Millwall 0-2 Blackburn Rovers: Visitors end poor run with comfortable win
- Published
Bradley Dack's deflected opener set Blackburn on their way to ending their run of seven games without victory
Bradley Dack and Sam Gallagher were on target to halt Blackburn's slide as they beat Millwall to register their first win in eight games.
Dack, one of six changes to Rovers' starting line-up from the defeat at Reading, netted his second goal of the campaign to hand the visitors an 18th-minute lead.
Gallagher sealed the points in fortuitous fashion 15 minutes from time, applying the final touch after Tyrhys Dolan's shot had taken a deflection.
Scott Malone might have pulled one back late on, but his drive clattered against the post as Millwall's five-match unbeaten run at home came to an end.
The Lions' defeat pushes them down a place to 11th in the table, with Blackburn staying 15th.
Rovers made the breakthrough following a sluggish start, with Joe Rankin-Costello finding Dack, who swivelled to unleash a drive that deflected high beyond Bartosz Bialkowski in the home goal.
The Lions goalkeeper almost conceded a second soon afterwards with a botched clearance that fell straight to Dolan, but he snatched at the chance and put it wide.
However, Dolan looked lively and went close again before the interval, while Tom Trybull's effort from distance stung the palms of Bialkowski.
Millwall improved in the second half and substitute Matt Smith should have done better, heading Malone's cross wide from close range.
Rovers continued to look the more dangerous going forward though and doubled their advantage when Dolan's shot cannoned off a defender, struck Gallagher and flew into the net.
Malone almost made it 2-1 in the dying stages, firing against the woodwork before Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was denied on the follow-up.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC London 94.9: "The first goal was disappointing because there was nothing in the game - we have a chance to clear the ball and we don't get out aggressively enough.
"It's going wide, then it hits Hutchy on the back of the head and sends Bart the other way. So they get their little bit of fortune and then our performance was a bit better, but just a little laboured in the final third.
"We just didn't have that quality or spark we've seen in recent games. It felt too rushed at times and when that happens it's hard to create chances.
"In the end we did create some, but when we make another mistake at the other end, we get caught and it's almost game over."
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I don't think it was an exceptional performance - we worked hard, took our opportunities today and restricted theirs. We had to deal with some direct play and we saw them off relatively comfortably.
"After the run we'd been on, it wasn't evident to me of a team lacking confidence or belief. It's a team that knows it's good in this league but just hasn't had its breaks and has been missing its key players.
"I don't generally give special mentions to players but I think Tyrhys Dolan deserved one today. He was like a whirlwind.
"I played centre-half and to think that kid would be chasing you down every time you had a touch - he was right in your face. It was an amazing performance from such a young guy."
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