The lead of Queens Park Rangers at the top of the npower Championship was trimmed by a point last night after a defeat that included a red card for Danny Shittu on his first return to Millwall.
Shittu’s dismissal at the New Den was part of a defensive performance branded as “Sunday League” by Neil Warnock, the manager, although the impact of the result was softened by most of the West London club’s rivals for promotion failing to take advantage.
Steve Morison, the Wales forward, scored the opening goal just after the hour when he raced on to Tamika Mkandawire’s header from midfield.
The goalscorer then took advantage of a mistake from Clint Hill ten minutes later before being brought down by Shittu when in on goal. The former Millwall central defender was shown the red card and Liam Trotter sealed the points from the penalty spot.
“If you concede goals the way a Sunday League team would, you’re going to lose games,” Warnock said. “The first goal, one header from midfield and the kid’s through on goal.
Advertisement
“For the second one, when have you seen Clint Hill mess about like that? He thought he was [José] Enrique or someone. They made elementary mistakes and were punished.”
Warnock believes that his side are now in the final straight of their campaign. They have ten games left to seal a place in the top two, although the 62-year-old expects a race to the finish. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would be seven points ahead in March,” he said. “I wanted 110 points, but I’m lowering my sights.
“We want to win the league, but as long as we go up I don’t mind how we do it. It will go down to the wire. It always does.”
Nevertheless, it was a night of celebration for Millwall. Kenny Jackett’s team gave the league leaders a scare in the first half when Morison tricked his way past Wayne Routledge before forcing a save from Paddy Kenny.
Andros Townsend, the winger on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, made his debut for the home team and volleyed over the crossbar shortly after the interval before sending over a corner that Paul Robinson, the Millwall captain, headed over from a few yards out.
Advertisement
It was Millwall’s first win in six matches and gives them an outside chance of reaching the play-offs. “It was up there with the best performances of the season,” Jackett said. “There was a good link between the players and crowd and it certainly set some standards for us.
“They [QPR] had a minimal amount of chances, I can’t remember too many clear-cut ones. If we can replicate that we can start looking up rather than down. We are nine points off the play-offs with ten games to go. If we have a sprint finish we have a chance.”
Jackett added that Millwall did not target Shittu in the heart of the QPR defence. “We tried to get it out wide and round the back,” he said. “But both goals came through the middle, so it shows how much they listen.”
Millwall (4-4-2): D Forde — A Dunne, D Ward, P Robinson, T Craig — J Henry, L Trotter, T Mkandawire, A Townsend — S Morison, N Harris (sub: K Lisbie, 66min). Substitutes not used: S Mildenhall, C Eastmond, D Schofield, C Hackett, S Barron, J McQuoid.
Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): P Kenny — B Orr, K Gorkss, D Shittu, C Hill — A Faurlin, S Derry — W Routledge, A Buzsaky (sub: I Miller, 71), A Taarabt (sub: T Smith, 70) — H Helguson (sub: P Chimbonda, 79). Substitutes not used: R Cerny, R Hulse, P Moen, H Ephraim. Sent off: Shittu.
Referee: S Tanner.
Advertisement
For more match details click on the Match Stats tab at the top of the page