New strike duo bid to impress again

From the archive, first published Friday 8th Dec 2006.

Colin Todd is backing City's new strike team to make more capital gains at Millwall tomorrow.

Eddie Johnson's first goal since August put Todd's side on the way to a crucial victory at Leyton Orient in midweek. And his partnership with David Graham grew in confidence through the game.

Apart from the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, when Graham went off after an hour, it was the first full game the duo had played together.

With Dean Windass still banned, Todd was delighted with the way they linked up. And he is looking for more of the same at the New Den.

"It was nice to see the two strikers working well together," he said. "There were some good signs particularly when they went in behind the defence.

"Eddie finished his goal well and was very

composed. He is a good striker of the ball but sometimes he

concentrates too much for power rather than accuracy.

"The goal will do his

confidence good and David should have had one as well near the end. But their contribution was fine and hopefully they can build on that."

The Lions clash is a dress-rehearsal for Tuesday's FA Cup meeting and Todd believes a good result will put down a marker for that.

"It feels like the old-fashioned cup ties when you'd play second and third replays. I did it a few times when you'd play against the same team several times in a row.

"Of course tomorrow's game is going to have some bearing on the next one whichever way it goes. If we win, the opposition will come out even more determined in the cup and vice versa.

"I made a lot of changes at Orient which I felt had to be done and I was pleased the team proved a point.

"One was forced with Nathan Doyle suspended and he will be in

contention. But I felt it was right to put Mark Bower back to centre half where he did exceptionally well.

"He's probably not been particularly happy at left back and you could see the difference in him going back to the

middle. I also thought Matt Clarke did very well alongside him after the skipper went off injured."

David Wetherall will have a test on his head injury but hopes to rejoin a defence that has tightened up again by letting in only one goal in three games.

But Ben Muirhead, who came off the bench at Orient, is banned for the next three games after being sent off for the reserves against Nottingham Forest.

THE OPPOSITION

Willie Donachie wants Millwall to stand strong again - as they did at Valley Parade a week ago.

The Lions boss wishes his boys would be men because he fears a lack of experience is proving their undoing.

The dour goalless draw at home to Huddersfield in midweek left Millwall in the bottom four and eight points behind the Bantams.

Donachie had been delighted with his side's FA Cup efforts last week and hopes that fighting spirit can be rekindled tomorrow.

He said: "We need 11 men out there - at Bradford last Friday we saw what 11 strong men can do. The Huddersfield game was disappointing because we had too many inexperienced or weak people.

"I can't fault the commitment or work rate for me or the club but we need strong people.

"Good players pick things up quickly but we've got a lot of young, inexperienced people who need to work on things a lot."

Left back Zak Whitbread is set to return after sitting out Tuesday for clocking up five bookings. And Donachie is hoping that Marvin Elliott will have recovered from the knock that has forced him to miss two games.

Elliott's return would bolster the central midfield and see Charlie Lee, on loan from Tottenham, drop to the bench.

Donachie also has a decision to make on the left flank after changing formations midway through the Huddersfield game. Frenchman Filippe Morais might get the starting nod over Chris Zebroski out wide.

Millwall have won only once at home in the league since August and that was two months ago against Bournemouth. Donachie's side were booed off after the Terriers stalemate and the manager can understand the frustration.

"The fans want the team to do well and they're desperate to get behind the players. But it's a two-way thing and the players have to give them something to get behind."

City have won only once in the last seven encounters. Their last success at the Lions was in February 1988 - but they have lost all three trips to the New Den.