Charlton 0 Millwall 1 – Jake Cooper earns Lions victory at Valley as derby wait continues for hosts
Jake Cooper’s second goal of the Championship season – and his first since December – ensured that Millwall’s unbeaten run against Charlton Athletic continued.
The big centre-back was on hand to pounce when Dillon Phillips could only parry Connor Mahoney’s powerful strike into his path, beating Tom Lockyer to the loose ball to fire in an 81st-minute decider.
The Lions’ first win since lockdown means they are only two points behind Cardiff City, although the Welsh side have a match in hand.
Charlton’s 24-year wait for a victory over their rivals continues, but they had opportunities at a near-empty Valley. The most notable was in the first half when Macauley Bonne raced into the box but his shot was blocked by the legs of Bartosz Bialkowski.
Both the Addicks’ goals since the season restarted have come from set-pieces and it always looked like one goal would be enough to settle this fixture.
A smart move in the opening moments saw Tomer Hemed slipped in by Bonne but the former Brighton striker’s shot lacked conviction as Bialkowski claimed comfortably.
Hemed also hooked a right-footed volley past the left upright in the first period. Jed Wallace had Millwall’s best chance in the opening 45 minutes but Dillon Phillips came off his line quickly to smother the attacker’s attempt.
Bialkowski pushed a Chuks Aneke shot around his right post before Tom Lockyer volleyed a first-time effort over when Tom Bradshaw’s near-post defensive flick as he tried to clear a corner fell nicely for the Charlton centre-back.
It looked like Millwall could be heading for an 18th draw of the season but Cooper had other ideas as his adventurous break into the box saw him grab the headlines.
PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD
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