Scotland Yard will deploy 400 officers onto the streets for West Ham United's Championship match at Millwall this Saturday, a massive operation that quadruples the league's typical police presence. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the plans for the first Dockers Derby in over a decade, with officers in riot gear but without shields prepared for potential public disorder.
Alan Brazil said: "What to expect at The Den for West Ham." The broadcaster's anticipation of intense scenes shows the heightened security concerns surrounding the fixture at The Den. The Championship average sees between 60 and 150 officers deployed for a match, making this weekend's 400-strong contingent a significant escalation.
For manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his league-leading side, the focus remains on securing three vital points ahead of the international break. West Ham sit second in the Championship on 15 points after eight games, just two points behind leaders Swansea. Their last meeting with Millwall ended in a 2-2 draw just days ago, with Konstantinos Mavropanos scoring a late equaliser.
Key players like Jarrod Bowen, who has four goals this season, and Taty Castellanos will be central to West Ham's attacking plans. At the back, Mavropanos will again be key, while the potential involvement of Edson Alvarez would be a welcome surprise. The squad's depth and current form, which reads three wins, one draw, and one loss from their last five, provides a solid platform. The team's next fixture is a home match against fifth-placed QPR on 9 October.
First reported at sports.yahoo.com
