Tyrone Henry: A Changing Attitude

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March began with our third win in a row with a 2-0 win over Preston North End thanks to Jón Daði Böðvarsson and Troy Parrott getting on the scoresheet.

Against our to-be play-off rivals Blackburn Rovers, we were always chasing the game as Adam Armstrong tore our defence to pieces with almost every attack. We were unable to stop the former Newcastle man as he scored a hat-trick to win Blackburn the game 3-2.

Wayne Rooney helped Derby on their way as we lost our second consecutive match of the month 2-0.

We were able to get back on track with a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers as two of our defenders scored in the second half as Matty Pearson and Sean Raggett scored.

An early Murray Wallace own goal helped Middlesbrough secure an important 1-1 draw as Bradshaw scored a penalty to equalise with 17 minutes to go.

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April began very impressively with a 4-0 demolition job over Rotherham, which was quickly replied to with an extremely disappointing 3-0 loss at the hands of Stoke in the next game.

The high scoring continued into the Swansea match, beating them 5-1 thanks to a phenomenal goalscoring performance from Troy Parrott as he bagged four goals within the final 25 minutes, thus shoving Swansea into the relegation spots.

The next three matches were to be vital for us as we played the table-toppers, 2nd place and 4th place all in a row. We failed to win any of them, with the best result coming against Bournemouth in a scoreless draw.

We were able to confirm our play-off place despite losing to Watford.

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At the top of the table, Brentford were able to confirm their first return to the top-flight since 1947, winning the title in the process.

In the play-offs, Bournemouth (2nd), Blackburn (3rd), Watford (4th) and ourselves (5th) have all confirmed their spots, with Bournemouth on the brink of securing automatic promotion in their final two games.

In the battle for 6th place, Norwich are in the driving seat with a two-point lead over 7th placed Barnsley. However, one defeat for any team could mark them out of the race with any team up until 12th still in the running for the play-offs.

In mid-table, Wycombe Wanderers have defied all expectations by staying in the division comfortably, ahead of the final relegation spot by 14 points.

At the bottom, Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday have been confirmed as relegated to League One, to be replaced only by Portsmouth so far. Swansea City and Luton Town will have to fight out the only relegation battle left in the final two games.

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Scott: Some people evolve into dinosaurs, ironically

Not the best of month's when it comes to April. Although play-offs have been secured, you're always looking to go into them with plenty of momentum. Millwall will be hoping that the last couple of games will bring better results and performances.

To have finished in the playoffs in your first season in charge is impressive tbh, and although the conclusion to the season was a tiny bit disappointing: you'd already done enough.

Best of luck in the playoffs!

Right, didn't think I'd have that much to catch up with less than a week since last reading but here we are. I echo Scott's comment from a couple posts ago, exceptionally well written with your graphics as always being top notch.

Your form at times has been worrying especially against some of the leagues strugglers but with the play-offs secured that hasn't hurt you it seems. April is another tough month heading into the play-offs but Henry has shown his ability to get the team up for a game on numerous times already.

A very fortunate draw to get West Ham in the FA Cup for what would have been a spectacle and a shame to lose but a good fight against a side who sit a league above with much better resources.

In the transfers, I couldn't be less surprised to see you bring in someone like Pearson with his ability to get stuck into a challenge, it completely fits both you and Millwall very well, another passion merchant added ;). On the outgoings, a shame to loose Cooper but it was money that simply couldn't be turned down in the current climate. More surprisingly is the sale of Bialkowski although again with the money coming in, I understand the reasoning.

Henry has had a great start to life and well deserving of his contract extension, I wonder how the play-offs go!

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May was a month with little meaning to us, having secured our play-off place in April against Watford. I tried to use this month as a morale-booster to try and get a couple of wins before the important fixtures.

For this reason, it was disappointing to fall to a late loss at the hands of Bristol City as O’Dowda, Wells and Walsh helped Bristol take the three points.

We made wholesale changes to the starting eleven against Coventry City in our last game of the season, featuring only three players who have made over 10 starts this season.

We failed to win for our fifth consecutive match, losing 2-1 to the bottom side, with Jón Daði Böðvarsson only able to score a consolation goal just after half-time.

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The season ended with Brentford walking to the league title by 5 points, finishing on 99 points exactly. Bournemouth took their chance at automatic promotion with consummate ease, too.

In the play-offs, Norwich City who achieved the final play-off spot, overtaking us in the process of our two defeats.

This means that the teams in the play-offs are Blackburn Rovers, Watford, Norwich City and us. We will face Blackburn Rovers in the semi-final - a team that we have drawn and lost against this season.

