v 
SHRIMPERS
A tough old week for Southend continues with the trip to Millwall Tuesday evening, not a fixture you could do with at the moment, re-arranged as it was as the Lions were involved in the third round of the cup.
I thought the Wycombe game was strolling along to a welcome three points when Payne struck a shot he'll do well to repeat and then the whole game turned on it's head. Talk about a fragile confidence at the moment, if Millwall score early God only knows what might happen.
And just when I believed they might not have much up front, not that we can shout about that, they grab Shaun Batt, all 6ft 4 ins of him. Expect Francis to stay at centre-half, presuming M'Voto is not considered ready.
Hey ho, half full and all that, they only won at struggling Oldham with a dodgy penalty so if we keep our shape and work hard for each other a result could be on the cards. (I mean, if bloody Orient can win at the Valley!)
If we don't get something from here or against Swindon the table could make scarier reading than Stephen King at his best around 4.50pm on Saturday afternoon.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Sankofa, Francis, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, Grant, McCormack, Moussa, Scannell, Paterson.
Subs: Joyce, Herd, O'Keefe, Christophe, Spencer, Freedman, Walker.
OPPOSITION
Lions boss Kenny Jackett has brought in 22-year-old striker Shaun Batt from Peterborough United and he is expected to make his debut against the Shrimpers.
Defender Andy Frampton continues to recover from a calf injury and is considered doubtful.
Midfielder Marc Laird was on the bench at Oldham after passing a late check on his calf problem and should be in the squad.
Ex-Blue Theo Robinson, now at Huddersfield, continues to be linked with the south London club, while midfielder Alan McCormack was subject to a 200k bid by Millwall at the start of the season.
Millwall are unbeaten in their last three league outings and a win could lift them into the play-off places.
| 4 | Colchester United | 25 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 39 | 26 | 46 | +13 | ||||
| 5 | Swindon Town | 24 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 35 | 30 | 44 | +5 | ||||
| 6 | Huddersfield Town | 25 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 29 | 42 | +19 | ||||
| 7 | Milton Keynes Dons | 26 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 39 | 33 | 42 | +6 | ||||
| 8 | Millwall | 26 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 37 | 29 | 40 | +8 | ||||
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 25 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 34 | 36 | 38 | -2 | ||||
The last Time Out: Oldham Athletic 0 Millwall 1
A Controversal Neil Harris penalty saw Millwall win away for only the second time this season to keep them in touch of the top six in League One.
Manager Kenny Jackett had promised The Lions' luck with officials would even itself out eventually after some contentious decisions earlier in the campaign, and Steve Morison certainly seemed to get the rub of the green in winning a second-half spot kick.
Latics skipper Sean Gregan was pulled up for an alleged push and Harris made no mistake from the spot.
Lewis Grabban should have put the result beyond doubt 15 minutes from time after Morison's curler had come back off a post, but Dean Brill recovered brilliantly to keep the home side in the game.
However a gritty and resilient defensive performance, emphasised by six yellow cards, ensured Millwall held on for all three points.
(Report supplied by www.southlondon-today.co.uk)
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PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
The ground is a dramatic improvement from the dank and foreboding 'Old' Den and is quite smart looking. The new Den is made up of four fair sized two tiered stands that are of the same height. The corners of the ground are open, apart from one corner where there is a large video screen.
Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the North Stand (usually in the upper tier only). Like the general improvement in football, a trip to Millwall is not as threatening as it once was. However, it is hardly a relaxing day out and many find the Den to be quite intimidating.
The most popular method of travel for away fans to the Den, is by official club coach, or by train from London Bridge. The Police are well drilled in dealing with the coaches and supporters arriving by train. Once inside the ground you will generally find the stewards helpful & friendly.
(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)
Sunny intervals during the day at 3c's, sinking to minus 1 in the evening!
REF
The man in the middle is Karl Evans from Greater Manchester.
He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/135/1/karl-evans
FIXTURES
Played Monday, January 25th: Charlton Athletic 0 Leyton Orient 1
Tuesday, January 26th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Brentford v Southampton, Colchester v MK Dons, Exeter v Carlisle, Hartlepool v Gillingham, Millwall v Southend, Stockport v Brighton, Swindon v Leeds United, Tranmere v Yeovil, Walsall v Norwich.
BET
To Win:
Millwall - 8/11, Draw - 11/4, Southend - 9/2.
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/millwall_487159/index.shtml
By Coach go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/millwall_450412/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking hostelries around Millwall, and we recommend you stick close to London Bridge station, go here:
HISTORY
Millwall "Rovers" were founded by the workers of a gentlemen's club in Millwall in the East End of London on the Isle of Dogs in 1885. J.T. Morton was first founded in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1849 to supply sailing ships with food.
They opened their first English cannery and food processing plant on the Isle of Dogs at the Millwall dock in 1870, and attracted a workforce from across the whole of the country, including the East Coast of Scotland who were predominantly Dundee Dockers.
Millwall, (now playing under the name of "Millwall Athletic"), went on to become founder members of the Southern League which they won for the first two years of its existence and were runners up in its third.
In those days, The Football League was in its infancy and consisted mainly of northern clubs such as Bury, Notts County, Sheffield United and Preston North End.
In the south, the Southern League was not only seen as a rival league, but as prestigious. Millwall were also the Western League Champions in 1908 and 1909.
The Lions played on a variety of grounds on the Isle of Dogs. It was not unusual for Millwall to attract thirty or forty thousand spectators to a game, especially at their second ground at East Ferry Road. This was quite an achievement, given that travelling facilities were sparse.
They are most famous for The Den at New Cross, SE14, which they moved to in 1910.
1993-94 was their first season at their new ground, also known as The Den, which was opened by the then Labour Party leader John Smith MP on 4 August 1993.
The Millwall board appointed the former Swansea manager Kenny Jackett manager on 6 November 2007 and he rewarded them with a play-off place last season where they beat Leeds in the semi-finals but lost to Scunthorpe 3-2 in the Final at Wembley.