Millwall 3-0 Peterborough United: Lions keep slim play-off hopes alive
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George Saville hit the post shortly before scoring for Millwall
Millwall kept their slim Championship play-off hopes alive as they beat relegated Peterborough 3-0 at the Den.
After a drab first half George Saville almost opened the scoring early in the second period, but Posh keeper David Cornell pulled off a great close-range save.
Millwall took the lead soon after as Benik Afobe lashed in a left-footed shot before hitting the post and bar in quick succession 10 minutes later.
Josh Knight turned Jed Wallace's teasing cross into his own net as Millwall doubled their lead before Saville headed home another excellent Wallace cross two minutes later.
The win - a third in a five-game unbeaten run - means Gary Rowett's side are three points off sixth-placed Sheffield United and one off seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
But they need to overturn a five-goal deficit in goal difference and hope the Blades lose and Boro fail to win their final games to make the last play-off place, while Posh remain second-from-bottom.
The first half had an end-of-season feel to it with no chances until Posh striker Jonson Clarke-Harris missed an excellent chance from close range five minutes before the break.
Sammie Szmodics' weak effort into the arms of Millwall keeper Bartosz Bialkowski five minutes later was the first effort on target for either side.
Saville's chance early in the second half kicked the game into life and Jack Marriott forced a smart save from Bialkowski soon after.
Afobe's goal came after Posh failed to clear Ryan Leonard's long throw and the striker was able to readjust his feet before firing home.
It should have been a bigger lead after Murray Wallace hit the bar with a half-volley and, from the resulting corner after a Peterborough clearance, Saville headed against the post.
But the introduction of Jed Wallace from the bench proved to be the turning point as his crosses set up both Millwall's second and third goals to take their season to the final day.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London:
"I thought it was a fabulous effort, I think the only disappointment is we had so many chances second half that we really could have scored five or six goals today.
"I think the players have done so well again at home, it's another good second half home performance.
"But to be in the position that we're in once again, it's not the first time we've been in this position to take care of our own side of the business and to take it to the last game of the season, albeit a really outside chance.
"I think the players have to deserve enormous credit and enormous complements."
Peterborough United manager Grant McCann told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:
"I'm not one to ever blame officials for a result.
"We've lost the game today because of us, but I will say the decision to give them the throw-in, which is a massive strength for them, has cost us the first goal today and swung the momentum.
"Up to that point we were comfortably the better team, I think everyone could see that.
"Yes, we were lacking the end product, yes, we lacked in the final third, they changed their shape in the second half, but we had them and then the throw-in's cost us."