Long throws are a Serioux route to goal

Millwall 2 - Leicester City

Amar Azam
Sunday 15 August 2004 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Dennis Wise, the Millwall player- manager, and his assistant, Ray Wilkins, may have spent the summer frustrated by the lack of new faces wanting to join the FA Cup runners-up as they prepare for their European adventure, but they were left wearing broad smiles after an excellent debut from one of the players they have managed to lure to the New Den.

Dennis Wise, the Millwall player- manager, and his assistant, Ray Wilkins, may have spent the summer frustrated by the lack of new faces wanting to join the FA Cup runners-up as they prepare for their European adventure, but they were left wearing broad smiles after an excellent debut from one of the players they have managed to lure to the New Den.

Full of running and endeavour, Adrian Serioux, the Canadian international midfielder who only received international clearance to make his debut on Thursday, stole the show.

Playing in a holding role alongside Wise, the dreadlocked Serioux impressed the crowd with his assured touch, accurate passing and the ability to frighten the opposition with some astoundingly long throw-ins.

"He was absolutely superb out there," said Wilkins. "The headlines will all be about his long throw and the trouble that it caused but his all-round game was very good. But he has got a serious throw and I do not think that I have ever seen a longer one.

"It is all about how you start a game and we started off well and made it difficult for Leicester. I was pleased with the way that they all performed. But we have to make sure that we build on this and keep our heads above water."

Millwall, who finished a creditable 10th in the League last season, were determined to end their record as the only side yet to score in the Championship this campaign. They nearly broke their goal jinx with just two minutes on the clock.

Serioux launched a huge throw into the Leicester penalty area which was met powerfully by Mark McCammon. Goalkeeper Ian Walker, playing despite a groin strain, reacted well to save low to his left.

Micky Adams, the Leicester manager, started with five of his summer signings in his line-up, with a further three on the bench. But despite heading to London on the back of Wednesday's East Midlands derby win at Derby County, Leicester failed to make an impact.

After 37 minutes, it was another long throw-in from Serioux, this time in the region of 50 yards, which helped to break the deadlock. As Millwall's striker Danny Dichio distracted the defence, midfielder Jody Morris stole in to edge the ball past Walker from close range.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 76th-minute when Dichio charged on to a Wise pass from deep. He out-paced Nikos Dabizas to slot low past Walker. Adams' misery was completed with five minute remaining when defender Chris Makin was sent off for a challenge from behind on Millwall substitute Stefan Moore.

Adams said: "We did not deserve to get anything from that game, it would have been an injustice if we had. We had a bad day but we have been down here before."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in