TONY Mowbray has warned his Coventry City side that Millwall will be “driven” by the home support at The Den this Saturday and his players will have to “stand up” to the intimidation.
Mowbray’s Sky Blues hammered the Lions 4-0 in the corresponding fixture just over a year ago (above), but both sides will be much changed this weekend.
Six of the Coventry players that started that game – Reda Johnson, Jim O’Brien, Romain Vincelot, John Fleck, James Maddison and Adam Armstrong – are no longer at the club.
Seven of Millwall’s matchday 18 have also been moved on either on loan or permanently as Harris has built the rugged and powerful side to implement his direct game plan.
With no Tuesday night game for the first time this season this week, Harris gave his players Sunday and Monday off.
In contrast, Mowbray has had his players in all week as he works to turn around the form that has brought them just two goals and three points this season, and he has been emphasising to his squad what they can expect in south London on Saturday afternoon.
“They play 4-4-2, are a very hard-working team, very driven by the atmosphere in the stadium at home,” he told the local media on Friday.
“You have to stand up to Millwall at The New Den, very much the same as last year.
“They had a penalty after two or three minutes and we saved it, Armstrong scored a wonderful goal and turned it on its head.”
“It was second game in.
“They had a pretty young and new side and we came to town and finished 4-0, but they finished above us.
“I am not really interested about last year, only this week.
“If we’re lucky there will only be maybe three players in the team who played last year.
“It’s about us and we’ll go and play our football.”
Meanwhile defender Lewis Page, who is on loan at Coventry from West Ham, revealed his connection to this weekend’s opponents.
Page said: “I’m a West Ham boy, born and bred, and grew up supporting the club so I know all about the rivalry.
“I was a ball boy at Millwall once and it was mental.
“I have already had a few comments on Twitter but it’s water off a duck’s back to me and I just laugh at it.
“I am sure I will get a bit of stick from the home fans but that’s fine, it won’t bother me.
“I’ll just play my game and hopefully help Coventry get three points.
“I am sure the crowd will be up for it. They are big rivals of West Ham.
“The fans… they are like a 12th man.
“We have been working on lots of things in training this week and hopefully we can put those into play tomorrow at Millwall.”
Image source: ©Millwall FC