At the bottom end of the table, Luton Town were the team to join Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday in League One next season Michael O’Neill was able to guide the Swans to survival in the final two matches.

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Scott: In short: They didn't going into the play-offs with no wins in five is going to be a tough ask!
James: I'm happy with a play-off finish, it's absolutely miles from where I was expecting in my first term! Can't wait to crack on now!
Seb: Thank you! We have been struggling at home more than anything, that much is evident. Absolutely loving Pearson, he's exactly my kind of player - even in real life Hoping for a good account of ourselves in the POs!

Tuesday, 11th May 2021

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Millwall came from behind twice to draw 3-3 in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Blackburn Rovers tonight.

On-loan left-back Barry Douglas opened proceedings with his first goal of the season with an exquisite free-kick from 30-yards out.

Blackburn’s lead was doubled shortly after with a Ben Brereton header from point-blank range following a perfect Tyrhys Dolan cross.

Though two goals down within half an hour, Tyrone Henry instantly motivated his team to drag themselves back into contention, beginning with a Tom Bradshaw goal just two minutes after Blackburn’s second. January signing Ben Pearson played a tremendous ball over the top to assist.

Loanee Kenneth Zohore completed the first comeback of the game ten minutes later, just before half-time when Jed Wallace spotted the Dane’s run to put him through one-on-one with Kaminski, who was chipped classily by Millwall’s top scorer.

With the teams level at half-time, it took Blackburn just over a minute to take the lead at The Den again, exposing Millwall’s clear weakness to deal with crosses as Adam Armstrong swung in another great cross to meet the head of Sam Gallagher at the far post.

With chances and time running out at an equal measure, calm, composed and patient interplay between Ryan Leonard, Murray Wallace and Ben Pearson put Michael Duffy through on goal, which he slammed into the far corner on his third touch as Pearson added his second assist of the match.

In the other semi-final, Norwich took a first leg lead over Watford, winning 3-2 at Carrow Road tonight.

The second leg at Ewood Park between Blackburn and Millwall will take place on Friday at 7:45pm.

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Your side has shown tremendous character to come out of that game with a result, and you can go into the second-leg knowing that no matter what: you a squad that will fight to the death for a result. Must've been an absolute rollercoaster watching the game!

Friday, 14th May 2021

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Millwall secured their first win in 6 games tonight as they booked their place at Wembley in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Final.

After the first leg ended 3-3 at The Den, Tyrone Henry was tasked with overcoming Blackburn’s home advantage, going into the game level.

Before tonight, Henry had not beaten Rovers in the previous three matches against them this season, one including a 3-2 loss as Adam Armstrong bagged a hat-trick.

However, tonight was Kenneth Zohore’s night as he scored a brace to help along the way to achieve a 3-0 win at Ewood Park.

Henry elected to change his broadly successful 4-4-2 formation for a 4-5-1 for this match, expecting to endure a barrage of attacks from Blackburn, with Ben Pearson sitting in a defensive midfield role.

From the evidence, the new tactic worked beyond all expectations as Zohore headed home from a Lenihan mistake after just 13 minutes.

Expected to go defensive and hold any lead that they had, Millwall did the opposite and continued attacks on the Blackburn defence. Their second goal came just two minutes later as a tackle on Mahlon Romeo fell at Ryan Woods’ feet inside the box, which the midfielder converted for his only goal of the season so far.

Millwall held steady at the back and remained on the attack for sizeable portions of the match despite holding a 5-3 aggregate lead over their opponents.

The East Londoners’ Wembley fate was sealed with another Kenneth Zohore goal in the 69th minute to make it 3-0 on the night as Scott Malone fired in a low cross for the West Brom loanee.

The referee’s final blow of the whistle guaranteed a night of partying long and hard in either Lancashire or Bermondsey as Millwall confirmed another trip to Wembley, with the Premier League within grasping distance.

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James: It was one of those games where you feel everything is against you, delighted to come away with something there!

A tough battle to start the play-offs but clutching a draw when it looked like defeat was coming should surely boost morale following a tough end to the season.

Monday, 24th May 2021

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Tyrone’s 6:30am alarm kicked in on Monday morning as he leapt up. It was Wembley day today and he needed a fresh start to the day as well as a fresh mind.

As a Millwall player, he had been to Wembley once in the FA Cup Semi-Final in 2013. On that occasion, he failed to see his way through but it recaptured his love for the game.

As a Millwall manager, he was determined to start his Wembley account in a very different way: by gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1988.

