Millwall started the second Neil Harris era with a 2–1 win over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Goalscorer: SOU: 34' Ché Adams MIL: 5' Japhet Tanganga, 44' Zian Flemming (PK)
Shots (On Goal): MIL: 8(3) SOU: 14(7)
Possession: MIL: 20% SOU: 80%
Man of the Match: Japhet Tanganga
Tanganga’s first senior goal
I swear the Lions’ defender was offsides in the build-up to the finish, but Japhet Tanganga sacrificed everything to put Millwall up 1–0 in the fifth minute.
George Saville played a looping free kick toward the edge of Southampton’s penalty area and Tanganga just beat Saints’ goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to the aerial service. Tanganga’s header floated into the Southampton net as he was clattered by Bazunu, keeping the defender down for multiple minutes after scoring the first senior goal of his career.
All credit to Tanganga for sacrificing his body for the crest, earning a goal in the process and sending the over 2,700 travelling Millwall fans into a frenzy.
Jake Cooper is cooked
There isn’t any way around the reality that Jake Cooper simply isn’t the player he was a few years back. His quality has been dropping all season, mostly without his personal life coach Shaun Hutchinson alongside him, and it’s high time to get the big man out of the Millwall lineup.
Seriously, what’s the point of having a 6'6 defender if he can’t beat Ché Adams to an aerial chance in the 34th minute despite being draped over the Saints’ attacker?
It remains to be seen if Neil Harris can bring out the old Jake Cooper for the final portion of this season. Millwall need that old Cooper and if he isn’t back soon, someone else deserves a shot at wearing the captain’s armband.
Bus successfully parked
Southampton had the ball 80% of the contest and couldn’t secure a victory over Millwall. Neil Harris is back, baby!
