Caleb Taylor vows Millwall will rattle West Ham in Dockers Derby return
Millwall defender Caleb Taylor has vowed the Lions will meet West Ham United head-on when the Dockers Derby returns to The Den on Saturday lunchtime.
The 23-year-old expects a fierce atmosphere for the first meeting between the clubs since February 2012, with Millwall determined to unsettle the Championship leaders on home turf.
Quick facts
- West Ham lead the Championship after winning their last four matches.
- Millwall are 11th, four points behind their rivals.
- Taylor has played every league minute for Millwall this season.
- West Ham have scored 16 goals across their previous four league games.
- Millwall have allowed 13 goals in their last five league fixtures.
Taylor said the fixture has been on the squad’s minds from the moment the calendar was released. He believes The Den can provide the intimidating edge Millwall need against a West Ham side strengthened by Premier League resources.
West Ham’s attack arrives in sharp form, but Taylor is focused on restoring the defensive standards that saw Millwall open the campaign with consecutive clean sheets. He is expected to continue alongside Jake Cooper at centre-back.
“The atmosphere at The Den is brilliant,” Taylor said. “They have quality players and major backing, but we will make it difficult for them and give everything we have. It should be an intimidating occasion.”
Taylor is the only Millwall player to have completed all seven league matches, with Alex Neil forced to use 24 players during an injury-hit start to the season.
The defender admitted the recent run of concessions has not matched the usual level of the back line. Millwall’s immediate task is to contain West Ham early, slow their momentum and turn the contest into the physical derby they want.
Neil has also helped the group move beyond last season’s play-off semi-final loss to Hull City. The manager has pushed the squad to refocus on another promotion challenge rather than dwell on that disappointment.
What happens next is a major early test: a home result against West Ham would cut the gap, lift Millwall from mid-table and give their promotion push a significant jolt.
