[lfc-news] Millwall report - PA

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PA Sport, 26 Oct 2004
Millwall 0 Liverpool 3

Milan Baros came off the bench to score a classy second-half double and
ensure an under-strength Liverpool moved into the fourth round of the
Carling Cup.

Rafael Benitez's team were already leading through Salif Diao's 18th-minute
goal when the Czech Republic striker, on for the injured Florent
Sinama-Pongolle, struck the second 20 minutes from time and added a third
with another superb finish in stoppage time.

Neil Harris missed three good chances for Millwall, who were industrious
and willing throughout, but Benitez's decision to make 10 changes to the
side that beat Charlton 2-0 on Saturday was ultimately vindicated.

Defender Djimi Traore was the only member of the Liverpool starting XI
tonight who began Saturday's game.

Youngsters Darren Potter, Zak Whitbread and Neil Mellor were handed rare
starts, while players like Jerzy Dudek, Salif Diao, Josemi and Igor Biscan
were given the chance to make their claim for a regular first-team spot.

Millwall player-manager Dennis Wise surprisingly left himself out of the 16
as one of three changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Cardiff, with Adrian
Serioux coming into midfield and Marvin Elliott and Neil Harris replacing
Josh Simpson and the cup-tied Barry Hayles respectively.

Millwall should have gone ahead with the game less than five minutes old.

Harris beat the offside trap to race onto David Livermore's long ball down
the left, but the striker's first touch was woeful and Dudek came out
quickly to claim the ball.

That move appeared to spark Liverpool into life, and it took a fine block
from Kevin Muscat to prevent Mellor's shot troubling goalkeeper Graham
Stack after Florent Sinama-Pongolle had played the ball into the path of
his strike partner.

But Liverpool did go in front in the 18th minute. Whitbread challenged with
Millwall defender Darren Ward in the air following Potter's corner, and
when the ball fell to Diao the Senegal midfielder drilled the ball into the
right corner from 10 yards.

But Millwall did not lose heart, and Serioux caused plenty of uncertainty
in the visitors' goalmouth with three huge throw-ins from the right.

Millwall continued to press and Elliott was unlucky not to control the ball
when Jody Morris' right-wing corner reached him on the edge of the six-yard
box in the 33rd minute.

Morris and Jo Tessem then linked cleverly on the left and Tessem's cross
was blocked for a corner that Harris headed over from an unmarked position
at the far post.

But the home defence always looked vulnerable against the pace and trickery
of Sinama-Pongolle, and it took three defenders to stop him after Morris'
tackle on Diao had rebounded into the French striker's path.

Sinama-Pongolle insidious run after Serioux had been dispossessed should
have resulted in a second goal for Rafael Benitez's team, but Mellor could
only steer the ball into the arms of Stack after his team-mate had set him
up 10 yards from goal.

Sinama-Pongolle squandered a fantastic chance to put the game beyond
Millwall when he raced onto Potter's through ball and rounded Stack - only
to steer the ball into the side-netting after over-running it.

The young forward fell awkwardly after shooting and had to be replaced by
Milan Baros in the 53rd minute.

Almost immediately, Millwall responded and Harris was sent clear on Dudek
after a clever reverse pass from the left by Tessem, but once more the
27-year-old shot too close to the Polish 'keeper, who saved with his legs.

Baros made virtually certain of Liverpool's passage into the fourth round
with the second goal 20 minutes from time.

Stack came out to push the ball away from the feet of the marauding Potter,
but unfortunately for the Millwall keeper the ball fell to Stephen Warnock,
who switched it right for Baros to evade Livermore and supply a classy
finish into the unguarded net.

With little more than 10 minutes remaining, some supporters in the lower
tier of the away end clashed with police guarding the perimeter of the
pitch, but the officers managed to prevent the situation from escalating.

Trouble also flared on the field as Muscat and Baros had to be separated by
a team-mates when the Czech Republic striker tackled the Millwall skipper
after the ball had gone and both players were cautioned by referee Alan Wiley.

Liverpool almost claimed a third when Darren Ward headed Potter's free-kick
against his own bar in the 83rd minute.

But Baros outpaced Lawrence in stoppage time and shot into the left corner
to secure a 3-0 success.

Millwall: Stack, Muscat, Ward, Lawrence, Livermore, Dunne (Healy 79),
Elliot, Morris, Serioux (McCammon 77), Tessem, Harris
Subs not used: Marshall, Simpson, Cogan
Booked: Muscat, Serioux

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Henchoz, Traore, Whitbread, Potter, Biscan, Diao,
Warnock (Riise 81), Mellor (Finnan 65), Sinama Pongolle (Baros 52)
Subs not used: Kirkland, Carragher
Booked: Diao, Mellor, Baros
Goals: Diao 18, Baros 70, 90

Att: 17,655
Referee: A Wiley

BAROS HOPES SCORING TOUCH IS BACK

Liverpool striker Milan Baros hopes his two goals in the 3-0 Carling Cup
third-round win at Millwall will give him the confidence to score against
better opposition.

The Reds - with 10 changes from Saturday's victory over Charlton - were
leading 1-0 through Salif Diao's 18th-minute strike when the Czech Republic
forward was introduced for the injured Florent Sinama-Pongolle in the 50th
minute.

He wrapped up victory in an bad-tempered match with goals in the 70th and
90th minutes.

"In the second half we had more space up front. I am happy with the goals
and hopefully they will continue in the league and Champions League," said
Baros.

"I created a few chances at the weekend and missed them so for the
confidence, especially for a striker, it is important to score the goals.

"The young players had a chance to show how good they are and they played
well today."

Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was rarely troubled by a limited Millwall side but
he too praised the younger players who contributed.

"I think we all played very well. I think we all have to be satisfied with
the performance," he told Sky Sports.

"The coach rested a few players and the youngsters has a chance to show
themselves.

"It was important to score the early goal, it was important to keep cool
because when you come down to Millwall you expect a bit of fun on the pitch
in 90 minutes."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to comment on Millwall's
strong-arm tactics which saw heavy challenges flying in all over the pitch.

"I don't want to talk about these kind of things. It think it is better for
me to say nothing," he said, preferring to focus on the positives from the
performance.

"I am delighted with the players because they fought and they played well
and it was difficult, and if you score three goals and win it is fantastic
for the players.

"We kept the ball for a long time and that is important for the control of
the game. We kept our concentration during the game and that was important
for the younger players."

However, Benitez would not reveal whether he would continue to play a
reserve side in the competition as Liverpool's fixture list gets more crowded.

All he would say was: "If they don't play many games during the season or
in the Premier it is important to play in the cup."


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