Gallagher destroys tame Lions
ALEX NEIL hailed Paul Gallagher’s contribution after he played a part in all three of his Preston side’s goals during their win over Millwall at The Den.
The 34-year-old Scotsman is a key component of a team that are now eight games unbeaten and could yet mount a late push for a play-off spot, having found themselves rooted to the bottom of the table at the beginning of October.
If there was any danger of complacency against the Lions, it didn’t show and a threegoal 27-minute blitz put the game to bed, with Gallagher at the heart of it, teeing up Andrew Hughes, Tom Clarke and Sean Maguire as the Lilywhites ran riot.
“He has an absolute wand of a right foot,” said Neil. “He’s got the best trait you can have as a player – he affects games and he affects them regularly for us. His pass to Sean was absolutely sublime. He takes the pace off the ball and just stuns it into his path. He’s been absolutely terrific for us.”
Millwall boss Neil Harris was understandably downcast and was particularly annoyed with Clarke’s header to double the visitors’ advantage.
“The second goal was embarrassing. The players didn’t do what they were supposed to. We were lacklustre first half, didn’t get out the traps.
“The players got a reminder at half-time about what it means to play for this club. You can’t give teams three-goal head-starts. I’ll praise them for the second half, but not the first. We were terrible.”
The Lilywhites dominated from the off and their enterprising style was rewarded when Gallagher’s free-kick led to pinball and Hughes was on hand to net his second goal against the London outfit this season with a lovely volley into the corner that gave Jordan Archer no chance.
As the home fans became increasingly agitated, Preston doubled their lead, thanks again to Gallagher’s precision. Millwall left a man free at the back post from a corner and were punished, with Clarke stooping low to head home.
The chasm between the two sides did not look like closing and the contest looked to be all over after 27 minutes.
The third strike was easily the pick of the bunch. There didn’t seem to be anything on for Gallagher as the ball popped up to him 30 yards out, but he spotted Maguire’s darting run and a beautifully cushioned through-ball was snaffled up by the Irishman, who kept his composure to impudently dink the ball over a despairing Archer.
Boos greeted the half-time whistle and the second half saw the introduction of Shane Ferguson and Steve Morison, with the former hitting a fierce effort past Declan Rudd’s lefthand post after 57 minutes.
But it was Millwall’s third substitute Ben Thompson who pulled one back barely a minute after coming on. An inviting ball by Ben Marshall was nodded back across goal by Morison where it was buried by the 23-year-old.
For all their second-half intent, the Lions’ wastefulness in the final third meant the outcome was never in doubt.