Burton Albion 0 Millwall 1 – Ben Marshall winners sees Lions climb up Championship table
By Harry Arckless
Millwall stretched their unbeaten run to eight games as Ben Marshall’s header saw off a spirited Burton Albion.
The winger’s first goal for the Lions saw them climb to 12th in the Championship table and ensure Burton Albion stayed in the relegation places.
In a game where the struggling home side had the better chances, Marshall took his one and only opportunity.
A brilliant cross from Jed Wallace on the left hand side wasn’t dealt with by the Burton defence and the Wolves loanee nodded home past a despairing Stephen Bywater.
After playing over 100 minutes of football in midweek against Sheffield Wednesday, fatigue could have crept in for Neil Harris’ men but discipline and organisation was to a tee against a Burton side who were on the up after a 2-1 win over fellow relegation rivals Barnsley in midweek.
The home team started the strongest and played the better football, but created very few chances.
The first meaningful chance of the game fell to Burton striker Darren Bent. One-on-one he would have been expected to gobble up the chance but for a goal-saving tackle from Jake Cooper to thwart the former England striker.
The Millwall defence was given another let-off when Bent squandered another even better chance, firing wide from the edge of the area with his weaker foot.
Despite more Burton pressure, they hung on until half-time as the game remained scoreless.
The second half carried on where the first one left off, Burton asking the questions but the Lions responding every time.
With just over an hour played, the breakthrough finally came. Wallace skipped down the left hand side and curled a beautiful cross to the far post where Marshall was unmarked to head home.
The Lions marshalled out the match in a style which has been typical of this season. Allowing the plucky home side very few clear cut chances. Tom Naylor’s far-post header over the bar was the best that they could muster.