Love thy neighbour

These days we probably have more in common with Millwall than we care to admit. Both clubs compete in the lighter-weight division when it comes to The Championship’s financial muscle. Steve Dixon wrote an excellent piece about both of our closest neighbours in the most recent VOTV, and made a good case that there is probably more affinity between the three of us than ever before.

Millwall’s chairman John Berylson threw a lot of money Steve Lomas’ way in the summer, as is often the way when owners appoint a new manager. I was quite impressed on paper with the ex-West Ham captain’s signings, but I wrote at the time that Lomas needed a good start or the natives would get restless. They are.

Millwall carry their biggest ever wage bill and those attendances don’t get any better do they? However Berylson was witness to The Lions first win of the season on Tuesday night after flying in from Boston to I suspect give Lomas a bit of a pep-talk. Berylson doesn’t come across as a hire and fire type of boss, but he won’t be the first overseas owner to misjudge the far more tribal than any American sport of English professional football, Harvard MBA or not.

Saturday is just the two club’s 5th meeting in 16 seasons, and frankly I was happier when we were missing them. The added television cameras don’t do a lot more for my karma. The battling point at The Den aside last season we were disappointing in our derby matches, but we do get an early chance to put that right on Saturday, and it will be early as I’ll be scrapping around in my pyjamas looking for a decent internet feed.

CP was confident that our Breton warrior will be in contention although Solly will again miss out. It shouldn’t matter who pulls on that red shirt, they should know what it means, whether we have something in common with them or not.

Come on you reds!