Millwall daring to dream as win equals club record

Millwall 2-0 Bristol City

Back to back promotions to reach the Premier League? Incredibly and barely believably, the dream is still alive for the hungry Lions.

One of their former stars would have approved. Ray Wilkins, who graced the blue of Millwall towards the end of his career, was given a rousing and fond minute’s applause before kick off – the elegant former England midfielder having passed away this week.

His old club (one of them, at least) did him proud as goals from Jed Wallace and skipper Steve Morison gave Millwall a pretty straight forward and deserved 2-0 win.

Wins for Derby and Middlesbrough – the teams just about them in the final play-off places – may have taken a tiny bit of the edge off the home side’s runaway ambitions, but they are still very much in the mix with five to play.

Neil Harris’ men equalled a club record run of 15 undefeated matches in football’s second tier – something they last achieved in 1971. They have not lost a league game since a trip to Norwich on New Year’s Day and play as if they expect never to lose again.

Their afternoon could hardly have got off to a better start for them – Wallace turning inside on a pass from Ben Marshall to send a perfect curler into the top corner from the left edge of the box.

That 11th minute opener set the tone for a performance full of robust intent and willingness to chase everything that moved with thundering challenges.

The verve of Mahlon Romeo on the right flank, the battling presence of Lee Gregory and Morison up front and the collective desire to track back and protect Jordan Archer in goal were features of another impressive display.

Bristol City, only ahead on goals scored at the start of play, had most of the ball but were hustled out of their stride and appear to be out of sorts. They certainly seem to have less appetite for the workload needed now to scrape into the top six by close of play in May.

Morison calmly clipped in the second after 52 minutes after Gregory had played a neat back-heel to open up space. And the Lions’ captain almost added a third moments after his 52nd minute strike but had a close range shot blocked.

Millwall: Archer – Romeo, Hutchinson, Cooper, Meredith – Wallace, Williams, Saville, Marshall (Onyedinma 80) – Gregory (Cahill 82), Morison (Shackell 87). Subs not used: Martin, Tunnicliffe, Elliott, O’Brien.