Murray Wallace and Billy Mitchell make wing-back system work as Smith pushes his case for starting role at Millwall

Wallace has been a familiar name on the scoresheet at The Den in recent seasons. But this time Jed – so often the attacking catalyst for Millwall – watched from the bench as his namesake Murray ensured there was to be no EFL Cup upset in SE16 on Tuesday night.

Cambridge United had shown signs they were fancying the task shortly before George Williams punished them from a free-kick given away by a cheap foul committed by Jake Cooper.

Wallace, impeded by a congested penalty area, failed to keep tight enough to the U’s skipper as he broke the deadlock.

But the Scot more than atoned. He might have to wait a fair while to match the quality of his equaliser, feinting to cross before cutting inside and producing a precision low finish – with his weaker right foot – across Dimitar Mitov.

His second was far more scrappy, not dissimilar to his winner against Everton in the FA Cup in 2019.

When Wallace scored at Stoke City in April it ended a 73-match wait for him to hit the back of the net. This time there was a gap of just three minutes as he celebrated his first ever double. It could easily have been a hat-trick – and a perfect one at that – as he crashed a header off the crossbar in the second half.

There were grumblings of discontent when Millwall manager Gary Rowett kept faith with his 3-5-2 formation.

But both Wallace and Billy Mitchell – tasked with the role down the right in the absence of Danny McNamara, Ryan Leonard and Mahlon Romeo – pushed up at every opportunity. It definitely didn’t feel a defensive approach, especially as the tie got progressively more open. George Long, handed his second start in the competition, had to make some important saves as Cambridge refused to go quietly.

Wallace’s shift was summed up by the fact that he cramped up in the final 15 minutes. As one of the club’s fittest players – always at the front in pre-season drills – it spoke volumes for his relentless workrate.

Rowett made seven changes from the 3-1 reverse at Cardiff City and he had the luxury of being able to not call upon Scott Malone, Benik Afobe and Jed Wallace.

It throws up the question whether any of the players who came in did enough to start against Blackpool tomorrow in a match that feels significant, even at this early juncture of the campaign, with both winless in the Championship.

Mitchell was excellent and could very well retain his place.

It was his tackle on the edge of his own area which teed up Connor Mahoney for a lengthy dribble to set up Matt Smith.

It seemed the winger had delayed too long in crossing, but the centre-forward pounced from close range for his 20th career goal for the Lions and first since February.

Smith won 17 headers – 13 more than anyone else. He had already reached 12 by half-time – the whole Cambridge team had only managed 19 at that stage.

Smith also assisted both of Wallace’s goals. He had the service on Tuesday, not always the case, and played a pivotal role.

Mahoney only really noticeably came to the fore in the second period, as bigger gaps appeared, but did pep up Millwall against the Bluebirds.

It leaves Rowett with a pleasant conundrum for the weekend.

STAR MAN
Murray Wallace. Just about pips Mitchell – both were marauding wing-backs. All-action display.

BEST MOMENT
The Lions were in need of inspiration and Wallace provided it with an accomplished finish.