Millwall 1-0 Rotherham United, Championship: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

Millwall 5-3-2

1

0

Rotherham United 3-1-4-2

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

Millwall kept their slim Championship Play-Offs hopes alive with a 1-0 win over strugglers Rotherham United courtesy of Jed Wallace’s superb 64th minute strike.

The first-half was low on quality, although Rotherham’s Freddie Ladapo did come close to opening the scoring inside fifteen minutes as he hooked an effort just wide.

And Rotherham had the next big chance of the game as well, Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski superbly clawing away a Michael Ihiekwe header with five minutes of the half remaining.

However, the tide turned early in the second-half when Richard Wood saw red for Rotherham after bringing Wallace down with the forward through on goal.

The resulting free-kick was hit straight into the wall with Danny McNamara unleashing a ferocious effort that was well-saved by Rotherham keeper Viktor Johansson from the rebound.

Millwall eventually made their numerical advantage count just past the hour mark though, Scott Malone’s corner falling the way of Wallace, who hit a brilliant half-volley into the top corner.

Rotherham then had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot with five minutes to play, but Bialkowski made an outstanding save to deny Michael Smith.

Key Points

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

Key Moment

Bartosz Bialkowski’s 85th minute penalty save to deny Michael Smith killed any hopes of Rotherham getting anything from the game.

Moan of the Match

Millwall played with a lack of composure for much of the first-half as well as spells in the second, wasting numerous opportunities.

Talking Point

With Millwall’s injured players slowly returning, could a late Play-Off charge still be on the cards?

Man of the Match

Bartosz Bialkowski – superbly denied Michael Ihiekwe in the first-half before saving Smith’s penalty late on.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

John Brooks (Leicestershire) – controlled the game well throughout and eventually got the red card decision correct after consulting with his assistant.

Atmosphere

A scrappy affair would’ve led to frustration from the terraces – but that might have spurred Millwall on.

Verdict

Millwall just about hung onto the three points in a typically scrappy affair to complete a hard-earned league double against Rotherham and keep very faint Play-Off hopes alive.

Line Ups

Millwall 5-3-2

Bialkowski; McNamara, Hutchinson (Pearce, 32), M. Wallace, Cooper, Malone; Evans, Woods (Kieftenbeld, 88), Mitchell (Mahoney, 74); J. Wallace (Bodvarsson, 74), Bennett (Zohore, 73)

Subs not used:

Fielding, Williams, Bradshaw, Romeo

Booked

Cooper

Rotherham United 3-1-4-2

Johansson; Ihiekwe, Wood, A. MacDonald; Barlaser (Jozefzoon, 78); Harding, Wing (Clarke, 78), Crooks (Hirst, 78), Giles (Wiles, 58); Smith, Ladapo (Lindsay, 59)

Subs not used:

Blackman, S. MacDonald, Ogbene, Sadlier, Robertson

Booked

A. MacDonald

Sent Off

Wood

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