Leeds United welcome committee response shows where Farke's Millwall concern should really lie — YEP 5/11/24
By Graham Smyth
The last time Daniel Farke and his Leeds United players
stepped off the bus at Millwall they were given the welcome they would have
been expecting.
Among the various C-bombs that were uttered in the direction
of the Whites from home fans who had gathered at the stadium entrance, there
was some barracking that raised smiles rather than heckles. Jamie Shackleton
was told he couldn't grow a beard. Illan Meslier was called butter fingers.
Charlie Cresswell was chastised for not staying at The Den. Glen Kamara was
complemented on how he played for Rangers. Joel Piroe was body shamed. It was
not clear if any of the one-way interaction made it through the ear pods worn
by most of Farke's men, but the grin on Luke Ayling's face said that he heard
every word, words he had clearly heard before too. "What's that on your
head Ayling?" "Get a ****ing haircut."
Previewing the latest meeting of two clubs who traditionally
haven't taken much of a liking to one another, Farke admitted he was expecting
more of the same from the Millwall faithful this time round. In his view the
hostility you might find in Bermondsey of a November Wednesday evening, which
will be matched by what Leeds face on the pitch is to be welcomed.
"When you have a look at the games, they are
competitive," he said. "There are also no complaints. Sometimes a bit
of banter, it’s why we love this game so much, as long as it doesn’t cross the
line everything is okay. We need this competitive edge a little bit, both sides
try everything to win the game and sometimes it's a little bit hostile or a
spicy atmosphere. This is what you want or like as a player."
The 2023/24 London meeting between the clubs ended 3-0 to
Leeds as they took the sting out of their hosts and the home fans with an early
goal from Joel Piroe. His second and another from Georginio Rutter ended the
game as a contest. That result left Millwall down in 18th early last season.
This season they are somewhat of a different prospect. Neil Harris returned to
the club in February and tasted defeat just three times in the final 13 outings
of the season. They ended that campaign on a tear, winning five on the trot.
Momentum is a difficult thing to carry over from one season to another but the
Lions have overcome a slightly sluggish start and are unbeaten in five. They
have roared to a three-game winning streak and sit seventh, seven points behind
second-placed Leeds.
Much has been said and written about Leeds' sheer dominance
after going into the lead but Millwall's own record when they score first is a
sight to behold. Thirteen wins and three draws from the 16 occasions on which
they've got the first goal speaks to a team who know how to control their
opponents and defend a lead.
With Harris in charge and things looking up for Millwall
again, it is possible that it lights a fire under the home support and they
will bring an atmosphere far beyond what they mustered for last season’s visit
of Leeds. Farke's concern, however, when his players step off the bus this time
will not so much be that his players wilt under hostility but that they focus
on what happens on the pitch and play with a balanced mentality.
"Normally you rise on such an occasion and don't crack
under this pressure - at least this is what I expect my players to do," he
said. "And even if we would be impressed it would not help at all. It’s a
tough place to go but it’s still a game of football, still 11 v 11 on a
football pitch. The rules are still the same. It's important we find a good
balance between keeping our nerves and fire in our hearts. Stay cool in the
head but play with fire in the heart. This balance is important, especially
when you go to such a special place like Millwall and of course want to be
successful there."