Blackburn Rovers 2 Millwall 0 – No away joy for Lions

BY ALEX GRACE

Millwall’s problems on the road in the Championship continued after they were beaten 2-0 by Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Goals either side of half time from Derrick Williams and Bradley Dack condemned the Lions to their second league defeat of the campaign and means Neil Harris’ side are without an away win since March.

Millwall started brightly and John Dadi-Bodvarsson, making his first league start for the club, broke the offside trap early on. He crossed the ball for Connor Mahoney, who was immediately pounced on by the Rovers defence.

Bodvarsson was involved again as Millwall looked for the breakthrough. He linked up well with Jed Wallace, who curled his effort over the bar.

Blackburn drew first blood in the 18th minute. Mahlon Romeo’s attempted clearance fell to Greg Cunningham, who teed up Derrick Williams to hit the ball first time into the corner past Bialkowski, leaving him with no chance.

The goal seemed to wake up Millwall. Ryan Leonard and Mahlon Romeo tried their luck from distance, the latter’s effort forcing a simple save out of Christian Walton.

Connor Mahoney was facing his hometown club and he also went close, curling an effort over the bar.

The hosts nearly went 2-0 in front before half time and perhaps should have done. Murray Wallace helped the ball on to to Elliott Bennett who charged in towards goal, but his shot was wide of the far post.

Millwall had their keeper to thank early in the second half. First, the Poland international kept out Stewart Downing’s long range strike and then denied Adam Armstrong from inside the box as the game began to open up. Bialkowski again had to be alert to stop Dack’s effort two mintes later.

As the hour approached Neil Harris brought on Matt Smith for Connor Mahoney to partner Bodvarsson up front as Millwall reverted to 4-4-2. This made Millwall more of a threat especially in the air. Smith set up Leonard from a corner, but he failed to hit the target.

They were made to pay for that as just minutes later the home side doubled their lead. Bradley Dack had twice been thwarted by Bialkowski, but it was third time lucky for the former Gillingham man who turned home Elliott Bennett’s cross at the far post to make it 2-0.

Millwall’s man of the match Bialkowski made another superb stop to deny substitute Joe Rothwell adding his name to the scoresheet.

Shane Ferguson and Tom Bradshaw were introduced but Millwall were not able to find a way back into the game and are now without a win in four league games.

PICTURES BY SEAN GOSLING