Jenson Metcalfe's red card from Millwall's win over Bolton Wanderers has been rescinded, and the midfielder said the club's "hunger" suits him perfectly. The 22-year-old was dismissed during Saturday's 4-0 home victory on 5 September following a flashpoint involving Bolton's Sheehan, before both red cards were overturned on appeal this week.
Metcalfe told reporters the timing made it sting even more, saying: "Sunday was my birthday and it ruined it." He said he had rewatched the incident repeatedly, unable to spot the violent conduct that got him sent off.
A hunger club
The setback has not dented his enthusiasm for life at Millwall. Since joining from Bradford City in the summer, he has started all five of Millwall's league games and relishes the intensity of Championship football. He described Millwall as a hunger club, saying that every time you put the shirt on you have to fight and want to win.
Metcalfe moved to Millwall from Bradford City, the League One club he helped reach the 2025-26 play-off semi-finals, in a transfer finalised on 17 June. He had spent the previous season on loan at Bradford, having played in League Two for Chesterfield during 2024-25, and this is his first taste of second-tier football.
Slow start after play-off pain
Millwall are still recovering after missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of last season and then losing to Hull City in the play-offs. The club currently sit thirteenth in the Championship with nine points from six games, five points behind leaders West Ham, a position that can be followed on the standings page.
The win over Bolton has proved to be the exception rather than the rule. Millwall have since lost their last two matches, going down 3-1 at Blackburn on Saturday, 12 September, when Oladapo Afolayan scored twice either side of a Lyndon Dykes penalty, having also been beaten 0-1 at home by Newcastle before that. Overall the side have scored eleven goals and conceded eleven, details that can be found on the stats page.
Middlesbrough test looms
Metcalfe and his teammates now head to face fourth-placed Middlesbrough on Tuesday, 15 September, as they look to halt the slide. Supporters wanting to check the matchday squad can find the latest list on the squad page ahead of kick-off.
