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      Middlesbrough hope to tie Duncan Watmore down to new contract with Championship rivals eyeing transfer

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      MIDDLESBROUGH boss Neil Warnock wants to tie down Duncan Watmore on a new deal — because rivals are after him in the window.
      Watmore only signed until mid-January as a free agent.

      Duncan Watmore has a several clubs chasing his servicesCredit: Rex Features

      But he has caught the eye of other Championship sides already, scoring twice in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Millwall.
      That took the 26-year-old’s tally to four goals in just six appearances for Boro.
      And now potential suitors are beginning to circle as the ex-Sunderland ace plots his next move. 
      Boro need the winger for their paper-thin squad.

      But he could find a new home in the next few weeks. 
      On his performance against Millwall, Warnock said: “Duncan took his goals well. The second is one of a typical poacher.
      “Good luck to him. He’s a superb lad to work with.”
      Watmore, who left Sunderland last summer after his contract expired, has previously revealed he snubbed several offers from elsewhere to link-up with Warnock in November.

      The best available free agents still on the market

      The former England U21 international said: “He’s been very honest and I’m really looking forward to working under him.
      “He’s been a big name in the game for a long time now.
      “There were some offers here and there and different options, but I was most excited for this one.
      “It just felt right. There’s so many things going for this club and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

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      Boro blitz Millwall 3-0 thanks to Watmore and Tavernier as pressure mounts on Rowett after winless run stretches to ten

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      PRESSURE is mounting on Gary Rowett after Millwall were blown away by red-hot Middlesbrough.
      His Lions were more like whimpering kittens at the Riverside as a first half blitz condemned them to a 3-0 defeat and stretched their winless run to ten.

      Duncan Watmore and Marcus Tavernier fired Boro to a 3-0 win over Millwall

      Gary Rowett’s Lions are now ten games without a winCredit: PA:Press Association

      Rowett said: “It was pretty poor. It was very unlike a Millwall team and too soft.
      “I’m the manager and I pick the team and it’s my responsibility, so I’m not sitting here and blaming anyone else.
      “You always feel under-pressure if you are not winning games. But I don’t think about that.
      “I don’t think today was close to turning it around.”

      Boro flew out of the traps and secured the points inside twenty minutes. 
      Duncan Watmore tapped home from close-range after being picked out in the centre by Marvin Johnson.
      It was two within 120 seconds, and it was Marcus Tavernier who doubled the advantage in style.
      Sam Morsy found the winger on the right-hand edge of the area, and he cut inside onto his left foot before curling a low strike inside the far post.

      Millwall continued to crumble, conceding another after George Saville’s scuffed shot fell straight to Watmore, who controlled and clinically finished from ten yards for his second.

      Rowett had seen enough as he dragged off defender Alex Pearce and replaced him with forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
      But it made little difference as Paddy McNair was denied a fourth by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and Chuba Akpom headed wide from a set-piece as things threatened to get worse for the visitors before the break.
      Akpom then raced clear of the defence, under-pressure for Jake Cooper, but blazed his effort high and wide as Boro continued to run riot.
      The Boro striker had another opportunity moments after the restart, pouncing on a mistake but instead of shooting first time, he took a touch and went for the chip that allowed Bialkowski to palm wide.
      Matt Smith dragged a shot wide midway through the second period with Ben Thompson at least forcing Marcus Bettinelli into a save, but it was an afternoon to forget as Millwall’s downwards slide continued.
      Neil Warnock, whose Boro side bounced back from back-to-back defeats, said: “We are going to be up and down with the age of our squad.
      “I was a bit worried how we’d start today and tried to concentrate on a quick start – but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be that quick.”

      Neil Warnock’s Boro blew Millwall away inside twenty minutesCredit: Rex Features

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      I simply will not allow these lies and innuendos to blur the message of anti-racism

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      I WILL go to Millwall with Watford on December 29 and, before kick-off, I will take the knee.
      The same as I will at any other ground.

