Why did I waste a night watching Millwall v Cardiff? (From News Shopper)

Why did I waste a night watching Millwall v Cardiff?

2:12pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport

Darius Henderson goes close with a header - but not close enough. ALAN STANFORD.

MILLWALL columnist MATT LITTLE took nothing positive from last night’s defeat to Cardiff and says he can’t really blame the stay away fans after the Lions again failed to get a five-figure crowd for the second consecutive home game.

LAST night felt like a complete waste of time and totally pointless.

Shovelled down dinner in double quick time.

People pushing and shoving to get on the train to South Bermondsey from London Bridge.

Crammed in like cattle.

Popped into the club shop, full of overpriced tat.

Walked past a massive and unmoving queue for the ‘tickets collection’ booth.

Bought a programme for £3 – it lists our achievement for winning the second tier, and therefore promotion to the top flight, on the same level as our 2000/01 third tier championship title for some reason.

Walked past an empty SE16 beer tent area, which was closed long before kick-off.

Sat in a seat and gave a lukewarm reception to the players, most of whom were a part of the side that got thrashed up at Hull City.

Looked around, stadium under half full.

Cardiff City ran out in their new colours of red and with a red dragon on their badge, the Bluebirds airbrushed from history.

Listened to a few hundred Welshmen sing that annoying Palace Ultras ditty ‘we follow’.

Some were wearing red replica tops.

A Cardiff goal was ruled out, the free-kick went straight in but was not given due to a pull in the ‘build-up’.

We shaded the first half by passing it around in front of the Cardiff players nicely.

Half-time was spent queuing to get into a smoke filled toilet.

Cardiff started the second half brightly and scored two well struck goals without much resistance.

We made a quick change and brought on Chris Taylor and Chris Wood.

The game ended.

Waited at South Bermondsey station alongside surly police officers.

A surge to get on the train, no-one wanted to have to wait while they sorted the away fans out.

Crammed in like cattle again.

Found out Charlton had lost again, but we were only just above them, so no room to crow about it.

Got home and had a cup of tea.

I took nothing interesting or joyful from the entire evening, I learnt nothing I didn’t already know.

That is to say that using South Bermondsey station is a crappy experience, the match day experience often leaves you cold, we can’t rely on fancy dan passing football against the likes of Cardiff and the Millwall faithful certainly will not turn up in numbers to watch it.

Oh, and that Charlton won a very poor League One.

Most of us can put up with all the dross leading up to getting inside the stadium as long as there is something worth supporting.

We didn’t play badly but it was just powder-puff, there was no rallying point or Millwall roar, just the sound of seats emptying as players argued over what they should do about taking a corner.

The club wonder why more of the Wembley crowd don’t turn up regularly.

Well, I think it would be pointless telling them.

I suppose this blog is pretty pointless too, but why should I put in the effort when the players put in such a mediocre shift?

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