Preston North End 3 Millwall 2 – Spirited fightback by Lions but they can’t claim a point

BY JAKE SANDERS

Millwall produced a spirited second-half display but slipped into the Championship relegation zone after a 3-2 defeat to Preston North End at a chilly and wet Deepdale.

Jake Cooper and Lee Gregory struck in the second period, but first-half goals from Alan Browne and Tom Barkhuizen and a late third from Andrew Hughes earned the Lilywhites the points.

In terms of team news, Neil Harris named an unchanged starting 11 for the first time since October. Byron Webster replaced Jiri Skalak on the bench in the only change from the draw with Hull City.

Preston dominated the majority of the early stages, but Barkhuizen’s long-range effort that sailed comfortably over the bar was the closest that either side came to breaking the deadlock.

Millwall’s first chance of the game came on 24 minutes. Jed Wallace sent over a teasing free-kick, but Cooper was unable to poke home and even after Steve Morison hooked back across goal, Preston still managed to clear the danger.

And from that moment, the Lion started to dominate in terms of possession and chances. Firstly, Gregory fired wide after Morison’s flick-on and then Wallace blazed over after an excellent passing move involving both of Millwall’s full-backs.

But, after a great spell from the visitors and totally against the run of play, Preston took the lead.

Paul Gallagher found Lukas Nmecha in the box and after he miscontrolled, Browne converted at the far post.

Before Harris’ side had recovered that setback, they found themselves even further behind. Gallagher was once again the provider, putting Barkhuizen in the clear and he raced onto the ball before slotting past a helpless Archer.

The Millwall boss reacted to the half-time score by introducing Shane Ferguson in place of James Meredith.

But it was the other full-back – Mahlon Romeo – that nearly helped the Lions get back into the game. Aiden O’Brien set him free down the right and his dangerous cross found its way to Morison, but Millwall’s captain could only poke over.

And the away side had an even better chance to make it 2-1 just seconds later. But, Declan Rudd was equal to Wallace’s powerful drive after good work from Morison to set up the chance.

 

The North End shot stopper was called into action again moments later as the busy Morison found O’Brien, but his near-post effort was turned behind for a corner. But from the resulting corner, the Lions got the goal their second-half performance deserved as Cooper headed home, despite the home side’s best efforts on the line to clear. Goal-line technology was required to confirm the ball had crossed the line.

Millwall nearly completed the turnaround on 63 minutes, but Shaun Hutchinson couldn’t keep his header down from Ferguson’s free-kick.

It was end-to-end with chances come thick and fast for both sides. This time, Gregory intercepted an attempted header back to Rudd before rounding him, although the angle was too tight, and he fired wide of the target.

At the other end, Archer denied Barkhuizen before Browne’s header was cleared from off the line by a combination of Hutchinson and Cooper.

The chances continued to come for the Lions but continued to be wasted, and this was perhaps the best of the entire match. Wallace broke clear and had three team-mates in support. He opted to go with O’Brien to his left, but he hesitated and allowed Paul Huntington to get back and produce a fine block with the goal gaping.

Despite all of that Millwall pressure, it would be Preston that would score the crucial fourth goal of the afternoon as Hughes’ free-kick squeezed past Archer via a deflection after Barkhuizen had been fouled just outside the box.

The hosts almost had a fourth on 89 minutes, but Ben Pearson crashed the bar from 18-yards. Gregory had the final say second in stoppage-time, making it 3-2, but Harris’ side left Lancashire with nothing and have now picked up just three points in their last seven Championship outings.

IMAGES BY SEAN GOSLING