Doing his stretches and putting on his plain black running t-shirt and shorts, he felt at ease almost.

Whilst running, he wasn’t worried about today despite it being one of, if not the biggest moment of his career in football yet.

He had defied all expectations by qualifying for the play-offs in the first place, he had re-engaged with the supporters after having five years managing the less noticeable under-23s side.

Another thing was that he actually felt comfortable in his team and genuinely opposed the bookies view of having Norwich City down as the favourites for today.

The birds tweeting and the beaming sunlight encouraged these positive thoughts further, so much so that he was imagining the scene of showing up to places like Stamford Bridge, Anfield and Old Trafford every week next season.

As he opened his door to return from his run, he had one call to make this morning. In his mind, Adam Barrett was all but gone for next season, no matter today’s outcome. But Tyrone needed him on board, today of all days.

“Adam, good morning,” Tyrone said as Adam picked up his call. “How are you feeling?”

“Good, boss, how are you?” he replied.

“Yeah, I’m good. I just need to make sure of something today. I want you to be on my side today. Can you do that?” Tyrone asked.

Adam reacted with pretend confusion, as if Tyrone was acting paranoid. “Yeah, of course boss, always…”

Tyrone didn’t want to stoke any objections on the call. “Good. I just needed to know.”

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Seb: It was incredible just to get a draw and it clearly lifted spirits for the 2nd leg!

Missed the update before my reply, but it clearly had the impacted suggested with a massive victory in that second leg. Keeping Zohore with that last second loan deal has proven to be massive and he's really paid back the faith in that semi-final, hopefully a deal of some sort can be struck to keep him at The Den next season.

Having Barrett on Tyrone's side is going to be big for the final and despite both parties probably knowing his time is coming to an end at the club, he will do what he can to help Henry.

Millwall have been promoted to the English Premier League after defeating Norwich City 2-1 in the EFL Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley.

76,500 fans crammed into the national stadium this afternoon as the two teams battled it out for the riches of the English top-flight.

Norwich City and Millwall finished 5th and 6th respectively in the final Championship standings this season, so both teams were the unlikeliest pair to end up at Wembley.

Both managers were complimentary of each other before the match with Tyrone Henry of Millwall praising Norwich’s style of play throughout the season. Meanwhile, Daniel Farke of Norwich commended Henry’s ability to reach this stage with the funding and the quality at Millwall upon his arrival in East London.

The atmosphere was electric as the game kicked off, with Millwall looking for their first promotion to the top-flight in 33 years and Norwich seeking an immediate return to the Premier League after 2020’s relegation.

Millwall took the initiative first with two quickfire goals from Tyrone Henry’s first signing as Millwall manager - Michael Duffy - who he signed for only £100,000 from Dundalk in July.

The Irishman’s first came from a perfect cross by Jed Wallace on the right wing over to the unmarked far post as Duffy volleyed it past Tim Krul’s near post.

The second was scored two minutes later in the 36th minute, with Jed Wallace and Michael Duffy linking up yet again, this time with a low, driven ball flashed across the face of the goal which Duffy was able to tap home to double the lead at Wembley.

Todd Cantwell managed to peg a goal back for Norwich for his third goal against Millwall this season. Thomas Sørensen retrieved the ball from a Millwall counter attack at the halfway line before catching the defence off-guard for Cantwell to smash the ball past Frank Fielding to make it 2-1.

Millwall were able to see the rest of the match out without much issue at the back as they steered themselves to the riches of the Premier League.

Amidst the on-field celebrations, Tyrone Henry had a few words for the fans. “I’m just delighted that they are here and that I am here with them at this historical landmark period for the club.

“I’m so happy for Michael [Duffy], too. He had a tough time at the start but he’s the reason why next season we are in there with some of the best in the world. It’s a great time at the club right now.”

With promotion guaranteed, it will remain to be seen how Tyrone Henry handles the switch to the top-flight, having struggled at times in the Championship.

Ten first-team contracts also run out at the end of June this season so supporters will be keeping a close eye on who will be joining them for next season out of the current crop of players that guided Millwall to their first promotion from the second tier since 1988.

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Seb: Zohore has been a real catalyst this year, certainly among the best strikers in the league. Can't wait to get going in the PL!

Massive win and now the entire situation at the club changes. A year staying in the Premier League and the resources are going to be growing massively for Henry to use. Great to see that two of his signings have contributed in both the semi-finals and final to take the club up. Congrats.

Huge congrats! Massive for Tyrone

Shit how many episodes I missed

and well, Tyrone did it. After almost bottling it at the end, you put your shit together and managed to step to the prem