By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham’s visit to Millwall can no longer be dressed up as just another Championship fixture. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a Section 35 dispersal order will be in place around The Den on Saturday, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder.
The measures underline the tension surrounding the first meeting between the clubs since 2012. However, while this is clearly not an ordinary game, I also believe too much is being made of the idea that West Ham’s players will be overwhelmed by the occasion.
Neil’s “good atmosphere” comes with a warning
Millwall manager Alex Neil has already said that “it should be a brilliant atmosphere” and admitted it will be interesting to see how West Ham handle The Den.
As reported by Southwark News, Neil has promised his players will leave everything on the pitch. When he talks about a good atmosphere, I think we can safely regard that as coded language for a hostile one.
That does not necessarily mean there will be trouble inside the stadium. In fact, if anything does happen, I would be surprised if it occurred within the ground itself, where the policing and stewarding will be at its most concentrated.
West Ham’s players have experienced this before
The biggest difficulty for West Ham may be the coach journey into The Den, but even that is hardly unique in football.
A Real Madrid team bus arriving at the Nou Camp, Celtic travelling to Ibrox or Southampton entering Fratton Park will encounter similar hostility. Most professional footballers, particularly those who have played in major European leagues, will have experienced this type of reception before.
As highlighted in our Millwall match preview, Nuno Espírito Santo’s job is to ensure nobody is surprised by the atmosphere. Once the players have been properly prepared, there is no reason for the off-field tension to affect their composure.
Engels is well used to hotly contested derby games having played for Celtic at Ibrox
Nuno must keep West Ham focused
The rivalry has deep historical roots, as explained in our look at why West Ham and Millwall hate each other. The fact the clubs have not played for so long has only increased the anticipation and encouraged everyone to turn the temperature up further.
Millwall defender Caleb Taylor has already promised a “proper intimidating” atmosphere, but noise and hostility can only achieve so much. As I wrote earlier, fire and brimstone will only take Millwall so far once the football begins.
This is not just another game, and the police operation proves that. But it is not some mythical ordeal that experienced West Ham players should be frightened of either.
Nuno must acknowledge the atmosphere, prepare his players for it and then make sure they concentrate on the only thing that truly matters: taking three points back from The Den.
Anybody else care to remember Mateta nearly getting his head decapitated by an outrageous challenge from ” that lot’s ”
goalkeeper?
Don’t be surprised if a player is stretchered off with an injury!
Not for the faint hearted.