MILLWALL 1
PRESTON NORTH END 0
SHAUN HUTCHINSON helped Millwall create a blast of their own to blow Preston’s promotion push off course.
Gary Rowett’s side who lost against West Brom in abysmal conditions at the New Den last Sunday – during Storm Ciara, when a gale was raging – absorbed an early battering to stun Preston with a 78th minute winner.
Defender Hutchinson, who started life in the same Wallsend Boys Club which nurtured talents such as Alan Shearer, Steve Bruce and Peter Beardsley, was the unlikely Millwall hero.
The big Geordie struck as Preston waited for the offside flag after an uncleared corner which was headed back into the area by fellow defender Murray Wallace. He kept his poise to nod past Declan Rudd who had been left isolated.
Preston looked to the officials in desperation but it was the band of hardy travelling Millwall fans behind that goal who were able to celebrate.
It was their side’s first league win in five games – and one which has revitalised their own aspirations of claiming an unlikely promotion playoff spot.
Lions boss Rowett (below) said: “At first they made it very difficult for us and showed why they have the best home record in the league. After that we got a grip of the game and it would be conceited to say we controlled it but we played really well.
“It’s a great result for us and one in the end which we deserved. Now it has given us a realistic chance to be up there. Our performances have merited us being up there. We have worked hard to be in the mix.”
For Alex Neil’s side it was a costly defeat – missing out on the opportunity to go third. Not that he was beating himself up or his team about it. He said: “If you win you are going to win the league. If you lose the wheels fall off.
“I think sometimes you have to look at how far we have come and take a reality check.”
Their powerful start had Millwall hanging on with keeper Bartosz Bialkowski the Lions early saviour with a string of top saves. In the first 12 minutes he kept our two stinging efforts from Scott Sinclair, made a stunning stop from Daniel Johnson and saw David Nugent blaze over. That proved the solid foundation for some impressive attacks from the visitors with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson almost scrambling in a Jed Wallace corner while Rudd’s legs defied Jake Cooper who found himself one on one with the keeper who also saved from Tom Bradshaw.
After the break it was Millwall who looked the most likely, with Bradshaw capitalising on a slip by Ben Davies to smash a shot against the bar.
PRESTON MILLWALL 3 ........ Shots on Target ......... 6 3 ........ Shots off Target ......... 4 1 ................. Corners ................. 8 5 .................. Fouls ................... 11 3 ............... Offsides .................. 1 71.3..Passing Success %..65.2 513 ....... Total Passes ....... 408 54.2 .... Possession % ..... 45.8 47.3 ..Territorial Adv % .. 52.7