We left London on the 9.30, we ventured up via Doncaster to avoid the Millwall fans going to Sheffield. Our train was full of Newcastle and about half a dozen P*l*ce going up to Tyne side.
We arrived into Rotherham about 11.50 and headed for the Rhinoceros, we met our mates who had come via Sheffield, Drew, Peter Jackson, Judith and Emily plus loads of Brighton not at many away games!
The Police soon blocked off the doors and wouldn't let any more people in, we drank up and moved up the road to a different pubsand another couple of quick drinks before heading to the ground.
The away end was already packed but we squeezed in directly behind the goal towards the front. A couple of our mates who arrived just after us were made to go in the side stand as they said our end was full! Strange when its all ticket!!
As for the match, well we played pretty well considering the pressure. We started with:
Blayney
Reid El-Abd Butters Harding
Hart Oatway Carpenter Hammond
McPhee Knight
Virgo was out injured, so a slight reshuffle needed. The game seemed to go by as a bit of a blur, then we were 1-0 up.
A free kick was swung in by Chippy and then the players were away celebrating as a Rotherham defender headed the ball into his own net. Boy did we celebrate. Luckily I had finished my pie that was heated to thermo nuclear temperature.
After that I was even more jittery. Rotherham hit the bar, but we defended stoutly.
Harding had a tough match against Campbell-Pryce, a very speedy and skilful winger.
At half time we heard Coventry 4-0 up and Crewe 0-2, so we wouldn't be safe even if we won (unless Derby scored 5!).
The second half saw us have a really good spell, Knight hit the bar, Hammond hit the inside of the post, and then Mayo who had come on for McPhee almost made the game safe.
Rotherham then went up the other end and hit the post/bar! We had switched to (with 30 minutes left)
Blayney
Reid El-Abd Butters Harding
Oatway Carpenter Hammond Mayo
Hart (Robinson) Knight
The final whistle was greeted with much relief by the 2,500 Albion fans.
Coventry won 6-2 and are safe. Cardiff snatched a point late on at Gillingham so they are safe. So its down to Brighton, Gillingham or Crewe.
We ventured to the pub by the station before heading back via Sheffield, and that was when the fun began. We had ½ an hour to spare, but all the pubs by the station were still shut, strange as Millwall should have been well clear of the place and there was no sign of anyone about (apart from Police).
We headed back to get the 18.36 to London. As we approached Platform 8 it was packed with Police. If you were Brighton you got sent to the front of the train, if Millwall to the back.
Our front 4 coaches slowly filled up with probably around 200 Brighton fans, the Millwall bit was empty. A couple of minutes before we were due to leave, the Police escorted about 350 Millwall fans to the back coaches.
The 5.30 from Sheffield had been cancelled so they had held them nearby for the next train! In the divide between Millwall and Brighton fans was about 30 Transport Police and every carriagehad 3 or 4 police as well.
Some Millwall did sit in our carriage and they were OK. We spoke to the Police and they said they had an estimated 150 "known" Millwall trouble makers on board, they had gone back for revenge after Millwall supporters coaches were bricked at the mid week game at Sheffield United last season.
The train finally got going, but soon after Chesterfield ground to a halt. The points had been set wrong and we were going the wrong way! The Driver had to get out and eventually reverse back to Chesterfield before going the right way!
We arrived into St Pancras about an hour late and that's when the Police segregation fell apart. There was soon punches flying and the Police waded in, we luckily missed this, but they a large roar went up and the Millwall nutters by us ran back up the escalator, to get involved. Not really sure what happened but the Police waded into the Millwall, and the pub on St Pancras station became the target as full of the Notts Forest firm who had been at QPR. It wasn't very pleasant, and the Police are in a no win situation. We had been invited by the Millwall lads to go to Kings Cross and wait for the P*l*ce fans coming back from Newcastle, but we politely left and got the train back home from KX Thameslink!
Anyway roll on Sunday and another nail biting 90 minutes
Blayney - 7 looked more confident and sure of himself
Reid - 7 solid game, in contention for my player of the season
Harding - 8 great game against a very tough opponent
Butters - 7 solid
El-Abd - 7 as above
Oatway - 7 lead the team superbly
Carpenter - 7 battled non stop
Hammond - 7 gets better and better
Hart - 7 best game for a while
Knight - 7 unlucky not to score, great game
McPhee - 5 never got going
Mayo - 7 pushed forward well, extra cover on the left for Harding
Robinson - only on for a few minutes
Shaaban, Jones and Dolan not used
Mark R