MILLWALL returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win against Blackpool at The Den on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions came into the game off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to QPR, but they were ahead within 15 minutes against the Seasiders when Zian Flemming’s header forced goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw to carry the ball into the back of his own net.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Blackpool were level. Despite playing poorly in the early stages, they opened up the Lions defence and played a low cross into the box, which Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino rifled into the back of the net off George Long.
Flemming looked the most likely to put Millwall back in front both before and after the half-time break, but he failed to find his first goal for the Lions. Shortly after the Dutchman smacked the post, Benik Afobe was able to find his second goal of the season as he fired a rebound effort from Callum Styles past Grimshaw to give the hosts the lead after 63 minutes.
Match details
Millwall looked to start on the front foot in the early stages of the match, with Zian Flemming clearly desperate to help out in the final third. He battled hard to break through the Blackpool defence, setting up Benik Afobe down the right. The striker was closed down as soon as he touched the ball, however, forcing him to set up Billy Mitchell behind him, playing a low cross back into the box that was cut out before it could reach Flemming.
Blackpool, fresh off the back of their 3-0 defeat at Rotherham, looked nervy. Their passes were loose and their performance at the start of the match was summarised by a free-kick which James Husband played straight out of play, with the left-back clearly expecting one of his teammates to make a run. Seconds later, Flemming tested Grimshaw with a header from George Honeyman’s looped cross, but Daniel Grimshaw was able to make a comfortable save.
It felt like the Dutchman would never find the back of the net, having come incredibly close to his first Millwall goal on multiple occasions. However, with Scott Malone winning a corner just before the 15-minute mark, the left wing-back curled a lovely ball onto the head of Flemming, who powered it into the ground. Grimshaw got down to catch it, but the referee indicated that it crossed the line, giving the Lions an early lead at The Den. Unfortunately for Millwall’s record signing, it went down as an own-goal from the Blackpool goalkeeper.
The Tangerines’ disjointed performance continued until the 32nd minute, where a string of neat passes down the left flank gave them the chance to play a low cross into the box. Charlie Patino was left unmarked in the centre, allowing him to fire a powerful shot at goal. George Long got a hand to it, but he was unable to keep it out as the visitors levelled the scores to a chorus of boos from the home supporters.
Millwall weren’t playing with enough energy of intensity, and this became evident as the half wore on. Honeyman’s tidy pass played Malone down the left flank, where his looping cross was met by the head of Jamie Shackleton. The ball ended up deflecting off Husband, with Flemming curling another effort over the crossbar shortly before the half-time break.
Flemming tried taking the game by the scruff of its neck after the restart, but Millwall failed to gain any real control in the game. Aside from an early long-distance shot from the Dutchman, the Lions failed to gain any control while the Tangerines were starting to threaten on the counter.
That all changed on the hour-mark, when Malone’s well-delivered free-kick was headed into the path of Flemming, who cut inside and smacked the post. This seemed to wake Millwall up and show them that they were capable of hurting Blackpool from open play, which they did three minutes later.
A Millwall corner was cleared as far as Murray Wallace, who was able to recycle it by playing Styles into the box. His effort on goal was blocked, but it trickled over to Benik Afobe, who rifled the blasted the rebound into the back of the net from close range, getting his second goal of the season.
While Blackpool came close to an instant reply through Theo Corbeanu’s counterattack, the Lions began to turn the screw in search of a third goal. While the Seasiders looked uncomfortable at the back, Rowett’s side were just lacking that final touch in the box to put the game beyond doubt.
The visitors pushed for a late equaliser with Millwall unable to retain possession of the ball in the dying stages, but the Lions eventually ran out as 2-1 winners in a crucial game.
Millwall: 5-2-1-2: Bialkowski; Shackleton, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace, Malone; Mitchell, Styles; Honeyman: Afobe, Flemming
Blackpool: 5-2-3: Grimshaw; Connolly, Ekpiteta, Thorniley, Husband, Thompson; Dougall, Patino; Corbeanu, Yates, Lavery
Takeaways
Set pieces reign supreme
Even at their very worst, Millwall are always a threat from set pieces.
Of course, it’s usually Charlie Cresswell who gets on the end of them, but this time it was Zian Flemming who helped them find the back of the net, even if he he wasn’t credited with the goal itself.
The only problem is that the Lions can’t keep relying on set pieces to win games. They have to create more to score from open play.
A confidence boost for Benik
It’s been a while since Afobe started for Millwall and found the back of the net, with his only other goal so far this season coming off the bench.
His goal this afternoon may not have been pretty, but it proved to be crucial as the Lions recorded their fourth win of the season.
With Tom Bradshaw yet to find the back of the net this season, a run of good form from Afobe could really do wonders for Rowett’s side ahead of some tough October fixtures.
How close can he get?
Flemming took eight shots against Blackpool, but failed to find the back of the net with any of them.
The Dutchman is doing his very best to get his first goal for the Lions, and outside of the defeat to QPR, he’s yet to play badly at all.
It really does feel like he just needs one to finally kickstart his Millwall career.
Photo: Millwall FC