Millwall 1 Leeds 0: Warnock is not a patch on loyal servant Jackett
By Michael Walker
Millwall won their fourth game in the last five to go ninth in the Championship yesterday. The Lions are two points off the play-offs and in Kenny Jackett they have a manager of five years' service and a model of stability.
Millwall were also able to announce that Chris Wood, scorer of the goal that defeated Leeds United, has extended his loan deal from West Brom to January 1.
It would seem like a good news day down the New Den, then. But Millwall - their fans at least -delight in their 'no-one likes us' notoriety and this was an afternoon that again contained enough noise to detract from the result.
Some of that emanated from Leeds manager Neil Warnock and his displeasure at the 47th-minute red card shown to Luke Varney, which meant that for a second weekend Leeds played around half a match with only 10 men.
Some of it came from assumptions related to El Hadji Diouf's obvious annoyance with someone or something in the main stand close to the touchline. Assumptions that were denied vigorously.
And some of it came from two sets of fans seemingly determined to make Jimmy Savile's name as relevant to the game as that of Wood's.
That these two groups dislike each other is as plain as a punch in the face.
The baiting began early and continued throughout as Savile became a tiresome soundtrack. As the afternoon wore on and Millwall laboured to get past their disadvantaged opponents, the temperature dropped and the tension rose.
Those home fans closest to the 1,800 from Leeds were becoming increasingly worked up and when Millwall at last constructed an attack of speed and precision, which Wood finished off with an emphatic six-yard header, some among the home supporters surged through the stewards at the base of the Dockers Stand in an attempt to get to the visitors' end.
Logistically, it is unlikely this particular Millwall squad were ever going to reach their target - Leeds were in the upper tier - but police and stewards intervened just to make sure. A couple of those who charged were dragged away to the cells. It would be obtuse to ignore this.
Wood's goal came in the 85th minute. Leeds have now lost their last three Championship games and have not won in seven but Warnock was far from depressed by his players' performance. What concerned him more was the red card shown by referee Mark Halsey for a raised elbow in the throat of Adam Smith.
'Harsh' was Warnock's verdict. 'The game's getting soft, that's not a proper sending-off. Referees see what they want these days.
'It seems to have gone all to cock at the minute. So much effort and we're talking about the ref.' Warnock's opinion was that Luis Suarez's stamp on Wigan's Dave Jones on Saturday was much worse than Varney's intervention and the Leeds manager's anger was such that he was also furious about Tom Lees shaking Halsey's hand on the final whistle.
Kenny Jackett has just had his fifth anniversary as Millwall manager. In the five years before he succeeded Willie Donachie, the club had seven managers and a couple of caretakers.
Jackett has overseen a promotion from League One and stabilised a club with a small budget in the Championship. Now they are on the verge of the play-offs.
Jackett, 50, is an understated character and perhaps that is why he rarely generates a fuss. He deserves greater recognition.
He also deserves a mention every time Swansea City's rise is discussed because if there is one place where Jackett's name is well regarded, it is the Swansea boardroom. Jackett was boss before Roberto Martinez arrived.
Yet Varney did catch Adam Smith with a raised, if not a vicious elbow. Halsey was around 10 yards away and did not hesitate in producing a red card.
That was in the 47th minute. Leeds were comfortable at 11 versus 11 and remained relatively untroubled when reduced to 10. Even when 1-0 down they came again, led by Diouf.
Diouf is only ever popular with the supporters of his current team and he received his customary welcome from Millwall fans whenever he took possession.
Diouf has the guts to do that quite a lot and kept going here, despite the growing volume when he had the ball.
But there was to be no Leeds equaliser and with the longest proposed takeover in history still not looking near to its conclusion, Warnock was left talking hopefully about getting in a couple of loan signings before Thursday's deadline passes.
It is Crystal Palace at Elland Road next.
Millwall are quite happy with their loan signing. Wood's goal was his sixth in his last six games and Jackett's tidy team are collecting scalps.
A 4-1 win at Nottingham Forest and a 4-0 home win over Huddersfield are in their recent run. Millwall are punching above their weight.
l Kenny Jackett has just had his fifth anniversary as Millwall manager. In the five years before he succeeded Willie Donachie, the club had seven managers and a couple of caretakers.
Jackett has overseen a promotion from League One and stabilised a club with a small budget in the Championship. Now they are on the verge of the play-offs.
Jackett, 50, is an understated character and perhaps that is why he rarely generates a fuss. He deserves greater recognition. He also deserves a mention every time Swansea City's rise is discussed because if there is one place where Jackett's name is well regarded, it is the Swansea boardroom. Jackett was boss before Roberto Martinez arrived.