Chapter 49 - The situation has turned sharply
“The first half of the game showed a one-sided situation. Millwall firmly grasped the initiative and scored two goals. They steadily controlled the pace of the game. Brian Robson probably did not expect to come to the Lion’s Cave Stadium. , Will encounter a Millwall that is very different from the first half of the season. How will Middlesbrough change in the second half? Or retain the strength and fight with the team behind the standings?”
During the intermission, Aldridge returned to the locker room. The players built a confidence as they continued to win. They will no longer be overjoyed to lead the midfield, taking a gentle and calm break.
Aldridge praised the team’s performance, there was nothing to adjust tactically. As long as they controlled the ball in the second half and took the initiative to shrink, the victory will come. Even he can foresee that Middlesbrough will inevitably face a battle in the second half. Will give Millwall more opportunities to fight back.
But he still came to Beckham. The young player with a smile on his face participated in an attack and an assist in the first half, which made him very proud.
“David, we have led by two goals. You are really talented on the offensive end, but we must first do a good job of defense. Don’t easily plug in the right side in the second half. In the back position, your long pass will be unexpected. If you insert forward, you will lack space to display. If you are hit back, if you can’t return in time, we may be hit by the opponent. Do you understand?”
When Aldridge arranges tactics, he always habitually puts the truth in front of the players, rather than telling the opponent what tasks to complete. His habit makes the players on the team very satisfied.
Beckham wiped his sweat and nodded with a smile to show his understanding.
Aldridge will not say much, and after a short rest, he walked out of the locker room with the players.
In the second half, he changed sides and played again. Although the team led by two goals, Aldridge still stood on the sidelines. He knew the importance of this game. Once Millersburg was overturned, Millwall could still lead by 10 points, but still In the remaining 14 rounds of the league, Middlesbrough might be able to threaten Millwall’s top position with great morale.
After the game started again, Millwall fans were already singing songs such as “We are the champion”, “Playing the Premier League next season” and so on.
In the stands, laughter and laughter continued, but Aldridge frowned.
Middlesbrough’s players suddenly changed their spirits in the second half. They showed a fighting spirit that was different from the first half.
Aldrich understood that Brian Robson actually put the decisive game in the second half. Whether Millwall leads or draws in the first half, this is the opponent’s strategy.
In a draw, Millwall may be eager to defeat his opponent and become frantic.
Leading, Millwall may be underestimated.
The process of scoring a ball on the football field is always very short, maybe a few seconds to a dozen seconds.
45 minutes in the second half, is there enough time to make a comeback? More than enough for a team with fighting spirit!
Thuram intercepted the ball in the backcourt and passed straight forward, intending to hand the ball to Beckham, but did not expect that Beckham did not wait for the ball in place, but ran forward, seemingly intending to save time to complete a quick Counterattack.
Aldridge’s eyes widened and he felt incredible.
Did all the words I told you during the intermission break into the ears? !
Beckham intends to take the ball to his feet without turning around, but unexpectedly someone stretched out a foot in front of him, easily broke the ball, and then killed him in the dust.
Curtis Fleming!
It’s him again!
Aldridge scolded angrily, “Fuck!”
Beckham hurried back after being intercepted, but his speed was not an advantage. After being intercepted, he returned to chase and could not touch Fleming’s jersey.
It was Millwall’s counterattack, but Middlesbrough launched the counterattack after stealing the ball.
After Fleming drew the ball into Millwall’s half from the wing, Makelele quickly moved over to intercept and Fleming quickly passed the ball to the midfield.
Middlesbrough’s tactics of rushing from the sidelines to attract defense and then focus on the middle are obviously well-trained.
After receiving the ball, Blackmore passed the ball to Marsto, who was plugged in, before Nedved pressed tightly!
Two strikers Hengdeli and Cavana have been oppressing the defense line, making Stam and Southgate dare not rush to grab, Masto took the ball to the penalty area and unexpectedly directly kicked a long shot!
Nedved returned to chase the shovel but was one step late, and could only watch the ball burst into the barrel!
World wave!
The ball almost didn’t spin, and it slammed into the upper left corner of Millwall’s goal very quickly. Catherine Keller could only watch the ball and sigh.
After Middlesbrough scored, striker Cavana quickly took the ball out of the goal and ran to the backcourt, and the other players did not celebrate. At this moment, they are all together and have the faith to even the score and even overtake!