      Watford captain Troy Deeney says footballers taking the knee is purely a stance against racial discrimination and injustice, nothing to do with MarxismCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Millwall players wore anti-racism tops after some fans booed taking the kneeCredit: Millwall FC

      That’s because I am not prepared to allow people to use lies and innuendos to blur the message of anti-racism.
      This is a new one on me, having to make the same argument time and again, to people who are either stupid or simply do not want to listen.
      So let’s get this clear — I don’t know any footballers who are Marxists and I don’t believe any footballers are being duped by Marxists into taking the knee.
      Taking the knee is a statement against racial discrimination and injustice.

      It is not about the political movement Black Lives Matter, whatever the politics some members of that movement may or may not have.
      This Tuesday night was a significant one for the anti-racism movement.
      Events at Paris Saint-Germain and Millwall felt like a watershed.
      When PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players walked off the pitch after Istanbul coach Pierre Webo was the victim of racially charged language from the fourth official, it was an amazing show of solidarity.

      For a long time now, it has seemed as though this moment would arrive — and we all probably assumed a walk-off would be provoked by racial abuse from supporters, such as when England players suffered concerted and pre-meditated abuse in Bulgaria last year.

      Istanbul Basaksehir coach Pierre Webo was on the receiving end of racially-charged language from fourth official Sebastian Coltescu against PSG

      Both Istanbul and PSG , including Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, responded to the incident by parading a clear message before the rearranged tieCredit: AFP or licensors
      On that occasion, the Bulgarian FA were fined just £65,000 and ordered to play one match behind closed doors.
      That laughable punishment is no deterrent but sadly typical of Uefa’s soft approach to racism.
      Yet when Neymar — probably the third-most famous footballer on the planet — leads off his PSG team after abuse suffered by a coach on the opposition side, surely the message has to get through and Uefa must hand out a proper punishment.
      The official in question, Sebastian Coltescu, is apparently going to retire from elite refereeing but Uefa should still impose a maximum ten-match ban and a substantial fine — and use that as a yardstick.
      The incident was probably not the worst of its kind but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
      You’ll have seen Istanbul’s Demba Ba leading the protests.
      For him, I am sure it was a case of years of racial discrimination having built up to that moment.
      The mood among players now is one of zero tolerance of racism. No more. Enough is enough.
      Before Millwall played QPR that same night, there had been plenty of talk about the response to some Millwall fans having booed the taking of the knee at their match against Derby last Saturday.

      I think the booing at Millwall and Colchester could be a blessing in disguise… I also don’t believe the majority of Millwall fans think that way.
      Troy Deeney

      QPR, probably the most racially diverse club in English football, had decided before the start of this season that they would no longer take the knee, with their director of football Les Ferdinand explaining that he believed the action was losing its meaning.
      I respect that view but what happened at Millwall and Colchester last Saturday refocused a lot of minds.
      Millwall wanted to avoid more booing so they agreed with QPR for both sets of players to link arms and hold anti-racism banners before kick-off.
      QPR players played the game in that respect but when they opened the scoring, two of their players took the knee in front of the Millwall fans and showed how they truly felt.
      That was heartening and it was also really encouraging to hear Watford fans applauding us take the knee before our win over Rotherham on Tuesday,  as has happened elsewhere, presumably in response to what happened at Millwall.
      I think the booing at Millwall and Colchester could be a blessing in disguise — and, by the way, I think they have a right to boo, just as we all have a right to vote.
      I also don’t believe that the majority of Millwall fans think that way — however loud the booing, it was still a minority.
      It seems as though it has sparked a lot of awkward conversations. And without those tough conversations about race — which aren’t easy for white people as well as for black people — we will not see genuine progress in the fight against racism.
      For me, it is like the ‘me too’ movement, which genuinely helped women to receive greater respect in the workplace and elsewhere.
      The same thing is happening now as footballers try to influence the fight against racism in our game and wider society.
      So, yes, I will take the knee when we play at Millwall this month.

