Theres no avoiding what happened at Upton Park on Tuesday night so i felt i would like to address it and give my view and opinion.
And im not just going to slag off West Ham!
Although its tempting.
I was at the game.
I was inside the ground so i didnt see all the terrible scenes that went on outside so i cant really comment on them. From what i have heard BOTH sets of fans acted discgracefully. Doing as much damage to their own supporters by throwing bricks and bottles as they did to their supposed enemy.
Although i wasnt outside i can comment on how i feel this could have been avoided and handled.
Millwalls allocation of tickets was cut dramatically (i believe by the police). Inside the ground, away support CAN be governed and contained. With a small area to cover it is manageable by a combination of stewards and police. With this being such a local rivalry it was ridiculous to think that cutting our allocation would stop huge crowds of "fans" coming down to Upton Park. Those who wished to start trouble would still make the journey and, as we saw, the trouble would erupt in far more widespread and almost unpoliceable terrain.
Both sets of fans are at fault here.
Now to inside the ground.
As you would expect the atmosphere was intense.
Both sets of fans exchanging abuse from before the kick off.
When Millwall went ahead it was a dream come true for all the South London lot.
From that point onwards Millwall seemed ontop. Shockingly we werent just out working West Ham but actually outplaying them! Harris, Martin and Hacket were having a field day running rings around a team two leagues our senior.
For the 70 or so minutes that we were on top you heard very little from the West Ham fans.
in about the 70th minute the police had some trouble trying to stop a number of West Ham fans in each corner next to the away support from trying to burst through.
In general it was handled well.
The police at times seemed a little heavy handed but, in the inflamed environment, it wasnt too shocking. The Millwall fans jeered but remained in their area of the ground (which is pretty easy to do when you are winning. Taking the higher ground is far easier then).
Then, against the run of play in my opinion, West Ham equalized.
The Hammers fans flooded onto the pitch.
Millwall did not.
Once order had been restored (the police and stewards ellecting to let things die down naturally instead of going full force) the game continued.
As soon as it got into extra time it was clear that from the 90minutes of effort from Millwall, they were out of gas. West Ham started to take control. There were two more goals and two more pitch invasions. All from West Ham.
I was very proud to see all the Millwall fans, whilst angered, remain in their allocated area. A mindless few threw things on the pitch but onto empty ground. Not at people. Still a condemable act of course. But the restraint shown was impressive.
I heard alot of people complain that, after each invasion mor epolice and more stewards where allocated to police the MILLWALL end. This may seem bias and unfair but, once again i would applauded the policing. it was clear that they could not handle the whole ground so by standing infront of the millwall fans it would stop anyone from our end that may try to invade the pitch and also stop anyone getting to us. Preventing a clash of fans inside the ground should be the main objective.
I did, however, feel this gave little consideration to the safety and well being of our players, left stranded on the pitch amongst hoards of rival fans.
After the final whistle we were kept in the ground for about 20minutes as the home crowd left. During this time the Millwall team came out to applauded their support for remaining in their allocated area and showing support from start to finish. They threw their shirts into the crowd and there was mutaul appreciation.
I feel that Millwall, as a club, handled this tie as best they could.
Millwall HAVE a hooligan element. That is a fact that is engrained in our history and reputation. But, as a club, they have spent years doing all they can to control and eleminate this from our game. To get tickets for this tie you had to be a season ticket holder. For all away games you have to be a member of the supporters club so that they have all your details on file. If you are identified causing trouble you are banned. THIS is why the behaviour of the Millwall fans IN the ground was passionate but within reasonable restraints.
The actions OUTSIDE, from what i have heard, were disgraceful. I have been going to millwall for 20 years and I am not the type of fan to just pass it off as part of the fun of it all. I do, however, feel I have to use this space to highlight the relentless and constant efforts on the part of the people at this football club to do all they can to stamp this behaviour out.
Now, most of y'all on here that follow me probably dont give a shit about football so i will stop my rant now!
Well done to everyone at Millwall, on the pitch, backroom staff and in the crowd.
As the players left and we were finally let out of the ground a chorus rung throughout our support...
"We're proud of you Millwall"


p.s. I would also like to quickly condemn the actions of one Carlton Cole who repeatedly made obscene gestures at the away support. At such a volatile game someone of his stature in the game should NOT be further insighting things. I have heard reports that he had suffered racist abuse. I did not hear this but, if this was the case then the fans responsible AND Mr Cole should both be punished accordingly.