West Ham United come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Millwall in a thrilling first Dockers Derby fixture since 2012.
A week before the game, West Ham player Tomas Soucek laughed off ‘vile abuse’ aimed at him from a Millwall fan…
Tomas Soucek laughs off ‘vile abuse’ from Millwall fan ahead of game against West Ham
On Thursday, Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) posted the following tweet: “On Saturday, 19 September at 12:30hrs, @MillwallFC face @WestHam at the Den – the first time the two clubs have met since 2012.
“We want fans to enjoy the match safely and have worked with both clubs to help this happen.
“As with any fixture, the Sporting Events Act 1985 is in place, which means entering or attempting to enter a ground while intoxicated is strictly prohibited.
“A Section 35 dispersal order will also be in place, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder. It will cover this area (pictured below).
“Away ticket holders can access the ground from South Bermondsey Station, via London Bridge.
“This will minimise disruption to the wider public and give @WestHam fans a clear, easy route to follow with a significant police presence.
“After the fixture, away fans will likely be guided to South Bermondsey which means the station may be closed to home fans for up to an hour.
“Please make appropriate arrangements and allow longer for your journey to be completed.”
As with any fixture, the Sporting Events Act 1985 is in place, which means entering or attempting to enter a ground while intoxicated is strictly prohibited. A Section 35 dispersal order will also be in place, allowing officers to remove anyone causing disorder. It will cover… pic.twitter.com/MvZnSp7FEi
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 17, 2026
The night before the game, footage emerged, with @GKMwa claiming: “Police just arrested a bunch of suspected Millwall fans at Carpenter’s At Stratford ahead of tomorrow’s fixture with West Ham.”
Police just arrested a bunch of suspected Millwall fans at Carpenter’s At Stratford ahead of tomorrow’s fixture with westham .#Footballhooligans #WesthamFC pic.twitter.com/yBwfudi3Bf
— Gift Kugara – Mawire (@GKMwa) September 18, 2026
Millwall went over to a West Ham pub tonight. pic.twitter.com/oM9lELLAwX
— 𝓑𝓮𝓻𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼𝓮𝔂𝓑𝓸𝔂 😎 (@LovelyGeezer65) September 18, 2026
West Ham’s team bus arrived at The Den, met with this reaction from the Millwall fans waiting outside the ground…
West Ham receive a hostile reaction from Millwall fans as they arrive at The Den. #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/YWTMSXr28X
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) September 19, 2026
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The game itself saw Caleb Taylor open the scoring on the 16th minute.
Then on the 45th minute, Mark Sykes had an absolute rocket from long-range come back off the crossbar. A potential contender for goal of the season, had it gone into the top corner.
As the first half was coming to an end, Millwall doubled their lead through Camiel Neghli, all too easy for the Lions.
West Ham, who finally sparked into life in the second half, got one back, Mohamadou Kante, who sent the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
One moment saw pitchside reporter Jonathan Oakes said while on Sky Sports Football: “Filip Marschall delayed releasing the ball as he is claiming Taty Castellanos spat at him. That is what the Millwall coaching staff is telling us.”
The Hammers continued to put pressure on Millwall in search for an equaliser and go that with 10 minutes to go, Konstantinos Mavropanos rose high and headed the ball into the net.
Late drama, Kante sent off on the 89th minute, Kyrell Lisbie burst through on goal and was pulled back by Kante to deny him a goalscoring opportunity. The resulting free kick hit the wall.
Millwall’s Caleb Taylor said to ITV after the game: “Firstly, it’s pride, know. We’ve shown so much today. The atmosphere is incredible.
“But then secondly, it’s disappointment because that’s two weeks in a row now. We’ve been two up after and then not got the result we wanted.”
Interviewer: “First half was phenomenal. I mean, how did it change? You knew it was going to with the changes they made, but are you surprised at what the second half was like?”
Caleb: “No, I’m not surprised. We battered them first half, know, we were so on the front foot, they couldn’t deal with it.
“I think that’s one of the best halves we’ve had so far and we deserve the 2-0 lead but we knew at hard time they’re going to change, you know, they’re good team so they’re not going to just allow that to happen.
“But yeah, so they came out changed shape and made it difficult for us but yeah, just disappointed to concede them two goals.”
Interviewer: “The grand scheme of things, it’s a point but I mean, you know, again, you’re running on empty out there, everyone is dead on their feet.”
Caleb: “Yeah, we do that every game, you we’re giving 100%. Yeah, I’m just so proud of the lads. It’s been a tough four weeks, eight games in four weeks. So we stood together and yeah, we’re lucky to not get a full reward today.”
Interviewer: “Tell us about playing in that atmosphere.”
Caleb: “I can’t lie. It’s one of the best atmospheres that I’ve played in. was incredible. I shivers walking out. So yeah, I’m just proud to play in a game like this and represent Millwall.”
“It’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever played in..I got shivers walking out”
Millwall’s Caleb Taylor speaks to Aaron Paul following today’s 2-2 draw with West Ham. pic.twitter.com/yFoRuxooe6
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 19, 2026
Millwall’s Alex Neil said, as per Sky Sports:
“Mixed emotions. It was an unbelievable effort from the players. they left everything on the pitch, as you would hope for. We just ran out of steam as the game wore on. There was a lack of freshness in options, particularly at the top end of the pitch. I thought [Lyndon Dykes] and [Tairyk Arconte] were excellent, caused them all sorts of problems in the first half. But once we hit about 60-65 minutes, we really tired.
“So 2-0 up, brilliant first half, probably should have been more. They then changed their shape to a 3-5-2 and we found it really difficult to get out. We lost energy in the middle, we lost energy in the top line and ended up sinking and sinking.
“The frustrating thing from my perspective is the goals come from a 30-yard shot from outside the box and a second-phase set-play. All in all, I couldn’t ask any more of the lads.”
West Ham’s Nuno Espirito Santo:
“Clearly the first half we didn’t go well in the game, we didn’t start well, we were not precise, we lost balls, we didn’t deal with the physicality of Millwall. They are so good and strong, they took advantage of the throw-in, the way we can see things happening.
“Disappointing on that part, we knew what we were going to find but we didn’t do well.
“But much improved in the second half and the way the game went, it’s a positive. Not what we wanted but the way the boys reacted to a bad first half was good and positive.”
On Kante’s red card: “He came into the game very well, a beautiful goal but then a big mistake and then it was the right decision to take it and avoid something tragical.
“He’s a very young player, a lot of things to improve – we have many in our squad – so I hope this is a lesson for his future.”
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