      And if we get booed, I won’t walk off the pitch. Booing in itself is not racial abuse.
      But if Watford players are racially abused at any ground, we will walk off the pitch.
      And what happened in Paris on Tuesday has only strengthened that resolve.

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      Norwich star Teemu Pukki commits himself to shooting club back into the Premier League and vows: I’m going nowhere

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      TEEMU PUKKI has given every Norwich fan an early Christmas present.
      The striker promises he is committed to shooting the club back into the Premier League and is going nowhere next month.

      Norwich ace Teemu Pukki lifts aloft the Championship trophy last yearCredit: PRESS ASSOCIATION

      Pukki won the Golden Boot for his 29 goals during Norwich’s 2018-19 seasonCredit: REX FEATURES

      Pukki, 30, will attract a lot of suitors in the January transfer window.
      But he told SunSport: “I’ve no plans for leaving in January. I’m fighting for this team and we’ve got a big season going on.
      “I want to go back into the Premier League and I’m fighting for that.”
      The striker is set to make his 100th appearance when the Canaries travel to Blackburn today – having scored 48 goals and made 14 assists in his 99 games so far.

      Pukki is modest for a footballer generating so much love.
      The striker won legendary status at Carrow Road after shooting them into the Premier League in his first season with a staggering 29 goals after signing on a free from Brondby.
      And he then secured himself as a national treasure in Finland by firing them into next summer’s rearranged Euros, the first time they have qualified for a major tournament.
      His status was illustrated last year when his country’s then Prime Minister Antti Rinne took a special gift to Paris for French president Emmanuel Macron – a Teemu Pukki shirt.

      The striker told me: “It was a bit weird seeing that happen. I didn’t know how to react and it’s hard to say what I thought about that. I hope President Macron likes the shirt.”

      Even French President Emmanuel Macron owns a Teemu Pukki t-shirtCredit: Antti Rinne/Twitter

      Pukki and fans celebrate as Finland qualify for their first-ever tournament Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
      Ironically, reigning World Cup champions France were this week drawn in the same qualifying group for the 2022 tourneament in Qatar.
      Pukki’s season with the Canaries in the top flight was a tale of two halves.
      In the first part – up until January – he had thumped 11 goals in the top flight, not a bad effort for a club that were bottom for most of it.
      But after scoring at Tottenham in a 2-1 defeat, he failed to net again – and, after lockdown, Norwich finished bottom with a whimper as they lost all eight games.
      It was a shame because at one stage Norwich, despite their lowly position, were playing great football – prompting pundit Danny Murphy to describe them as the “best ever bottom-of-the-table team”.
      So why did Pukki’s form tail off?
      He said: “There were a lot of things. As a team we didn’t create the same amount of chances and, personally, my confidence levels were down after not scoring after so many games.
      “Up until January-February time, we were playing good football – but just couldn’t get the points. Whenever we went behind, we just couldn’t turn the games around.

      As a team we didn’t create the same amount of chances and, personally, my confidence levels were down
      Teemu Pukki

      “After the corona break, we didn’t score as many goals. It was a tough time, personally and as a team. We weren’t able to raise our level at the end of the season.
      “We couldn’t compete in the end at that level – because in the Premier League mistakes made are exploited because there is more quality.”
      Now, back in the Championship, the Canaries are flying at the top of the table without really flapping their wings.
      The Norfolk club have managed to churn out results with an injury-hit squad – thanks mostly to a more solid defence.

      Teemu Pukki celebrates one of his 11 Premier League goals, against ArsenalCredit: EPA
      Pukki said: “For sure, I don’t think we’ve shown our best yet. In some moments we have. There have been some tough games where we’ve got the winner in the end.
      “We’ve been having a lot of injuries. Hopefully we’ll get our boys back soon.
      “Our defenders have been brilliant, the keeper as well. If you compare this season to the one when we went up, we conceded a lot of goals but were scoring a lot of goals as well.
      “This time we’ve had a lot of 1-0 victories. If you want to compete at this level you need to be secure at the back. That’s been working well.”

