The Millwall Newcastle Carabao Cup third-round tie kicks off at 8pm tomorrow night, live on Sky Sports Main Event, according to Radio Times, and Matthias Jaissle is already preparing for one of the rawest atmospheres in English football.
Newcastle have not played at the New Den in a generation. Younger Toon fans heading south tomorrow will be getting their first taste of the Millwall experience, the infamous ‘Monk Chant’ included. That continuous, droning ‘Merrr-warr’ from the home end is something you either know about or you do not, and Jaissle knows about it now.
Asked whether Millwall’s partisan support reminded him of anything from his playing or managerial career, Jaissle declined to draw comparisons. He did not hedge on one thing, though: he is fully aware the New Den is one of football’s toughest away days.
‘Yes, I am aware of it. No (it doesn’t worry me). I am protected in my box,’ Jaissle said. ‘I don’t want to compare as I don’t know that crowd too good. I will be careful of making comparisons. I like to be on the touchline here at St James’ Park. We have the full crowd behind us. It will be a bit of a special atmosphere down there, I’m aware of that, but it doesn’t influence my coaching and it should not influence the players. We need to focus on what we can influence on the pitch, and if we do our job, we come a long way.’
Millwall Newcastle Carabao Cup: what is at stake
A place in the last 16 is on the line. Win and Newcastle are through. Jaissle had scouts at Millwall’s weekend match, where the Lions thrashed Bolton Wanderers, so he goes in with eyes open. Yahoo Sports also reports that Millwall moved a Championship fixture against Middlesbrough, originally scheduled for the same evening, to Tuesday 15 September to accommodate the cup tie, which underlines how much is riding on this one for the home side too.
Craig Pawson has been appointed as referee for the match, according to The Athletic.
For Jaissle, the selection call is a genuine dilemma. He named a near full-strength side against West Brom in the previous round. Does he go again, or rotate with Premier League games stacking up? There is a three-week international break coming in the second half of September, and Newcastle do not have European commitments this term, so the window for recovery exists. Still, fitness data from a short turnaround will shape his thinking.
Jaissle said: ‘There’s always a fine line to make these decisions. I think it will be smart to wait now and see how the lads respond physically and mentally, we have a couple of days to make that decision. We are aware of the schedule and what then comes afterwards, but the physicality, already from the lads, is getting better and better.’
Goalkeeper situation adds another layer to Jaissle’s team selection headache
The most pressing call is in goal. Ewen Jaouen, who started the West Brom cup tie, has twisted his ankle in training. That puts Nick Pope back in the frame. Pope has not featured for Newcastle since the 4-1 pre-season defeat against Bristol City back in July but could get minutes if Lukas Hornicek is rested tomorrow night.
Jaissle kept his cards close: ‘We need to see. Ewen twisted his ankle yesterday, we still have a couple of days left to make the final decision who will be in goal.’
Three goalkeepers, one injured, one rested, and one waiting in the wings. It is one of a string of calls Jaissle has to land right before the 8pm kick-off. Get through at the New Den and Newcastle are in the last 16. The Lions have already cleared their schedule for it. Newcastle need to show up.