Millwall 2-0 Queens Park Rangers: Lions take spoils as Rangers' slump continues

Mason Bennett celebrates Millwall's opening goal against QPRImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Mason Bennett (centre) finished off a well-worked move for Millwall's first goal

Millwall produced one of their best displays of the season to beat QPR and further dent the visitors' automatic promotion hopes.

Second-half goals from Mason Bennett and Tyler Burey saw them record back-to-back wins and stretch their unbeaten home run to four games.

Millwall midfielder Jed Wallace played a pivotal role in both goals, including an exquisite back-heeled pass to set up Burey for the second just past the hour.

Rangers produced little in terms of chances and once again failed to close the gap on the top two as they were unable to bounce back from Saturday's surprise defeat by bottom-of-the-table Barnsley.

Mark Warburton's side are without a win in their past three games and missed the chance to climb above Blackburn, in third, with a game in hand.

Millwall though were able to build on Saturday's win against Cardiff City and thoroughly deserved the victory after starting the game brightly.

Dan McNamara missed a glorious chance to open the scoring in the opening minute when he struck a half-volley from just eight yards out well over the crossbar.

David Marshall was then forced into the first real save of note midway through the first half when Jed Wallace took a shot from range first time, but the QPR keeper kept out his effort with an outstretched left hand.

Jimmy Dunne tried a first-time effort from a Stefan Johansen low corner for QPR but Bartosz Bialkowski was equal to it in the Millwall goal and that was about as good as it got for Rangers.

After a frustrating first half, Millwall opened the scoring from the first real attack of the second.

Jed Wallace's diagonal ball from the right was beautifully cushioned back across the area by Scott Malone on his left for Bennett to meet at pace and sweep past Marshall first time.

QPR did see more of the ball after that but again failed to threaten Bialkowski's goal before first-half substitute Burey doubled the lead.

Jed Wallace opened up space for Burey in an instant with a clever reverse pass through his legs and Burey calmly picked his spot from just inside the penalty area with a neat curling finish.

Millwall climb a place to 14th with the win, their 11th of the season and third in the past five games.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London:

"To back up the good performance against Cardiff, I thought that was a much more complete performance tonight.

"Against a very good QPR side, they almost want you to press them, and I thought when we did, structurally the players got it absolutely spot on.

"When we went, we went in numbers and we had a real hunger and intensity about us. I thought we made it a very, very difficult evening for QPR. We barely gave them a chance to cause us any problems.

"But what we probably should've done is we should've scored more than two goals."

QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC Radio London:

"No excuses. We're a good team when we do the basics really well and tonight the basics were winning duels, challenges and taking care of the football.

"That's what we do well, especially here against Gary's team, who have got a lot of respect and are hardworking and we didn't take it to them.

"This is the Championship. You can't feel sorry for yourself and you have to pick yourself up quickly.

"You have to come to a place like this and give it everything you've got and tonight we didn't produce that.

"If you don't relish these sorts of challenges, you shouldn't be playing the game of football."

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