      Daniel Farke is known for being a hard taskmasker. His training regime is one of the toughest in English football and the team’s superior fitness levels have played dividends with the amount of late goals they have scored this season.
      Nine of their 23 netted have come in the last 10 minutes to either win matches or snatch a point.
      Pukki said: “That’s something we’ve been good at. We’ve done a lot of work and have the fitness levels to turn the games in the end.
      “That is something we keep working at every week. We can go 90 minutes and turn the games.”
      With the Canaries finishing rock bottom by some distance, the board could have been justified to sack their German coach but decided to stay loyal.
      And the Finnish ace said: “Since the first moment I came here I felt he was a good manager.

      Pukki celebrates scoring at Stoke and is on form again after a tough 2020Credit: REX FEATURES
      “He got us playing good football. It has been a tough year for all of us. The club wanted to believe he can change things around and that is what we are showing.
      “It’s still a lot of work but we’re going in the right direction.”
      Pukki’s is looking forward to what he hopes is a huge 2021 – leading Norwich back into the top-flight and then featuring for Finland in the Euros.
      He said: “We had some hard times with the national team where we didn’t win a single game in one year but in the last couple of years it’s been great for Finnish football.
      “We’ve had many players in the European leagues and whenever we get together we’re quite a competitive team. I’m proud of what we’ve done for the Finnish national team and it is every footballer’s dream back home to appear in a major tournament.”

      CROCK-ODILE TEARS FOR NORWICH

      IT’S been a challenge to socially-distance everyone needing treatment in the Norwich medical room this season.Up until today’s trip to Blackburn, they have had a staggering SIXTEEN players who have missed matches through injuries.Here’s their tale of the crocks.
      Tim Krul (thigh)
      Sam Byram (hamstring)
      Jordan Hugill (shoulder)
      Kieran Dowell (ankle)
      Todd Cantwell (hip)
      Xavi Quintilla (hip)
      Kenny McLean (knee)
      Adam Idah (knee)
      Onel Hernandez (adductor)
      Ben Gibson (calf)
      Christoph Zimmermann (calf)
      Przemyslaw Placheta (hamstring)
      Grant Hanley (hamstring)
      Marco Stiepermann (back)
      Bali Mumba (knee)
      Teemu Pukki (hamstring)

      Norwich have taken advantage of Pukki’s status in Finland by forging a number of commercial partnership in the Scandinavian country.
      The club have deals in place with plastic-free-cups firm Kotka Mills, travel company Dr. Oetker Suom and Pyynikin Brewery – as well as sell plenty of Pukki merchandise that sells in his homeland almost as fast a Finnish vodka.
      But surely Norwich are missing a trick in their partnership with British firm Pukka Pies.
      A hearty Pukki Pie has a really nice ring to it.
      The Finnish ace laughed: “I’ve never tried a pie.”
      You really should, Teemu. Get Delia Smith to bake you one.

      The Finnish star celebrates with Norwich fans after clinching promotionCredit: GETTY

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      Watford boss Ivic idolised England hero Lineker as a kid in Serbia, his extra motivation to be on Match of the Day

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      VLADIMIR IVIC would not be involved in football today had it not been for Gary Lineker.
      The Watford boss revealed to SunSport that watching the England legend while growing up in Serbia sparked his love affair with the game.

      Vladimir Ivic took over Watford in August with the target to win promotionCredit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

      Gary Lineker was Watford boss Vladimir Ivic’s idol while growing upCredit: EMPICS

      Ivic, 43, now hopes the 1986 World Cup golden boot winner will be interviewing him on Match of the Day next season as he plots a quick return to the Premier League.
      Asked which player made him fall in love with football, the Serb said: “It was Gary Lineker.
      “It was for his goalscoring. I followed English football like lots of kids and he was the top scorer.
      “I remember watching him in the 1986 World Cup.

      “He was one of the greatest players and strikers in his age – and I didn’t even know before coming here that he was now presenting Match of the Day.”

