When West Ham United last tasted competitive victory over Millwall, the game featured a wild early red card, a dramatic 10-man comeback—and an 18-year-old Harry Kane watching on from the visitors’ bench.
As the Hammers prepare to meet their fierce London rivals at The Den for the first competitive clash between the two clubs in over 14 years, the story of their previous encounter on February 4, 2012 at Upton Park serves as a remarkable reminder of how much time has passed.
(Heading to the game or watching from home? Check out our Millwall vs West Ham TV Channel & Live Stream Guide for kickoff times and broadcast details.)
An 18-Year-Old Harry Kane in Millwall Lions Colors
Long before he became England’s record goalscorer and Bayern Munich’s star striker, Kane was spending the second half of the 2011/12 Championship season gaining senior experience on loan at Millwall from Tottenham Hotspur.
Sky Sports’ official team sheet from that afternoon shows the teenage Kane starting among Kenny Jackett’s Millwall substitutes.
With Millwall trailing in the second half, Kane was introduced in the 56th minute in place of Scott Barron. Another young Spurs loanee, Ryan Mason, also came off the bench later in the match. Neither could prevent ten-man West Ham from securing all three points.
According to BBC Sport, Kane’s 27-game loan spell at The Den—where he scored 9 goals—proved to be a crucial milestone that exposed him to the physical and psychological demands of senior football.
80 Minutes with 10 Men: The Kevin Nolan Red Card
The circumstances surrounding West Ham’s 2-1 victory make the result even more memorable for Hammers supporters.
Just nine minutes into the derby, West Ham captain Kevin Nolan was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Jack Smith, leaving Sam Allardyce’s side facing more than 80 minutes with ten players.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, West Ham struck first shortly before half-time:
- 45th Minute: Winston Reid headed Mark Noble’s deep free-kick back across goal, allowing Carlton Cole to bundle home from close range.
- 66th Minute: Millwall equalised through Liam Trotter, threatening to break West Ham hearts.
- 69th Minute: Just three minutes later, Winston Reid pounced on a loose clearance outside the box, drilling home the winning goal to send Upton Park into raptures.
The victory moved Sam Allardyce’s ten-man side four points clear at the top of the Championship, laying the groundwork for their eventual promotion via the play-offs at Wembley later that season.
Names From a Bygone Era
Looking back at the team sheets underlines just how much the footballing landscape has shifted over the past 14 years:
- West Ham XI: Robert Green, James Tomkins, George McCartney, Abdoulaye Faye, Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Carlton Cole.
- Millwall XI: David Forde, Paul Robinson, Darius Henderson, Andy Keogh, Liam Trotter, Harry Kane (sub).
Can Nuno’s Hammers Create a New Derby Memory Today?
Saturday’s trip to South London presents a very different challenge. Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham arrive looking to maintain momentum in their push for Premier League promotion, having recently built strong momentum following Nuno’s rallying message on West Ham’s squad depth.
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Millwall will rely on a raucous home crowd at The Den to disrupt that rhythm. But as history shows, derby day between these two rarely follows the script.
West Ham’s last derby victory featured a red card, three goals, and a future England superstar coming off the opposition bench. Nuno and his players will gladly take a far less chaotic afternoon—so long as the final scoreline remains the same.
Don’t forget to check Read West Ham at 11:30 AM BST for our live breakdown of the official CONFIRMED Millwall vs West Ham team sheets!
