Millwall 2-1 Cardiff City: Wallace and Bennett score for Lions

Cardiff are now winless in 16 away league matches in London (five draws, 11 defeats) since a 3-1 victory at Brentford under Neil Warnock in March 2018.

Scottish defender Murray Wallace earned a measure of revenge for his rugby compatriots by scoring as Millwall earned a 2-1 win over Cardiff.

While the Welsh capital was celebrating Wales' Six Nations win over Scotland, Murray was a hero for Millwall as he headed home Scott Malone's corner.

The hosts doubled their lead as Mason Bennett finished from close range as Cardiff poured forward seeking a point.

Joel Bagan scored a consolation goal for Cardiff in stoppage time.

The victory for Gary Rowett's side sees Millwall remain 15th after the win, while Cardiff are 20th in the Championship.

In a contest that could have gone either way and was always likely to be settled by fine margins, Cardiff will be aggrieved by the manner in which they conceded Murray Wallace's opening goal.

Millwall made two changes from the side who were comfortably beaten at leaders Fulham in midweek with influential midfielder Jed Wallace returning alongside Scott Malone, with Bennett and Alex Pearce dropping to the bench.

The hosts came into this contest with one win in their last six, in contrast to Cardiff City who have been in fine form, winning three successive games in the Championship to move clear of relegation trouble and performing well at Anfield in a creditable 3-1 defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup.

It was therefore unsurprising boss Steve Morison kept changes to a minimum, with Wales forward Mark Harris replacing another academy product, Isaak Davies, in their only change from their thumping 4-0 win over Peterborough in midweek.

This contest was significant for Cardiff boss Morison on his return to the Den, having made 335 appearances and scored 92 goals for Millwall over three spells with the club.

The Bluebirds boss has a contract until the end of the season, but this week suggested he should be given the job on a permanent basis.

He will have been happy enough with a first half in which chances were few and far between, with Harris' shot on the turn, the only effort on goal from either side in the opening exchanges.

Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski was tested on 26 minutes, but he was able to push away Joe Ralls' powerful shot.

The hosts did not produce a shot until 32 minutes, but then mustered two efforts within 60 seconds, with Malone the creator both times, but Ollie Cooper shot wide from a narrow angle and Oliver Burke shot straight at Alex Smithies when he was sent clear, with Murray Wallace firing over the rebound.

Cardiff appealed for a penalty shortly after the restart when Tommy Doyle's shot was blocked by what the visitors felt was a Millwall hand, before Jordan Hugill's neat turn and shot was saved by Bialkowski.

The Bluebirds were growing in confidence and substitute Davies' mazy run culminated in another save for Bialkowski who was in fine form, but he was helpless when Hugill had a free header from a corner, but he nodded over the bar.

The ever-dangerous Jed Wallace fired wide from Billy Mitchell's pass on 67 minutes, while Burke again forced Smithies to save, before Millwall took the lead through a set-piece.

Cardiff, renowned for their aerial ability, will be furious after Jed Wallace headed home from Malone's delivery on 73 minutes.

The result was made safe for Millwall nine minutes later when sub Bennett forced the ball home from under the crossbar after George Saville's pinpoint cross.

There was a late effort from Cardiff as 20-year old Bagan volleyed home his first goal for the club in stoppage time, but Millwall held on.

Millwall boss Gary Rowett said:

"Cardiff had a clear game plan to drop in, block the game up and try a pinch a set piece or counter attack... and in the first half we struggled a bit.

"In the second half we were really good, we were bright and had more zip around our play.

"We've had 65% possession and I don't know how many times we've had that but certainly not many."

Cardiff City boss Steve Morison told BBC Radio Wales Sport:

"It was a game too far for us. I think physically we struggled with the game and lacked intensity in our press. Sometimes you have to take it on the chin, because it is just the physical stretch.

"We have had a lot of games and when you are scrapping like we have been, it is physical and emotional tiredness.

"If we get the penalty (for handball) it might have changed the game, but it is one we draw a line under and move on."