      Ivic arrived at Vicarage Road in August and has done a good job so far with the relegated Hornets, who sit third ahead of their trip to Birmingham today.
      In fact, all teams that came down from the Premier League currently occupy the top three spots with Norwich in pole position and Bournemouth second – this rarely happens.
      But Ivic said: “All three teams have quality players and you must remember in Daniel Farke at Norwich and Jason Tindall at Bournemouth you have two coaches who had worked with their players last season.

      “After 17 matches, we don’t see much difference in the quality between the other teams.
      “But sometimes the mood of the other sides can be more important than the quality of yours if you don’t give 100 per cent.
      “This is something we work on and try to give the maximum every game.”

      Vladimir Ivic won November’s SkyBet Championship manager of the month
      So how did Ivic go about taking over a team used to losing, suffering the trauma of relegation and turn them quickly into winners?
      Ivic said: “This is a good question because it’s a different approach from previous years.
      “The last six months before I arrived, the target was to survive and stay in the Premier League.
      “They played completely different to how we want to play now.
      “We’re trying to transform a side that played on the counter to one that wants to be dominant and attack. This is something we’ve worked a lot on and to do that you need to change the mentality.
      “Sometimes we don’t succeed and have a deficit in games. We should be seven or eight points better off.”
      Ivic knows full well that FOURTEEN different permanent managers have been at Watford in just 10 years.
      The Serb was successful in Greece with PAOK and Israel at Maccabi Tel Aviv – but knows it is a different ball game in England.
      He said: “The change of coaches is the decision for the club.
      “All the people who come into this job come to put in their maximum. Everyone wants to succeed.

      We’re trying to transform a side that played on the counter to one that wants to be dominant and attack.
      Vladimir Ivic

      “It depends on the mood of the team and of how you’ll adapt fast to the conditions you find yourself in to get results.
      “Your glass can only be half full because you never know how long you will stay somewhere. It’s our lives and it’s not easy when you have family coming with you too.
      “My wife and two daughters, one aged six and the other nine, were with me in Israel for two years and now here with me too.
      “It’s a nice job. I decided to do this because I love it.”
      Ivic is one of two Serbians flying high in the Championship with Reading sitting fifth under his former national team-mate Veljko Paunovic.

      Ivic has had to change the mentality of the Watford players this seasonCredit: PRESS ASSOCIATION
      He said: “It’s important for a country like Serbia to have two coaches in the Championship. He’s a great coach and now shows here he’s on a top level.”
      Ivic is not known for smiling much or cracking jokes – and looks like a guy you would not want to get on the wrong side of.
      But the Serb insists that public perception of him is wrong.
      He said: “My family, wife, two daughters and friends make me smile.
      “It’s been hard to make new friends because during the period I’ve been here we’ve had to follow government instructions to stay at home so not been able to socialise much.
      “I like to laugh privately at lot and I’d like to at work too. But I prefer to wait until the end of the season when hopefully we’ll have good reason to laugh.”

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      FA probe Millwall and Colchester crowd boos at weekend after fans marred return to stadiums

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      THE FA have launched an investigation after some Millwall and Colchester fans booed as players took a knee.
      Fans finally returned this weekend as Millwall took on Derby in the Championship and Colchester faced Grimsby in League Two.

      Millwall fans booed as the players took a knee on the pitch before kick-offCredit: Alamy Live News

      But the FA have confirmed an investigation is under way following two ‘crowd-related incidents’.
      A statement from the Football Association read: “The FA can confirm that investigations are underway into crowd-related incidents at both The Den and JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020.
      “Observations have been sought from all of the relevant parties and they will have until Thursday 10 December 2020 to provide their respective responses.”
      Players and officials have been taking a knee since June to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

      But some of the 2,000 fans at Millwall’s Championship clash decided to jeer their own players for doing so.
      Boos echoed around The Den as Derby’s Colin Kazim-Richards raised his fist in the air in a show of solidarity.
      Interim Rams boss Wayne Rooney slammed the ‘disgraceful and mindless behaviour’ after his side’s 1-0 win.
      A statement posted to social media by Rooney read: “Yesterday I witnessed disgraceful and mindless behaviour by a large section of the Millwal supporters in the stadium.

