Millwall secured their second away win of the season thanks to goals from Jed Wallace and Jake Cooper in either half, before Bristol City substitute Callum O’Dowda gave the home side a lifeline with just six minutes left on the clock.
The visitors defended heroically in the closing stages with Lion’ keeper Bartosz Bialkowski pulling off two great saves – one from Josh Brownhill and another from Pedro Pereira to give the South-London side all three points.
Millwall are now just four points off the play-offs at the end of Tuesday’s fixtures.
Change of Style
Since the appointment of Gary Rowett in October, the Lions faithful have enjoyed a change of playing style from their side to a more possession-based football.
However, it was this that nearly gave the hosts the lead with just three minutes on the clock when Cooper needlessly gave the ball away when trying to play out from the back which allowed City forward Andreas Weimann to break, rounding Bialkowski before Alex Pearce cleared the danger for the Lions.
Despite the slight scare, Millwall continued to try and play out from the back and were creating opportunities going forward with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s header looping over Daniel Bentley’s goal before Jayson Molumby’s volley was deflected wide.
With 11 minutes on the clock, the Lions got the break-through as Bristol City fell asleep when Mahlon Romeo put a lovely through ball down the right-hand side for Wallace before the latter cut in and drove his effort into the bottom right corner.
Wallace on Fire
That was Wallace’s eighth goal of the campaign and has now been involved in 12 goals in his last 11 appearances, scoring six and assisting six.
There is little doubt that the 25-year old former Wolves winger is on fine form at the moment and is even being linked with a big money-move to Premier League outfit Aston Villa in January.
He has been involved in a goal every game since Rowett’s appointment.
Lions Lack End Product
If there was a criticism to Millwall’s superb performance against Nottingham Forest at The Den on Friday night, it’s that at times the final product was slightly lacking and that seemed to be the case again on Tuesday night.
The home side were restricted to very few efforts in the first half thanks to a resilient Millwall defence, but Brownhill’s long-range strike had Bialkowski scrambling across his goal before Famara Diedhiou’s header was comfortably caught by the Millwall keeper.
City came out in the second half looking to improve on an under-whelming first half performance but couldn’t break down the Lions wall of defence – Diedhiou’s effort trickling wide just before the hour-mark being their first real effort on goal in the second half.
The South-Londoner’s doubled their lead when Cooper met Wallace’s free-kick to nod home his first of the season with 20 minutes left to play.
Wallace nearly made it three when Lions substitute Ben Thompson won the ball back in the opposition half before other Lions sub Matt Smith slotted in Wallace whose shot was saved by City keeper Bentley.
O’Dowda got a consolation for the home side with 84 minutes gone but the Lions held on for the win fairly comfortably.
Rowett Revolution
It’s been somewhat of a revolution since Rowett took over at The Den with three wins, three draws and one loss in his seven league games in charge so far. The Lions boss was full of praise for his team’s performance.
“I thought we were outstanding, against a side like Bristol City with the home record they have and their position in the League table,” said Rowett.
“I have to say that in the first half we opened them up countless times and it was a bit like the Forest game where we couldn’t believe we were only one up at the time. They had good control of possession at times, but the way we set up meant we didn’t mind that. The higher they get, the more opportunities we get on those transitions, which we worked really well.
“The only thing I’ve actually had a go at the lads for in there is the way we had to hang on in the last 10 minutes. Their goal changed everything really, and I just want us to know we can still go and press at two goals up. I know you naturally feel as if you’re protecting something at that point, and I’d like to just see us use our ability more in those situations – play how we did in the first 45 minutes. We put our bodies on the line when we needed to.”
Millwall travel to one of Rowett’s former sides on Saturday in the shape of Derby County and will be hoping to be one of the chasing pack in terms of the playoff places in a tightly contested EFL Championship.