Aldridge’s face was gloomy. If the goal was conceded just now, there was only one person: Beckham!
Thuram was trapped by the sidelined Hagnett and could not be robbed. Makelele’s vertical sweeping was a normal choice. Originally it was a Millwall counterattack. Nedvide was stepping forward. Beckham only had to With the ball on the wing, Nedvide already ran out of the catch, but he was counterattacked by his opponent. The world wave of Marsto is impeccable. Perhaps he may not be able to give him a hundred chances. Shoot such a wonderful goal.
But such a goal is not accidental!
At halftime, Aldridge’s advice to Beckham was heard by other players, so after losing the ball, Southgate ran to Beckham and said to him seriously: “Listen honestly Don’t rush forward, your boss!”
His mistakes alone will make Millwall’s entire defensive system passive, and then find flaws by his opponents.
As the English folk ballad sings:
Lost a nail, lost a horseshoe nail;
Lost a horseshoe nail and folded a warhorse;
Folded a horse and damaged a king;
Lost a king and lost a war;
Lost a war and lost an empire!
Seeing Beckham’s head drooping, Aldridge wanted to say nothing more but couldn’t bear it.
After all, he is still a young player, and training from mistakes is the only way to grow.
After the game started again, Middlesbrough had the momentum to counterattack.
In this regard, Aldridge sneered in his heart: Do you think a goal will defeat Millwall? too naive!
Ten minutes later, Middlesbrough paid for their counterattack.
Larsson pulled out of the penalty area and played an exquisite cooperation with Nedved and Pires. The three played the three guards of Middlesbrough through a continuous pass. Larsen inserted into the penalty area to pick up Piress. Turning to volley without stopping the ball, the ball hits the inside of the far post and bounces into the goal!
In the sixty-third minute of the game, Millwall scored 3-1 at home and led the guest Middlesbrough again.
Seeing this goal drop, Brian Robson shook his head slightly. This is the gap between players’ strength!
Aldridge thought he could breathe a sigh of relief once again, but unexpectedly, Beckham was actively involved in the attack on the right again.
He shouted loudly on the sidelines: “David! Come back to me!”
At the frontcourt, Beckham turned to Aldridge and made a depressing gesture. It seemed to be telling Aldrich: Boss, relax, don’t be nervous, it’s okay, I’m fine!
Aldridge’s complexion instantly became ugly!
At this moment, Middlesbrough once again launched an attack from their left.
Brian Robson has already seen that the biggest flaw in Millwall’s defensive system is on the right. There is a lot of empty space behind the handsome Manchester United kid.
Fleming didn’t attack with a dribbling breakthrough this time. He played two-on-one with left-back Wicks.
Wicks’ forward assist was unexpected, and Beckham was teased by Fleming and Wicks like a stake.
Then, Fleming once again left Beckham behind.
Middlesbrough’s old tricks were reapplied, Masto bravely moved forward again, Blackmore and Hagrid went together in the middle, and the ball passed quickly back and forth under their feet. When Makelele knocked Blackmore from the side, The referee halted the game, reached out for a foul on Makelele, and took a yellow card from his pocket. Then, there was another red card!
Makelele already had a yellow card in the first half!
The two yellow and one red Makelele did not have any excuse, and he walked down the court in despair.
Seeing this scene, Aldridge directly turned and kicked the water bottle he placed on the ground!
“Bernd, Patrick, warm up quickly, after this free kick, you play, Patrick replaces Trezeguet to replace Claude, Bernd succeeds Beckham, Patrick, you tell Pavel after you play, and form with him Double backs, two sides contracted to fight back at halftime!”
The outrageous Aldridge quickly made substitution adjustments.
What made him even more angry was that Middlesbrough’s direct free kick actually scored!
Blackmore’s impeccable arc penetrates the goal guarded by Keller.
Millwall’s situation was precarious. The advantage of 2:0 in the first half disappeared. Now it is only 3:2 leading, and there is one less player!
After this goal was produced, there were twenty minutes left. Brian Robson also quickly transferred his troops, added a midfielder, replaced a central defender, and played the traditional 442.
When Trezeguet was replaced by Vieira, Aldridge walked over to meet Trezeguet and scored twice today. Trezeguet played very happily, but the situation of the game made him unable to laugh. Qi and he hugged and walked back to the coach’s seat without looking at Beckham’s frustrated face.