A few steps down memory lane.

Saints have played Millwall a few times in the past half dozen years, three years ago we visited the New Den for a Carling Cup tie running out 4-0 winners with goals from Belmadi BWP(2) and David McGoldrick, the only survivor of that side still with the club being Kelvin Davis,and of course in 2005/06 we faced them twice in the league, winning both 2-0, Jones and Fuller doing the business at SMS and Walcott & Fuller In London.

2002/03 saw the Lions visit in the FA Cup 4th round, Saints looked to be heading out of the competition before Kevin Davies on as a sub only 10 minutes earlier popped up in injury time to equalise and keep us in the competition, 2 goals from Matt Oakley, one in extra time saw us through 2-1 in the replay.

Before that though it was 1989/90 for our last encounter, at least in a competitive fixtue, on the opening day of that year Millwall came to the Dell, a Neil Ruddock goal against his old club couldnt prevern Saints going down 2-1, at the Den Saints fared a little better drawing 2-2 with strikes from Paul Rideout and Le Tiss from the spot. that was one of only two seasons they spent in the top flight, being relegated in May 90, in those four games we drew 3 and lost that opener, so they werent our favourite opponents.

In 85/86 we drew them in both the FA & League Cups, firstly drawing 0-0 at Cold Blow Lane where only a great performance by Peter Shilton kept us in the game, in the 2nd we won 5-4 on penalties, the first time we had gone through in a cup tie by that medium.

In the FA Cup the games were reversed as they held us 0-0 at the Dell in the 5th round, before we won the replay 1-0 courtesy of a Danny Wallace goal.

Prior to that it was 77/78 in our promotion season, however the Lions could have cost us dearly, luckilyy for them though thir 3-0 win at the Den in the early part of the season added to their 3-2 win at the Dell in February helped keep them up, Millwall being one of 7 teams on 38 points, Blackpool on 37 going down in the 3rd from bottom spot.

In our spell in the then second division in the mid 70's it has to be said that Millwall were something of a bogey side, including the two games mentioned above, we met them 6 times, winning one, drawing one and losing the other four, in those four defeats we conceded a total of 12 goals scoring only 2.

The league record against Millwall is Played 44, Won 19, Drew 9 Lost 16.

In the FA cup we have played 9, Won 5 Drew 4 Lost 0

In the League Cup its Played 3 Won 1 Drew 2

Giving a grand total of Played 56, Won 25, Drew 15 Lost 16

Photo: Action Images

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