Championship

The Hawthorns

Saturday 11th September 2021 -  15:00
West Brom
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Millwall
Key Events

Millwall preview

West Bromwich Albion return to Sky Bet Championship action on Saturday following the conclusion of the September international break with a Hawthorns clash against Millwall (ko 3pm).

The Baggies have made an extremely impressive start to the season, collecting 13 points from a possible 15 on offer having won four games on the spin.

Valérien Ismaël’s men left it very, very late to beat Peterborough in their final match before the break – Semi Ajayi slotting home an injury-time winner to spark incredible scenes in the away end at the Weston Homes Stadium.

And Albion will want to pick up from where they left off in August by securing a fifth successive league victory against a Millwall side who have taken five points from their first five games.

How to follow the game

Fans unable to join us at The Hawthorns can listen to live Baggies-biased commentary from Gez Mulholland and Andy Johnson on WBA Radio.

Match passes for this game are just £2.50 or you can sign up to listen to every home and away game for £45, or spread the cost at £4.50 per month. Every package includes access to a full match replay of the game.

Fans based overseas can watch the game live on WBA TV. If you have subscribed for the season or the month just log in with your account from 15 minutes before kick off. If you don’t yet have a subscription for the game you can buy a match pass for £10.

All packages are available to purchase here https://www.wba.co.uk/video/packages

If you have any issues registering or accessing your My Albion account please contact myalbion@wbafc.co.uk 

WBA TV Matchday

Opposition 

The Lions have made a steady start to the Sky Bet Championship season, picking up five points from their opening five games.

Gary Rowett’s men won their most recent match 2-1 at home to newly-promoted Blackpool. Defender Jake Cooper scored in the last minute to give Millwall their first league victory of the year.

The 2021/22 campaign is their fifth successive season back in the second tier, with the Londoners finishing 11th or higher in three of the previous four terms. Millwall are now an established Championship club once more and they’ll have their sights set on another top-half finish come May. 

Former Birmingham, Derby and Stoke boss Rowett has been at the helm at The Den since October 2019. Including Saturday’s clash at The Hawthorns, the 47-year-old is just six games away from reaching a century in charge of the Lions. He’s won 36 of his 94 matches, losing less than a third. 

Classic match

Albion secured a 2-0 home win over Millwall in the Championship in September 2018.

Dwight Gayle opened the scoring in the 68th minute before Kieran Gibbs sealed the three points with just under 15 minutes remaining. 

Did you know? 

There have been two Millwall victories, two Albion victories and two draws in the last six head-to-head meetings.

The Baggies won the most recent encounter, claiming a 2-0 win at The Den in February 2020 in treacherous conditions thanks to Filip Krovinovic and Dara O’Shea goals.

Read all about it 

Kyle Bartley’s Baggies centenary is celebrated in this Saturday’s Albion News. 

Programmes will be available in and around the stadium and can be purchased online here

Changes to traffic management on matchdays

To further ensure the safety of fans visiting The Hawthorns on matchdays, Sandwell Council have amended the event day traffic order which is used to control traffic flow around the stadium on matchdays. The following road closures will be in place from Saturday, September 11 2021.

PRE MATCH

From 95 minutes before kick off

  • Halfords Lane closed to vehicles from Hawthorns Railway Bridge to the Birmingham Road junction, with the exception of users of club operated car parks and residents of Halfords Lane
  • Albion Estate residents can only access or leave the estate via Middlemore Road
  • Inside lane of the Westbound carriage (towards M5 Junction 1) closed

POST MATCH

  • Halfords Lane closed to vehicles from Hawthorns Railway Bridge to the Birmingham Road junction until up to 40 minutes after full time
  • Albion Estate residents can only access or leave the estate via the gated entrance on Middlemore Road
  • Birmingham Road Westbound carriage (towards M5 junction 1) will be fully closed between Park Lane and Screwfix from 10 minutes before full time for up to 40 minutes after the final whistle
  • Users of club car parks will not be able to access or leave the facilities from 10 minutes before full time until all pedestrian traffic has left the area.

Car Parking

Supporters who would like to book car parking close to the Stadium can do so by visiting www.hawthornsparking.co.uk. Passes for individual matches or seasonal passes are available to purchase directly from the provider.

Match report

Albion were held to a 1-1 draw by Millwall at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

Neither side could find a breakthrough during a stop-start first-half, which saw Karlan Grant denied from the spot.

Kyle Bartley gave the Baggies the lead following the restart but his goal was quickly cancelled out when Daniel Ballard netted for the visitors.

The result means Albion remain unbeaten six fixtures in, sitting top of the Sky Bet Championship table with 14 points.

Valérien Ismaël made one change to his starting XI as Cédric Kipré replaced the injured Dara O’Shea in the Black Country sunshine.

Sam Johnstone was forced into the first save of the game, stopping Billy Mitchell’s long-range attempt on 12 minutes.

Shortly after, Grady Diangana showed fantastic pace and beat the Millwall defence to a through ball – but his effort was dragged narrowly past the post.

Towards the end of a scrappy opening period the hosts required Johnstone to keep it goalless, the England shot-stopper denying Jed Wallace from close-range with a strong foot.

Diangana then won a penalty in first-half stoppage time, however Bartosz Bialkowski saved Grant’s spot-kick.

Kyle Bartley headed Albion ahead, but their lead was quickly cancelled out

Jordan Hugill came on for Diangana at the break, and within minutes of the restart Albion were ahead. Conor Townsend sent a superb left-footed cross straight to Bartley, and the centre-back guided it home perfectly.

But Millwall struck back almost immediately, piling on the pressure and netting through Ballard’s well-placed header.

Both teams went in search for a winner and there were opportunities at either end – Ajayi nodded off-target and Hugill dragged wide, while Johnstone denied Millwall’s Sheyi Ojo as well.

Albion had more of the ball and tried to snatch all three points in the final stages, but the goal didn’t come and it finished 1-1.

Albion: Johnstone, Ajayi, Bartley, Kipré; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Townsend; Diangana (Hugill 45), Phillips, Grant (Robinson 59).

Substitutes: Button, Taylor, Reach, Molumby, Snodgrass.

Attendance: 23,142.