Sunday, July 19

A good start



Millwall kicked off their pre-season tour of Ireland with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Galway United on Sunday night.
Lions boss Kenny Jackett used the game as an opportunity to field virtually two different teams in either half of what proved to be a one-sided encounter.
The 100-strong band of Lions fans that made the trio over to the west coast had an opportunity to get a first glimpse of new signings Steve Morison and John Sullivan, along with youngsters Omar Beckles and Kiernan Hughes-Mason, plus trialist Jack Smith.
It proved to be a good work-out for Jackett's squad, with Gary Alexander, Chris Hackett, Neil Harris and Ashley Grimes all hitting the back of the net.
Millwall dominated long spells of the game and created their first opportunity after just three minutes when Lewis Grabban's firm header from a Scott Barron cross was parried at full stretch by home keeper Ger Hanley.
The Lions early pressure paid off after 11 minutes. Morison's inviting ball from the left was flicked onto the bar by the lively Grabban. Fortunately the ball fell invitingly for Alexander who thumped home.
Morison and Alexander both had efforts blocked in quick succession before Grabban drilled wide from 10 yards as The Lions continued to pose a threat going forward.
Some nice interplay between Dave Martin and Scott Barron on the left flank saw the ball find its way to Alexander via a deft Ali Fuseini lay-off, but the frontman's low shot was held at the near post by Hanley.
The keeper was called into action again on the half-hour mark, saving smartly to hold Grabban's blistering shot at the second attempt.
Morison sent a left-foot effort wide of the mark a couple of minutes before the break as Millwall finished the opening half as positively as they had started.
Boss Jackett made seven changes at the break, with Alan Dunne partnering Tony Craig in the centre of defence and Neil Harris spearheading the attack with Morison at the other.
Galway had a couple of half-chances early on as Sean Kelly twice tried his luck from distance. His first effort was deflected for a corner and the second comfortably dealt with by Sullivan in the visiting goal.
Millwall took a firm grip on proceedings with two well-worked goals in the space of 90 seconds around the 70-minute mark.
Morison's last contribution before being replaced by Hughes-Mason was to set up Hackett, whose accurate angled finish made it 2-0.
Just 90 seconds later Hackett turned provider with a pin point centre that saw Harris' diving header power into the top right corner.
The Lions, who were denied a penalty early in the second half when Barron was sent sprawling, had a second appeal waved away by the official when Harris was up-ended by Hanley, earning the striker an unfortunate booking.
But Chopper was all smiles again just two minutes later, picking up a neat return pass from Hughes-Mason and crossing for Grimes, who swept home the fourth goal with aplomb.
Hughes-Mason was unlucky not to mark his debut with a goal, but was twice thwarted by Hanley in the dying minutes of a convincing Millwall win.

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