The U21s lost 4-1 to a strong Millwall side who beat Cardiff City 5-0 last week, however Emyr Huws managed to find the net for the U’s as he tries to return to fitness and fight his way back into the first team squad.
Nana Boateng and Abdul Abdumalik both scored twice to see off the U’s in the U21 fixture at the Den, continuing their fantastic home form during this 2022/23 season.
The Lions went one up inside 10 minutes, Abdulmalik used his sharp turn of pace to create himself time and space just outside the box to execute a beautifully-struck strike past the Trialist in the U’s net.
The U’s equalised through Emyr Huws who was injured in a friendly game in preseason by a Millwall player, the Welshman has been getting himself back up to fitness and played in the U21s this week, managed to score from eighteen yards out after a deflection took his shot past the Millwall ‘keeper.
Millwall got themselves back into the lead with ten minutes to go in the first half. A corner was played into the box and Okoli got his head to it, but it was parried by the ‘keeper, it caused a scramble in the box and Boateng was there to bundle the ball over the line and get Millwall back in the lead.
After the break, the U’s managed to get themselves into the game a bit more, changing the run of play, however the Millwall defenders were well drilled and stuck to their jobs, not giving our attackers too much room. When the U’s did manage to get shots off they were saved excellently by Trueman.
Millwall scored their third after a good counter attack after good early second half pressure from the U’s, the goal scorers combined well and Boateng was pulled down in the box, he stepped up himself to take the penalty and slotted it past the U’s ‘keeper.
Millwall got themselves another penalty less than five minutes after adding a third, this time however, the Trialist did fantastically, he saved the original penalty from Drozd but couldn’t parry it out of harm’s way, Romain Esse followed up and powered it towards goal, but miraculously the U’s ‘keeper managed to save it again, leaving Millwall wondering how they didn’t add a fourth.
With ten minutes left on the clock, the U’s were doing their best to fight back into the game, pressuring Millwall high up the pitch. This saw Romain Esse escape the press brilliantly and find a ball through to Abdulmalik, who managed to add his second of the day and Millwall’s fourth with a chip.
A disappointing day at the Den for Dave Huzzey’s side.