Millwall v Wycombe
Saturday 8th January 2000

Opta Index head-to-head
Neil Harris v Sean Devine

Millwall scored twice to grab a keen win at Adams Park last month, but surprisingly red-hot striker Neil Harris was not on the scoresheet. The former non-league hitman has been in net-busting form since the start of November and now has 14 league goals. In this period the Lions have won nine of their 13 games to surge into the top four and challenge strongly for a play-off place.

In comparison Wycombe Wanderers have all the hallmarks of a mid-table outfit. In fact their record at present shows that they have won, drawn and lost eight games, scoring 30 and conceding the same number. And exactly half of those goals have come from ex-Barnet forward Sean Devine. The left-footed machine has now scored 25 goals in 40 games since joining the Chairboys last March and is the jewel in the side.

In fact Devine has managed to get 40 efforts on target this season, the most in Division Two, while Harris has hit 11 less at goal. Millwall's former Cambridge City man has five assists to his name though, indicating that there is much more to his game than simple finishing. Devine too, is an integral part of the Wanderers team, always capable of creating something for his team-mates. He combines well with the pace and power of Andy Baird and Jermaine McSporran with a cross completion rate of 33 per cent.

Neither man seems likely to help his defence out much, having made just 15 tackles between them. But when they possess such predatory instincts it does not matter. Give either of these players a chance and they will bury it. The prospect of a happy Saturday night rests with whichever defence is most wary.


Statistics courtesy of Carling Opta