      “Prior to the match we were aware of the possibility of a planned disruptive response during the taking of the knee in support of the BLM campaign, but nothing prepared us for what we heard.
      “I was proud of my players and staff for not letting the fans deter them from continuing to present a positive and important message that taking the knee immediately before the game sends.”
      Colchester’s 2-1 win over Grimsby on Saturday was also tarnished by fans that decided to boo players as they made a stand against racism.
      The U’s chairman Robbie Cowling has warned supporters they will not be welcome to matches if they continue to boo.
      And he has even offered to refund their season tickets if they are against players taking a knee.
      The Professional Footballers’ Association also strongly condemned the section of fans who booed.

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      Deeney vows to walk off pitch if he is racially abused and is not ‘shocked’ by Millwall fans booing players taking knee

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      WATFORD striker Troy Deeney has vowed to walk off the pitch if he is ever racially abused.
      The 32-year-old’s comments came after a large section of Millwall fans booed their own players for taking a knee before their 1-0 defeat to Derby at the Den on Saturday.

      Troy Deeney says he will walk off the pitch if he is ever racially abusedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Millwall welcomed 2,000 fans to watch their team for the first time this season but the occasion was overshadowed by the despicable booing.
      Footballers continue to use the gesture before games to highlight the ongoing fight to eradicate racial discrimination in society but a significant amount of the South London club’s supporters were clearly not happy.
      Millwall condemned the fans after the incident and SunSport columnist Deeney said on TalkSPORT: “When they boo, I’ll still be there.
      “But if it gets to that line of racial things being said to me or my players, we’ve already had a conversation about what happens. We walk, simple.

      “We’re not here to be racially abused, we’re here to play football and entertain.
      “There’s a lot of things you can call me. You can call me a big head and say I’ve got teeth like a shark but if you racially abuse me, I’m not going to stand there and take it.
      “If I turn around and get physical with that person, I get in trouble and the club gets in trouble, so the only thing I can do in that moment is report it and leave.
      “That’s all I can do, so that’s what we will do.”

      The Watford striker was speaking after a large section of Millwall fans booed their own players for taking a kneeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Derby interim boss Wayne Rooney labelled the Millwall fans who booed ‘disgraceful’ after the game.
      And Lions star Mahlon Romeo also expressed his dismay at the situation saying he was ‘offended’ and ‘lost for words’.
      But experienced centre-forward Deeney was relatively unsurprised to see another incident of that nature at the Den.
      He added: “I’m not massively shocked.
      “I don’t want to put this on all the Millwall fans or the club. There’s a certain amount of people who found a reason to boo, which I don’t really want to get into because I think we’re giving them too much energy.
      “It shows that those advocating for equality must keep going. This is the reason why.
      “In the Premier League meeting, we said it has to be done when fans are back, because it’s easy to take the knee when no-one’s there.
      “It’s easy to put the badge on when there’s no-one there. When fans are there, it sparks conversation, rightly or wrongly.”
      Some sections have tried to link the kneeling with the Black Lives Matter political movement despite the Premier League’s previous statement clarifying the two are not linked.
      ‘NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS’
      And Deeney – who earlier this year revealed social media giants told him ‘black c***’ was not hate speech – said: “The Premier League issued a statement saying it has nothing to do with politics.
      “People are saying it’s all about the Black Lives Matter movement, but it’s nothing to do with that.
      “I want to make it clear, it’s not all Millwall fans. But they’ve got black players playing for them.
      “If the right-back Romeo scored, would they want that goal chalked off?
      “It’s so frustrating to read some of the stuff that’s coming in here. It’s mind-boggling and stupid the way that people think.
      “I don’t like calling people names, but it’s stupid the way they go on like this.”
      ‘IT HAS OFFENDED ME’
      After Saturday’s loss, Millwall defender Romeo – who has played for the Lions since 2015 – said: “Today’s game, to me now, has become irrelevant.
      “The fans have been let back in – which the whole team was looking forward to. But in society there is a problem – and that problem is racism.
      “The fans who have been let in today have personally disrespected not just me but the football club. And what the football club and the community stand for.
      “What they’ve done is booed and condemned a peaceful gesture which was put in place to highlight, combat and stop any discriminatory behaviour and racism. That’s it – that’s all that gesture is.
      “And the fans have chosen to boo that, which for the life of me I can’t understand. It has offended me and everyone who works for this club – the players and the staff.”

