Millwall 1-0 Middlesbrough, Championship: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

Millwall 5-3-2

1

0

Middlesbrough 3-4-3

Half Time: 1 - 0 The Den ( Attendance: NA )
1 min

Millwall made it two wins from their last three Championship matches as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at The Den.

The Lions’ first chance came just before the half-hour mark after a superb move – Mason Bennett playing an inch-perfect ball for Jed Wallace only to see his effort well saved.

Millwall weren’t to be denied for long though as Billy Mitchell’s pass set Wallace away down the left before his subsequent cross turned into his own net by Grant Hall in the 31st-minute.

Danny McNamara should then have doubled the advantage five minutes before half-time after a brilliant Wallace pass, though his shot drifted agonisingly wide.

At the other end Yannick Bolasie squandered a great chance to equalise just before half-time but the forward scuffed his effort wide.

Boro upped the ante after the break with George Saville forcing a good save from Bartosz Bialkowski and an excellent block from Murray Wallace inside the first 15 minutes.

And with just over ten minutes to play, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could have made the game safe but Boro keeper Marcus Bettinelli did well to save the bobbling ball.

Key Points

Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…

Key Moment

Middlesbrough defender Grant Hall’s own goal was the only strike in an entertaining affair.

Moan of the Match

Millwall should have had more goals in a strong first-half display, but couldn’t convert some really good chances.

Talking Point

Could Millwall have shifted their set-up after the break to make it more balanced?

Man of the Match

Shaun Hutchinson – immense defensively and got forward well on a few occasions in a hugely impressive display.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

James Linington (Isle of Wight) – inconsistent throughout but luckily had no major calls to make in a below-par officiating display.

Atmosphere

With Boro’s second-half domination, it would’ve been a nervy Den – but could that have inspired Millwall to step-up their game when they had possession?

Verdict

Neither side is likely to have anything to play for now, but it was an entertaining game that Millwall will be delighted to come out of victorious.

Line Ups

Millwall 5-3-2

Bialkowski; McNamara (Romeo, 87), Hutchinson, M. Wallace, Cooper, Malone (Pearce, 86); Evans, Woods (Williams, 81), Mitchell; J. Wallace (Bradshaw, 81), Bennett (Bodvarsson, 64)

Subs not used:

Fielding, Ferguson, Mahoney, Burey

Booked

McNamara

Middlesbrough 3-4-3

Bettinelli; Hall, Fry, Bola; Spence (Mendez-Laing, 46), Howson, McNair (Kebano, 81), Johnson; Tavernier (Saville, 45+2), Akpom (Fletcher, 46), Bolasie (Watmore, 46)

Subs not used:

Archer, Morsy, Fisher, Coburn

Booked

Bola

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