GALLY’S TASTY TREAT
boyhood Villa fan – while Stoke manager Gary Rowett, a f ormer Birmingham boss – plays it down.
Stoke threatened on the counter-attack in the early stages – but keeper Orjan Nyland was alert to stop two chances.
Stoke keeper Jack Butland was called into action midway through the first half though, tipping over a Conor Hourihane free-kick.
Smith’s men gradually started to assert Alan Browne and Tom Barkhuizen.
And when Andrew Hughes added a deflected strike late on, it was all over for Millwall, who dropped into the relegation zone, still winless on their travels.
For Browne, it was his third in five games for form team Preston, who have only one defeat in their last 12 Championship themselves without creating enough.
Stoke were sitting back and soaking up the pressure – and did it well up to half-time, going into the interval scoreless.
Things got even better for
Rowett’s men w i t hi n 90 seconds of the second half, as they went in front.
Hutton lost out on the left f lank to James Mcclean, who crossed outings. Gally carved out the opportunity with a cross that was missed by Lukas Nmecha and Browne rifled home an angled drive for his seventh goal of the season.
Millwall had barely recovered when 34-year-old Gallagher (right) set up Barkhuizen to power home.
North End boss Alex for Allen. The Wales man timed his run well and fired into the roof of the net from eight yards. Smith brought on Kodjia to inject some cutting edge – and it changed the game.
The f or - ward’s efforts we r e rewarded when he won a penalty, after Erik Pieters’ sloppy challenge.
Tammy Abraham took the spot-kick and rolled Neil admitted: “It wasn’t our best performance but one defeat in 12 speaks for itself. We got the job done against a tough side. “Two great passes from Gally gave us the platform. He gave his all for us and I’m grateful for his application.”
Millwall pulled one back when Jake Cooper headed past keeper Declan Rudd. The effort was hacked away but it in, sending Butland the wrong way for 1-1.
But there was another penalty at the other end just five minutes later.
Elmohamady gave it away, fouling Mcclean with a poor challenge.
Benik Afobe – just a couple of minutes after coming on as a sub – tucked the ball away.
Kodjia’s big impact continued though when he headed in from the edge of the six-yard box off the i mpressive Yannick Bolasie’s cross. referee John Brooks ruled it had crossed the line.
The visitors grew in confidence and Aiden O’brien was denied by a block by Paul Huntington.
But they went further behind when Hughes scored before Lee
Gregory curled in a lastgasp consolation goal.
Lions boss Neal Harris said: “They scored with three shots inside the box.
“We had 11. The difference is that they took their chances.”