The fixtures computer did its mischievous best. For Valentine’s Day it sent Millwall to Leeds United, a match historically made in hell and domestic violence. It paired them in the opening game of the season too, so it could kick off in style. Millwall won that 2-0 and Leeds gained peaceable revenge at Elland Road with a 1-0 win. Remarkably, after their chaotic year in the on-off ownership of Massimo Cellino, they find themselves in the top half of the Championship.
The contention came later as Ian Holloway, Millwall’s manager, stiff as an undertaker in long, black coat, condemned the constraints on the club’s fans with regard to this fixture. Only 200-odd were allowed, travelling with vouchers and “corralled into a service station” 10 miles away where the vouchers were exchanged for tickets.
“Why should West Yorkshire Police treat us differently from everybody else? Can’t they police a Saturday match?” he said. “We should be shown respect like everyone else. The game has moved on and so has supporters’ behaviour. I’m proud of every one of our fans. When was the last time anyone on either side did anything dishonourable?” It was probably at The Den in August when Leeds were able to take over 2,000 supporters, who were taunted by home fans over the Jimmy Savile scandal. Holloway called it “disrespectful”.
He commended Leeds’ support on Saturday – the crowd was 24,000 – and “enjoyed their singing”, an expression of loyalty that carried the yearning of those let-down for the good old days before the club fell into the Machiavellian hands of Messrs Ridsdale, Bates et al. One half-expected to find it sponsored by HSBC. Certainly Cellino could have done worse in his exile than entertain Wigan’s Dave Whelan, also banned, on his yacht Nelie.
In his absence Leeds’ most “relevant person” is Neil Redfearn, finally manager after three caretaker stints and typically left behind to fill in. He had a career of valour against odds, 790 league games in all and relegated from the Premier League in successive seasons, with Barnsley then Charlton. He was a midfield Trojan, often among wooden horses, but has at his disposal here a team of exuberant skill and current confidence. He has not always pleased Cellino’s Italian contingent but he has given homegrown youth its head and is reaping the rewards. Leeds have lost only once in seven games this year and this was their fourth win in five.
Three of the youngsters combined in brisk fluency in the eighth minute to give a hint of pleasures to come. Charlie Taylor, the left-back, found Alex Mowatt, left-midfield, outside him and Sam Byram fired the pull-back just past the far post. Taylor and Byram are 21, Mowatt 20. Fourth and perhaps most exciting of Leeds’ creative young quartet turned out to be Lewis Cook, 18 this month, who time and again paused in possession before bursting past markers who thought they had his measure. There were elements of Terry Cooper, Johnny Giles and Eddie Gray in their play, individually and collectively.
Redfearn saw Mowatt as “our best player”, influenced maybe by his goal which, perversely in light of the side’s dynamic approach work, came from a free-kick deflected off the wall’s top brick shortly before half-time. “He and Charlie Taylor worked so well together on the left,” he said. “They and our other young players are developing all the time. They are so talented and have the legs to run.”
There should have been more goals as Holloway’s second-half alterations opened up chances at both ends, mostly snatched. Martyn Woolford, wanted by Leeds, may have made them think twice when he wasted Millwall’s best while Steve Morison found any number of ways of not testing David Forde in Millwall’s goal, shooting high, waiting to be blocked or flunking and feeding a team-mate. Without a goal in 14 appearances this season, nine of them starts, he has the striker’s yips. “He led the line well,” said Redfearn not untruly.
With too few visiting fans to goad, the deprived home support went for Paul Tierney, who booked two players for diving instead of giving penalties. “The Football League’s corrupt,” they sang. When the club puts its house in order, they may quickly get their deserts. Leeds are not a sleeping giant but a giant bursting to leap from a soiled bed.
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