Southend United 2 Millwall 1 – Theo Robinson double earns Shrimpers pre-season victory at Roots Hall
BY JAKE SANDERS
Theo Robinson scored two goals in three second-half minutes as Southend came from behind to beat Millwall 2-1 at Roots Hall in pre-season.
An own goal from Nathan Ralph right at the start of the second-half looked set to earn the Lions their second friendly win in the space of four days and continue their 100 per cent pre-season record on home soil, but Robinson had other ideas, coolly finishing on 76 minutes before heading home from a corner three minutes later.
With the quick turnaround from their victory at Gillingham on Sunday, Ryan Leonard – returning to his former club for the first time since leaving Roots Hall in 2018 – Shane Ferguson and Jiri Skalak were the only three to keep their places from that win, whilst Jon Dadi Bodvarsson made his first start in Lions colours. There were also starts for 20-year-old goalkeeper Ryan Sandford and young right-back Danny McNamara as Neil Harris made eight changes from Priestfield.
Millwall’s best chance of a drab first-half affair came just before the half-hour mark. The lively Skalak was fouled 25-yards out and Jed Wallace stepped up and curled the resulting free-kick into the top tier of the South Stand, which summed up the standard in the 45 minutes.
Moments later Ben Thompson took matters into his own hands by beating two Southend defenders, but his wayward strike ended up outside the stadium when perhaps sliding in the unmarked Wallace, who was in aches of space to his right, would have been the better option.
Up the other end, Southend were mainly restricted to shots from distance in the first-half, with Stephen McLaughlin, Dru Yearwood and Stephen Humphrys all failing to test Sandford from outside the box.
But in truth, Millwall severely struggled to maintain possession in the opening period. A far from happy Neil Harris yelled ‘keep the ball’ at the top of his voice as the half drew to a close, moments before Bradshaw dragged harmlessly wide with the final attack.
The Lions came out after the break a totally different team and broke the deadlock on 48 minutes. Wallace drove at the Shrimpers defence before hammering a pass into Bodvarsson. The Icelandic international miss-controlled, but fortunately for Millwall, Harry Lennon’s attempted clearance came back off Ralph and the ball looped over Max Oxley and into the top corner via the crossbar.
Six minutes later – and after Harris’ side had kept the ball for well over 60 seconds – Leonard tried to mark his return to the seaside with a spectacular goal, but couldn’t keep his shot down from 25-yards, moments after Wallace tested Oxley at his near-post.
Matt Smith was introduced on the hour mark, replacing Bodvarsson, who despite his involvement in the goal, struggled to gain a foothold in the sweltering conditions.
Seconds after that substitute, Mark Milligan tried his luck with a thunderous piledriver from 35-yards, but Sandford watched it sail narrowly over.
The Shrimpers had an even better opportunity to level on 64 minutes. Leonard’s headed clearance landed at the feet of Luke Hyam 15-yards out, but the Southend man volleyed over the bar after some neat chest control.
Kevin Bond’s side continued with shots from close-range – Humphrys was next, but Sandford comfortably held his swerving strike.
The former Fulham striker went even closer on 73 minutes after some great interchanging play between him and Charlie Kelman, but he could only poke over from just inside the penalty area.
But with 15 minutes remaining, the League One side – who only survived on the final day of last season with victory over Sunderland – got themselves a deserved equaliser. Ex Lion Theo Robinson, who had been on the pitch less than three minutes, wonderfully drilled home into the top corner from 18-yards, leaving Sandford with no chance.
And the Millwall goalkeeper was called into action again moments later and he needed some sharp reflexes to deny Brandon Goodship as the Shrimpers searched for a winner.
That winner came from the resulting corner as Goodship caught Millwall off guard, picking out Robinson at the near-post, who headed home from close-range to complete an unlikely late turnaround for Southend.
PICTURES BY BRIAN TONKS
