THE letter Q is a tough one, isn’t it?
Along with X, it’s one of two letters in the alphabet that requires some serious thinking, as far as attempting to cobble together an A-Z goes.
However, how’s this – since the turn of the millennium, Millwall have been quick off the mark numerous times when it comes to goals: 69 times in the first 10 minutes of games, to be precise.
From Tim Cahill’s fifth-minute goal against Reading on the opening day of the 2000-01 season to Lee Gregory’s strike in the sixth minute against Swindon Town last Saturday, the Lions have scored inside the first 10 minutes of games nearly 70 times in the last sixteen years.
Seven of those goals have come in the first minute – the most recent being Tresor Kandol’s opener on the first day of the 2008-09 play-off final losing season against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, Neil Harris has been quickest off the mark the most times, netting six in the first 10 minutes of games in his time as a player, while the likes of Lewis Grabban, Steve Claridge, Ben May (yes, really) and Steve Morison occupy the berths behind the current manager.
As well as that, the Lions have also seen red in the first half of matches a huge 20 times since the 2000-01 season, with a quarter of those coming in the ill-fated 200-06 season, when the club lost their Championship status.
The quickest of those saw Tony Craig receive his marching orders as early as the fourth minute in a game at Leyton Orient in the 2006-07 campaign, while seven of the 20 have come on the stroke of half-time. In fact, Kevin Muscat actually managed to get himself sent off during the interval against Sheffield United in 2005, while May was sent off in the 45th minute at Burnley in 2006 – after coming on as a 44th-minute substitute!
There, that’s Q done. Bring on X…