THIS season’s Championship season is going down to the wire.
One of the most exciting leagues in world football, the race for the Premier League continues in earnest – as does the battle at the bottom.
Warnock has been tasked with keeping Boro in the ChampionshipCredit: PA:Press Association
Millwall are still in with a shout of the top six, while Neil Warnock has been drafted in to save Middlesbrough from dropping down to the third-tier for the first time since 1987.
Why is Millwall vs Boro kicking off at 3pm?
In a change to the schedule, the clash at the New Den will now take place at 3pm on Wednesday July 8, after originally being scheduled for 7.45pm.
The move – a logistical one agreed by both clubs and the FA – is an attempt to minimise travel disruption on Boro and avoid them making the long journey back to the North East on Wednesday night.
With the fixtures coming thick and fast, Warnock’s men are back in action on Saturday with a home clash against Bristol City.
Millwall picked up a huge win over Charlton in their last matchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Some fans – particularly Millwall season ticket holders – are unimpressed though, with the game taking place within working hours leaving them unable to watch via live stream.
But others are trying to see the bright side, with one Twitter user commenting: “15:00 on a Wednesday is going to make for an amazing work Zoom call”.
Lions gaffer Gary Rowett has explained it would be ‘unfair’ for Boro to be getting home in the early hours of the morning with such a quick turnaround in the fixture list.
He said: “The kick-off is as stupid as it sounds, to be honest. But we are in times where people need to make the best of the situation.
“I understand they don’t want to be getting home at three in the morning. That would be unfair.
“But I think it will be the first Wednesday game that has ever kicked off at three in the afternoon. It makes it all different.
“It’s not what we all want. I don’t think football has raised the spirit of the nation yet — it certainly hasn’t raised mine!”
Gary Rowett is hoping to lead Millwall to the top division for the first time since 1990Credit: Alamy Live News
While Warnock, whose side has lost two on the bounce since a huge win at Stoke, is not impressed that a large section of fans will be unable to tune in.
He said: “Weird, it’s really strange. I can’t explain it really, I know everyone is having these sorts of kick-offs but it’s almost like they just want to get rid of the game.
“It’s not what football is all about but we’re in that situation and we have to deal with it, like I say it’s the same for both teams.
“We’ve probably done a bit more travelling than others in the last couple of weeks, having less time to recover but we just try and get on with it.
“Obviously we are playing Saturday again so an evening kick-off would be ridiculous really so it does help in that respect.”
Warnock says he and his team will just have to ‘deal with’ the changesCredit: PA:Press Association
When was the last time this happened?
In the era of almost constant action on the TV, it’s easy to forget just how rigid the fixture list used to be.
The 3pm Saturday slot used to see almost every club up and down the country playing at the same time, with the first ever Sunday match not until January 1974.
But midweek matches HAVE been moved from the evening to the afternoon before – and it was during another crisis period in the UK.
Back in the 1973-74 season, at the height of the three-day week and the great power cuts, night games were moved to earlier 3pm slots in weekdays during some of the winter months.
This was to ensure that the floodlights wouldn’t have to be used, as they were subject to a nationwide ban.
A floodlight ban in the early 70s saw midweek games moved to the afternoonCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
In a mirroring of this summer’s debate about finishing the season due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many clubs during this period wanted the games postponed and played later in the summer.
But those proposals were rejected and some clubs had to make do with playing out their midweek fixtures infront of tiny crowds.
How can I watch Millwall vs Boro?
If you’re lucky enough to have a great boss who will let you watch a stream, or flexible hours, you can catch the game live on iFollow.
Sadly it isn’t being broadcast on TV here in the UK.
The service is provided by both clubs through their official website.
If you’re a season ticket holder, you should have already received an iFollow code which allows you to watch the remainder of your club’s games without paying.
Should you want to stream the game and don’t have a code, an iFollow pass will cost you £10.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
