In fact in the last seventeen meetings between these two clubs the Saints have only lost once, and that was in the 1989/90 season when losing at home by two goals to one at our old ground the ‘Dell’.
The record is better when only cup games are checked as saints have never lost to Millwall though nearly always needing a replay to gain mastery over their rivals.
The 1989 game saw Millwall get off to a flyer that season but it did not matter in the end as they were relegated back to where they had come from at the end of the season.
It is possible that we will play some fringe players and youngsters this time as well. With Saints searching for an automatic promotion place back to the Premier League, and with Millwall just above the relegation zone it would appear that Tuesday night would be a formality.
Records show can show differently of course. If Millwall were to prevail in the replay, they might be forgiven for worrying about the final outcome of the last time that happened.
They do however have one other remarkable feat to their name. 18 meetings ago(1978) Millwall turned up at the Dell bottom of the old second division. Saints had a strong home record of having won 10, drawn 2, and lost just the 1. Millwall won 3-2 turning the form book upside down.
With six games to go in the season Millwall had only won six games including another against us winning 3-0 at home. They then managed to win their last six games and survive doubling their wins tally in the process.
In the last FA Cup meeting between these sides in 2002/3 we had to thank Kevin Davies for a last minute header as we grabbed a draw at home in the 4th round. We went to the Den where two Matt Oakley goals saw us through with a 2-1 win.
Interestingly enough it is Davies’ team Bolton that are waiting to see who they will face in the next round of the cup. Small world!!
So Southampton have never lost a cup game to Millwall and on all known form should beat them tomorrow night. I believe that the record will still be in place after the game but this game of ours does throw up some unusual twists and turns doesn’t it, at times.
Saints to win 3-1.
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