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      Millwall condemn fans booing after stars take knee as Agbonlahor claims he was racially abused by 12-year-old at The Den

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      MILLWALL finally condemned their own supporters who booed the players taking a knee.
      And Gabby Agbonlahor revealed he was racially abused by a 12-year-old at The Den as the Lions’ fanbase came under criticism again.

      Millwall condemned the fans who booed their players taking a knee before kick-off against DerbyCredit: Alamy Live News

      On the day 2,000 home fans were allowed back in at Millwall, many overshadowed the occasion by verbalising their disgust at the taking of a knee.
      Players continue to use the gesture before kick-offs to highlight the ongoing fight to eradicate racial discrimination in society – although some clubs distanced themselves from supporting the Black Lives Matter movement directly for political reasons.
      The booing at The Den took place just a day after Millwall had released a statement, signalling their intentions to keep taking a knee before matches until they unveil ‘a new and comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy’ in the New Year.
      And almost 24 hours after the incident ahead of the 1-0 defeat to Wayne Rooney’s men, Millwall hit out at their own supporters who ‘marred’ the day.

      A club statement said: “Millwall Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday’s game against Derby County at The Den.
      “The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts.
      “The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its Academy and Community Trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall’s reputation day after day, year after year.
      “The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain.

      “The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally.
      “There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football’s anti-discrimination efforts.”
      Millwall added that club representatives will meet with anti-racism football organisation Kick It Out.
      Aston Villa hero Agbonhalor recalled his disgusting experience at the South London stadium – and insisted if he was a Millwall player today he would refuse to play for the club again.
      He told talkSPORT: “I’m not surprised to be honest.
      “If there was one stadium where I would say this would have happened with fans going back in, it is exactly this stadium.
      “Because when I played there, I was on the bench for an FA Cup game, and I was racially abused by 12-year-olds to 70-year-olds whilst I’m warming up.
      “At the time I’m just looking at them like, ‘Why?’ I was just laughing at them.

      But having to say this is a pain but I’ll say it every single damn time this is why I STAND and STAND PROUD and I have to say every single person involved with @dcfcofficial did too made me proud to wear this shirt with the boys today!!! Absolute disgrace.. pic.twitter.com/lVsdb1KUpa
      — Colin Kazim-Richards (@ColinKazim) December 5, 2020

      “You know that swearing at a player is normal – you get that at every away ground you go to. But to bring race into it shows what sort of fans some of their fans are.”
      Millwall’s Mahlon Romero blasted his club’s fans for disrespecting him.
      He said: “What they’ve done is booed and condemned a peaceful gesture which was put in place to highlight, combat and stop any discriminatory behaviour and racism. That’s it – that’s all that gesture is.
      “It has offended me and everyone who works for this club – the players and the staff.
      “I’m almost lost for words. I don’t know how they thought that would make me feel. I don’t know what they thought taking a knee stood for.”

      Gabby Agbonlahor revealed he was racially abused by children while warming up as a sub at The DenCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Full Millwall Statement

      MILLWALL Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday’s game against Derby County at The Den.
      The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts.
      The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its Academy and Community Trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall’s reputation day after day, year after year.
      The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain.
      The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally.
      There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football’s anti-discrimination efforts.
      Over the coming days, club, Academy and Community Trust staff will meet with Kick It Out and representatives from other appropriate bodies in an attempt to use Saturday’s events as a catalyst for more rapid solutions which have an impact both in the short and long-term.
      Further comment will be made once those meetings and discussions are concluded.

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