Millwall 1-0 Rotherham: Lions secure narrow win over 10-man visitors
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Rotherham captain Richard Wood (right) was sent off for this challenge on Jed Wallace, who went on to score the game's only goal
Millwall boosted their slim Championship play-off hopes with a narrow win over 10-man Rotherham.
The visitors had defender Richard Wood sent off for hauling down Jed Wallace as he looked to run in on goal after the break.
Wallace then gave the hosts the lead with a powerful finish after a corner had gone over everyone in the middle.
Rotherham had a great chance to equalise late on but Michael Smith saw his penalty well saved by Lions goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Smith had won the penalty himself when he was fouled by Murray Wallace but Bialkowski did well to get down and keep his powerfully-struck shot out.
Paul Warne's side, who have a number of games in hand on teams above them because of several postponements caused by a Covid-19 outbreak, remain three points adrift of safety but still have three games in hand on 21st-placed Birmingham City.
Victory for the Lions saw them close the gap on the top six to seven points but they will need to keep winning if they are to have any chance of breaking into the play-off spots.
Gary Rowett's men visit Stoke on Monday, while Rotherham will look to kickstart their push to stay up when they host bottom side Wycombe on the same day.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett:
"We were fortunate, or indebted to our goalkeeper for making a great save.
"I felt the game should have been out the way, in some ways, by that point - we've had a couple of good opportunities, their keeper's made some great saves.
"Jed's finish to put us 1-0 up was a lovely goal and a goal well worthy of winning any game, but Rotherham don't give up.
"They refuse to be ruled out and they keep trying to do the right thing and, with 10 men, I just felt we could have made the game a lot easier for ourselves."
Rotherham boss Paul Warne:
"I think it was a good save, I don't think it was a horrendous penalty, but unfortunately it didn't go in the corner enough, like Jed's shot did.
"There's no complaint from me - you've got to have some bravery to take a penalty and it would have been fitting for the lad's work ethic today.
"To come away with a point here would have been a great point.
"It was a competitive game, where both teams cancelled themselves out for large periods."
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