Millwall’s head coach, Neil Harris, decided to give three players their debuts in the EFL Cup match against Portsmouth. Alfie Massey, Macaulay Langstaff, and Liam Roberts all made their first appearances for the South London club. It was a significant moment for these young players to showcase their talent on the big stage.
Interestingly, Harris opted to have only eight substitutes on the bench instead of the usual nine. This decision may indicate his confidence in the starting eleven and his desire to give more playing time to the core group of players.
Jake Cooper was chosen to captain Millwall for the match, with Shaun Hutchinson moving to the bench. Wes Harding took Hutchinson’s place in the starting lineup, showing Harris’s willingness to rotate his squad and give opportunities to different players.
The team saw six changes from their previous game against Watford, where they suffered a 3-2 defeat on the opening day of the Championship season. This shake-up in the lineup could be Harris’s strategy to freshen up the team and try out new combinations on the field.
The starting lineup for Millwall included Roberts, McNamara, Cooper, Harding, Bryan, De Norre, Massey, Honeyman, Esse, Emakhu, and Langstaff. The substitutes for the match were Jensen, Hutchinson, Nisbet, Bradshaw, Leonard, Watmore, Saville, and Smith.
On the other side, Portsmouth fielded a strong team with Norris, Williams, Ogilvie, Towler, Whyte, Stevenson, Saydee, Silvera, Swanson, Devlin, and Lowery in the starting lineup. Their substitutes were Archer, Shaughnessy, Pack, Moxon, Sorensen, Dozzell, Ritchie, Lane, and Lang.
Both teams were eager to make an impact in the EFL Cup tie, and the debutants from Millwall had a chance to prove themselves on the pitch. It was a crucial moment for these young players to show their potential and earn a spot in the first team.
The match between Portsmouth and Millwall promised to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to advance in the competition. Fans were eager to see how the debutants would perform and if the changes in the lineup would make a difference in the outcome of the game.
Overall, the debut of Langstaff, Massey, and Roberts added an element of excitement to the match, and fans were looking forward to seeing how these young talents would fare against a competitive Portsmouth side. It was a night of opportunities and challenges for the debutants, and they were ready to make the most of their moment on the big stage.
