afc wimbledon 0 Millwall 1 Wallace (5)
Millwall manager Neil Harris is hoping for a home tie against Crystal Palace in the quarter-final after the Lions made the last eight of the competition for the second time in three seasons.
Murray Wallace’s header was all that separated the two sides at Kingsmeadow, ending the Dons’ recordbreaking run in the competition. Harris, who had two stints at The Den as a player, was not part of the 2003/04 side that made it all the way to the final at the Millennium Stadium, but now has Wembley in his sights following a tough game in surroundings that were a far cry from England’s national stadium.
Harris, 41, was delighted to see the current crop of players make further contributions to the club’s impressive FA Cup pedigree.
“What an achievement for a club our size,” said Harris. “Four times in 15 years, that is an unbelievable achievement. I said to them before the game, ‘It won’t be pretty today – it will not be free-flowing’. Off the ball we knew Wimbledon would make it really difficult for us, and they did.
“If we had got the second goal with 20 or 30 minutes to go we may have gone and got three or four and made it more comfortable.
“No disrespect to Doncaster Rovers, but if Palace get through I want to get them [in the draw]. To be at The Den, 20,000 of our fans to see a cup quarterfinal is what I want.”
Harris’ men are often praised for their grit and determination and that was in evidence once again at Kingsmeadow where, despite a second-half revival from the hosts, they held firm and were good value for the win, which will also reap notable financial rewards. Opposite number Wally Downes was rueful about the early chance squandered just before Murray’s goal, when Joe Pigott’s effort from a Shane Mcloughlin centre rattled off a post.
He said: “If you’re playing a team in the division above and you create a chance early, you’ve got to take it because you know they’re going to be very efficient at what they do.
“If they get a chance, they’re going to punish you and that’s what happened.”