Secret Serioux weapon

By Jr
August 14 2004

Throw-in specialist and debutante Adrian Serioux ensured Millwall ran out 2-0 winners at home to Leicester City on Saturday giving them 4 points from the first 3 games of the season.

Throw-in specialist and debutante Adrian Serioux ensured Millwall ran out 2-0 winners at home to Leicester City on Saturday giving them 4 points from the first 3 games of the season.

The new signing from Toronto Linx seemed to throw the ball into the net in the 37th minute, though Jody Morris was credited with the goal after officially applying the faintest of touches to beat Ian Walker in the Foxes goal.

After edging in front while performing significantly better than they had in the first home game of the season against Wigan (which the Lions lost 2-0), a second Millwall goal was expected to kill off Leicester’s lingering hopes of a revival.

It duly arrived when Danny Dichio escaped the attentions of his marker Nikos Dabizas to stroke home with the outside of his foot, after player-boss Dennis Wise expertly found him with a through-ball in the 76th minute to double the Lions lead.

In the final moments of the game, a last ditch and clumsy challenge by Chris Makin on Millwall’s fleet-footed substitute Stefan Moore saw the former get his marching orders, but the only question at that stage was how many goals the Lions would win by?

After the game, Millwall assistant boss Ray Wilkins said: "We deservedly won. We out-muscled them but we also out-played them.

“All the best teams – like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United - have to work hard first and foremost.

“Last season, any success we had was based on hard work and we got back to basics against Leicester.

“We took a point off the league leaders Plymouth on the first day and we were disappointed we didn’t beat them.

“Against Leicester, we made up for the unfortunate happenings against Wigan on Tuesday, as we started totally differently.

“We were out of the blocks very quickly and we took the game to the opposition, going from strength to strength.”

On man-of-the-match Serioux, Wilkins said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a longer throw. It’s effortless and legitimate.

“I was flabbergasted when I first saw him do it on our summer tour of Canada, but we signed him for his footballing ability.

“We saw playing for the Canada international ‘B’ team and he was very impressive against us and Hearts.

“He’s 25-years-old and good in possession of the ball, but he’s got a long journey back to Canada for a World Cup qualifier and he’ll be back with us after that.”

Leicester boss Micky Adams admitted his team had not planned for Serioux’s long throws. He said: “It took me by surprise.

"He also had a great debut and deserves a pat on the back because it's a weapon and we didn't deal with it.

"He may find a weak link in a few defences and if we had it we'd use it."

Although the attacking weapon represented by Serioux’s throwing ability is no longer a secret, Millwall will be hoping it will be no less effective against Coventry City at Highfield Road on Saturday (kick off 3pm), if he returns in time and unscathed from international duty.