Millwall 4-1 Barnsley: Lions win adds to Barnsley relegation fears
- Published
- comments
Danny McNamara's two goals for Millwall were his first for the club
Millwall beat Barnsley to improve their chances of grabbing a Championship play-off spot and add to the Tykes' relegation fears in the process.
Wing-back Danny McNamara scored a brace which began with a first-half tap-in, before he headed home after the break.
Barnsley stayed in the game when Romal Palmer smashed the ball in, but clinical finishes from Oliver Burke and Benik Afobe sealed the three points.
The Tykes are now eight points adrift of safety with six games to go, while Millwall are four points off the play-off places with five matches remaining.
Knowing they couldn't afford to drop points, Barnsley started with intent and created a great early chance when Palmer played a through ball for Callum Brittain, but the right-back's shot was palmed away by Lions keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
The Polish veteran was again alert when Callum Styles sneaked in behind defenders to squeeze in a strike at the near post.
Millwall worked their way into the game and Daniel Ballard might have done better with a half-volley that went straight into the gloves of Brad Collins, who had to go off moments later after going down holding his arm.
Moments later, substitute stopper Jack Walton was unable to handle his first big test as Jed Wallace's cross was turned home by McNamara for his first goal for the club.
Gary Rowett's team continued where they left off after the break with McNamara sealing his brace with a 47th-minute close-range header, only for Barnsley to reply instantly when Palmer rifled a left-foot shot into the top corner.
Burke then finished off a goalmouth scramble following Ballard's header, before Afobe used his skill to add his name to the scoresheet with a neat finish from a tight angle.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett said:
"We're going to have to put a run together, quite simply. There's no other way of looking at it. We're probably going to have to win two more games than a lot of other sides.
"I think we've been in this position probably every season. It's not easy to take the next step but I think what's important is the players give everything they've got to try."
Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I'm really disappointed with both the result and the overall performance, even though I feel in the first half it was a pretty even game. We were the ones creating the clear chances, they being the more efficient, scoring the goal.
"After we scored [to make it] 2-1, I was hoping for more momentum, but instead, we invited them to increase the lead. We were not tough enough. You have to put in the hard work. Today, for periods, we lost that."