Bennik Afobe scored each targets as Millwall moved nearer to the playoffs within the event with an exciting 2-0 win over promoted Huddersfield.
The Lions superior two factors from the highest six after extending their unbeaten run to eight video games and making it 5 with out conceding a sheet within the course of.
Additionally they ended the Terriers’ 17-game undefeated league streak – which ran by way of November – and left them nonetheless three factors behind second-placed Bournemouth, having now performed three extra video games.
It was after Huddersfield had a plethora of probabilities within the early phases of the match, beginning with Louis O’Brien’s highly effective shot from exterior the field which Bartosz Bialkowski properly saved.
The ensuing angle from Sorba Thomas was not cleared correctly, which resulted in Duane Holmes making a low effort that additionally wanted to push Bialkowski away.
Holmes then despatched in one other shot from distance over the bar earlier than Danny Ward blasted off the web after being picked up by O’Brien’s nice ball within the space.
Having withstood early stress, Millwall practically acquired himself forward within the twelfth minute when Murray Wallace performed a move for Afobe, with Lee Nichols doing properly to cease his try and assault.
This constructed the Lions’ energy and broke it after 27 minutes when a shot from Mason Bennett fell to Afobe, who dominated earlier than burying the ball previous Nichols.
The homers continued to get one of the best of issues till the break, and Bennett virtually added a second when he smashed into the balls after slicing off the left flank.
An excellent alternative for Millwall to double their lead got here 10 minutes into the second half when Bennett’s protection discovered its method to Afobe, however he fired exhausting at Nichols.
There was nothing stopping Afobe from scoring his second purpose two minutes later, when he fired an outstanding effort into the underside nook after a Scott Malone free kick en route.
The Lions virtually eradicated the match when solely crossbar Afobe blocked a three-pointer from shut vary earlier than Nichols by some means overpowered Dan Ballard’s follow-up.
The hosts had been nonetheless urgent for a 3rd purpose and got here shut once more when George Savile returned the ball to Wallace, who was blocked by Harry Tovolo on the purpose line.
Woodwork then prevented Afobe from finishing his hat-trick once more when Malone’s cross headed again from the put up seven minutes from the tip.
What did the managers say…
Millwall Gary narrated: “Should you take a look at some moments, we hit the crossbar, it was a penalty when the participant hit it on the road when he shot it within the air – I feel it was (Louis) O’Brien. The goalkeeper made two or three nice saves and Bennick missed one other good probability perhaps You would be a lot better than his second purpose, however that is what I would moderately speak about: creating extra alternatives than losing them.
“He took his two, he’d be dissatisfied as a result of he did not have a hat-trick, however I feel the larger image is a extremely good efficiency on and off the ball in the present day. He was actually disciplined. By way of possession, they might have extra possession however when it comes to probabilities, I assumed we We utterly managed the match.”
Huddersfield Carlos Corberan: “Right this moment I assumed Millwall was higher than us and that is why we misplaced the sport. To investigate the primary purpose, I would like to speak about our assault as a result of for me in the present day, the sensation within the first quarter-hour was very constructive. However then in these constructive minutes we began to lose the ball into areas. Very harmful on the sphere.
“Once you lose the ball in the midst of the sphere, the traditional factor is that you simply endure in a single transition and their first purpose is precisely that. After you lose the ball within the final third of the sphere, you go to endure on the counter-attacks. I feel in the present day, within the offensive half, we did not discover Stability with the ball or accuracy in passing and that did not permit us to create probabilities.”
