long, only for a well-placed Ryan Leonard to head from the line and ensure the Lions would book their spot in the second round.

Millwall (3-4-1-2): Long; Leonard, Hutchinson (c), Cooper; Romeo, Kieftenbeld, Saville, Malone (Thompson 79); J.Wallace (Mahoney 66); Bradshaw (Smith 66), Afobe
Goals: Malone 21, Saville 27
Booked: Cooper
Subs not used: Bialkowski, Pearce, M.Wallace, Mitchell

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; Johnson, Raggett, Robertson (c), Ogilvie; Tunnicliffe, Williams (Jacobs 61); Hackett-Fairchild, Gassan (Freeman 52), Curtis; Marquis (Hirst 46)
Goals: Hackett-Fairchild 4
Sent off: Johnson
Booked: Hackett-Fairchild
Subs not used: Bazunu, Mnoga, Brown, Harness

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 7,915 (2,000 Pompey fans)