Hamstrung by hamstrings….Millwall could be even more in play-off chase without those blasted injuries

Millwall finally ended their wait for a victory over QPR but again the three points came with a further addition to their injury list.

The Lions have been hamstrung by hamstrings. On Saturday it was Benik Afobe who came off in the second half of the 2-1 victory over Cardiff City.

Then Oliver Burke only lasted 28 minutes before he had to be replaced by Tyler Burey in midweek.

The Lions are already shorn of other offensive options with Tom Bradshaw, Sheyi Ojo and Luke Freeman already ruled out.

But it isn’t all bad news. If this was a chance for Burey to showcase his talents after impressing at Hartlepool United – before a major hamstring injury disrupted his stay – then he certainly took it.

His 64th-minute goal was taken with confidence and the aplomb of a seasoned professional, not a 20-year-old who has only made 19 league appearances for the Lions.

All Burey’s opportunities at Millwall have come off the bench. It seems a safe bet to assume that he will get a first start at Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.

Milllwall still have a front three that can trouble any defence at this level, it’s just that they really cannot afford one more player in that area to drop out before it seriously impacts them.

Jed Wallace showed he is back up to speed after sitting out the whole of January and he had a significant part to play in both of Millwall’s goals.

It was his excellent pass to pick out the run of Scott Malone – finished off adeptly by Mason Bennett – and then his backheel set the turbo-charged Burey through to give the hosts a two-goal cushion their dominant display totally merited.

Rowett called it one of the most impressive performances since he took the Lions job and it was a fair assessment.

You don’t often get two halves of Championship football playing out the same way and the fear was that QPR, lucky not to be trailing before the interval, would come out with renewed vim and vigour.

But instead the Lions, who had not won in their previous seven meetings with the R’s, were even more relentless and in control as they finally made their superiority count.

This was only their third victory against the west Londoners since October 1988.

While Bennett and Burey took the headlines, Millwall’s back five should also take major credit for the way they stepped out to engage with QPR’s attacking players.

Chris Willock endured a low-key return to the visitors’ line-up, dropping back to his own defence in the first period just to get an unpressurised few seconds on the ball.

The gap to the play-offs still looks too big to make up, particularly if Middlesbrough were to win their fixture in hand and move nine points clear with only 15 games to go. Without those pesky injuries, Millwall might have been a whole lot closer to the top six.

STAR MAN
Shaun Hutchinson. Epitomised the Lions’ dominant defence.

BEST MOMENT
Tyler Burey’s finish. Had home fans leaping off their seats