Loan watch: Simpson stars in vital Millwall win

Picture from Millwall official site

Jay Simpson – Swansea City 1 Millwall 2

 A lot has been said about Jay Simpson’s Arsenal future in the last few days, but tonight he showed that he is fully concentrated on playing for Millwall at the moment. It’s not easy playing for a club battling to avoid relegation whilst being under the watchful eye of Arséne Wenger and his scouts, but Jay is now back in form and back amongst the goals.

    Tonight Millwall faced a trip to face a Swansea City side who were unbeaten for a club record 18 games going into the match. However, Millwall settled the quickest and went in front after just 28 seconds thanks to yet another goal from the in-form Lewis Grabban. Simpson was left isolated in midfield and was struggling to create chances as he was constantly being closed down.

    But in the second half, his big moment came. From 16 yards out, Jay fired the ball into the back of the net to give the Lions a comfortable lead. He has been short of goals of late, so this could be the morale booster he needs to finish off the season in style.

     Swansea were not out of it yet though, and with 18 minutes to go, Fabian Brandy was brought down in the area. Jason Scotland duly dispatched the spot kick but Millwall held on for a vital three points.

Arsenal u-18s v Charlton- Match preview

Rhys Murphy in action against Norwich last weekend

MATCH BACKGROUND

Arsenal have only won once in 2008, but this week they are at home and face a struggling Charlton side

TEAM NEWS

After the Norwich game last week, Steve Bould stated that he would prefer it if the Arsenal side was ‘as young as possible’. Many of the older players didn’t feature last weekend, and played against Colorado Rapids yesterday. so the young side should continue. Henri Lansbury (glandular fever) is doubtful, whilst Sanchez Watt could be available for the first time in almost a month.

Predicted team:

————-Szczesny——————

–Blackwood—Ayling—-Cruise—-Evina

-Eastmond—Wilshere—-Frimpong–Thomas

——-Murphy————Sunu

subs: Shea, Byles, Rasmussen, Freeman, Henderson

THE TABLE

 

		P	W	D	L	For	Agt	GD	Pts
1	West Ham United U18	24	14	3	7	54	34	+20	45
2	Southampton U18	24	12	4	8	39	45	-6	40
3	Fulham U18	22	11	6	5	31	23	+8	39
4	Portsmouth U18	22	11	4	7	31	32	-1	37
5	Arsenal U18	20	11	4	5	58	29	+29	37
6	Crystal Palace U18	22	10	4	8	48	36	+12	34
7	Chelsea U18	21	9	4	8	41	35	+6	31
8	Ipswich Town U18	23	8	4	11	31	37	-6	28
9	Charlton Athletic U18	22	7	6	9	38	43	-5	27
10	Norwich City U18	22	5	5	12	32	43	-11	20
11	Millwall U18	22	3	4	15	25	51	-26	13

Arsenal are faltering in fifth, but they do have games in hand.

FIXTURES/RESULTS

Results 01.03.08	Fixtures 08.03.08
Charlton Athletic 1 Fulham 1	Arsenal v Charlton Athletic (10.45 am)
Chelsea 2 Millwall 1	Crystal Palace v Fulham
Norwich City 0 Arsenal 0	Leicester City v Norwich City
Southampton 0 Crystal Palace 2	Millwall v Ipswich Town
West Ham United 2 Ipswich Town 0	Portsmouth v Chelsea – Postponed

THE OPPONENTS

Charlton may be struggling in the table, but they have some real prospects in their youth academy. Here are a couple to watch out for:

Scott Wagstaff

Wagstaff was among the big academy success stories of 2006/07.

The hard-working wide man’s 26 games for the U18s topped the charts, and the Maidstone-based youngster also chipped in with six goals.

In a fantastic season, ‘Waggy’ managed eight outings for the second string as well, six of which were starts, and featured in wins against Portsmouth (twice) and Arsenal.

Wagstaff may not have broken into the U18 set-up as early as some of his contemporaries, but just like players such as Joe Woolley and Rhys Coleman he made the most of his opportunity when it arose.

Richmond Kissi

Explosive frontman Kissi played for the U16s, U18s and reserves last season, scoring four goals for the U18s in 14 appearances.

The strong Ivory Coast-born striker, who featured once as a substitute for the second XI (in April’s 6-0 Valley victory against Portsmouth in the final match of the campaign), previously attended Crofton Park School, Brockley.

Charlton player profiles courtesy of cafc.co.uk

LAST TIME THEY MET

In only the second game of the season, Arsenal needed strikes from Rui Fonte and Jay Thomas to salvage a point.

UNDER-16S

Arsenal under-16s are also in action against Charlton tomorrow and will be looking to get back to winning ways after being ripped apart by their Norwich counterparts in East Anglia last week. Charlie Mann and James Shea will be contesting for a starting berth, whilst there are also places for George Brisnal, Rorie Deacon and Benik Afobe. Rhema Obed and Oliver Nicholas should start at the back, but Jeffrey Monakana may have to settle for a place on the bench.