Millwall 1-0 Blackburn: Lions two points off play-offs with two to play
- Published
Mason Bennett has scored twice in the past three games for Millwall
Millwall maintained their hopes of clinching a Championship play-off place with victory over Blackburn, which ended Rovers' chances of making the top six.
The Lions climb to seventh, but remain two points outside the play-offs after sixth-placed Cardiff City beat Derby County.
Mason Bennett pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to put Millwall deservedly ahead in the 20th minute, after Tosin Adarabioyo's block fell fortuitously for the 23-year-old.
Blackburn substitute Joe Rankin-Costello nearly equalised deep into stoppage time, dragging a shot just wide of the far post with the last kick off the game, as Millwall held on to three crucial points.
Lions keep play-off dream alive
Millwall came into the fixture knowing anything less than a win would seriously damage their play-off hopes, while Rovers had to pick up three points to keep up their ever fading chances.
The Lions, who were without a victory against Blackburn in eight league games, started the brighter with Shaun Hutchinson seeing an effort drop narrowly wide following a Jed Wallace corner.
And the hosts' early pressure paid off when Wallace's cutback found Tom Bradshaw whose shot fell kindly for Bennett to score after it was blocked.
Gary Rowett's side nearly doubled their lead moments after the restart with Wallace beating the offside trap and drilling a shot straight at Blackburn keeper Christian Walton.
The visitors hit back with Stewart Downing seeing a deflected effort fly narrowly over the bar and Adam Armstrong side-footing an effort straight at Lions keeper just before the hour mark.
And Blackburn, starting the day four points off the top six, nearly snatched a late leveller as 20-year-old midfielder Rankin-Costello struck just wide from close range.
But Millwall held on to all three points and will face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday before hosting Huddersfield Town on the final day of the season, while Blackburn take on Reading on Saturday and Luton Town at the end of the campaign.
Millwall assistant manager Adam Barrett:
"Blackburn came here and they needed to win the game as well so we are extremely pleased.
"It is nice to back up Saturday's result and get back-to-back wins and it builds a little bit of momentum.
"There are two games to go and we are in the mix and that is where we wanted to be."
Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray:
"That is the disappointment and we can't do anything about it. We all knew what was at stake as Millwall knew.
"It was not as if we were playing a dead rubber against somebody that did not matter.
"There was a lot at stake for them and they did what they did, and played how they played and they got a 1-0 victory.
"It was hard for us to get through them, round them or over them and we ultimately didn't manage to score a goal in a game where we had to score a goal."