Hull City 0 Millwall 1 – Ryan Leonard screamer seals crucial win for Lions
BY ALEX GRACE
Millwall put themselves firmly back into the Championship play-off picture with a 1-0 victory at Hull City.
Ryan Leonard gave the Lions the lead with an absolute thunderbolt from outside the box after just 90 seconds. Jake Cooper pulled the ball back to Leonard, who unleashed a rocket from around 30 yards that left Hull goalkeeper George Long with no chance at all.
Hull did pose a threat on the break and George Bowler forced a save from Bartosz Bialkowski. Hull were almost made to pay for that miss as Billy Mitchell, making his first league start, was found by Shane Ferguson in the middle of the penalty area but couldn’t keep his shot down.
Mallik Wilks forced another save from Bialkowski. He robbed Shaun Hutchinson of possession, beat Mitchell and shot into the bottom left-hand corner but Bialkowski made the stop.
Shortly after, Alex Pearce had to be alert to head Alex MacDonald’s effort off the line from a dangerous free-kick. Down the other end Shaun Hutchinson should have done better as he headed Jed Wallace’s corner wide.
Just before the break Tom Bradshaw teed up Leonard but his shot was well saved by Long.
Millwall should have made it 2-0 at the start of the second half, Jed Wallace’s cross came the way of Tom Bradshaw, but the former Barnsley striker saw his sidefooted effort go over the bar. Wilks was proving to be the biggest threat for the hosts and saw another shot saved by Bialkowski from Callum Elder’s cross.
Hull had their best chance of the game with five minutes to go. The ball fell to Keane Lewis-Potter but he couldn’t make good enough contact with the knockdown and the ball went through to Bialkowski.
There were no more chances and Millwall held on for a vital three points to close the gap to the play-off places to just two points.
PICTURES BY SEAN GOSLING
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