Flemming brace a joy for Rowett

ZIAN FLEMMING struck twice to heap more misery on managerless Middlesbrough.

Millwall’s £1.7million record signing netted in each half to stretch his goal run to four in four games.

Boss Gary Rowett said: “Zian with his two goals was really, really pleasing.

“He has added two different types of goals to the ones he scored before which highlights his talent.

“It was nice to get the early goal. I think it’s something like 10 times this season we have let the opposition score first.”

Millwall made full use of a slice of luck in the fifth minute to ease to a third home win in four games.

Boro should have won a throw-in before Paddy Mcnair brought down Tyler Burey for the free-kick from which Flemming scored via a huge deflection off Chuba Akpom.

The only blot on the Dutchman’s day was heading over from close range soon after.

Dael Fry, Matt Crooks and Rodrigo Muniz all skied the visitors’ best first-half chances before keeper

Zack Steffen produced a double save to deny Andreas Voglsammer and Tom Bradshaw on the stroke of half-time.

It was a short-lived reprieve as Flemming turned in Jake Cooper’s flick-on from Shaun Hutchinson’s 49th-minute free-kick.

Boro interim boss Leo Percovich tried to put a positive spin on the game despite his side failing to mount any serious second-half pressure.

He said: “When you come to Millwall, the first thing you say is how strong they are at set-pieces and try to organise, but this time it cost us the game.”

MILLWALL: Long 7; Mcnamara 7, Hutchinson 7, Cooper 7, Wallace 7; Mitchell 7, Saville 7; Flemming 8 (Honeyman (82) 6), Voglsammer 7 (Bennett (83) 6), Bradshaw 6 (Afobe

(66) 6), Burey 6 (Styles (57) 6)

MIDDLESBROUGH: Steffen 7; Fry 6, Mcnair 6 (Dijksteel (65) 6), Lenihan 6; Jones 6, Howson 6, Mcgree 6 (Hackney (51) 6), Bola 6 (Giles (51) 6); Crooks 6, Muniz 5 (Hoppe 75) 5), Akpom 5 (Forss (65) 6)

STAR MAN: Zian Flemming. Two goals won the game.

REF: Matt Donohue 7