Ben May's penalty earned Millwall a sensational late victory over plucky
Crewe, who had battled back from three goals down.
The home side raced into a three-goal lead, with Barry Hayles, Marvin Elliott
and Jody Morris giving Dennis Wise's men a seemingly unassailable advantage just
after half-time.
But relegation-threatened Crewe refused to wilt and hit back with a Kenny Lunt
penalty and a Steve Jones strike before Luke Varney completed the comeback with
nine minutes remaining.
However, the visitors could not finish the job and Millwall striker May, who
admits he is playing for a new contract, scored the decisive goal from the spot
after Lunt had fouled Dennis Wise in the area to leave the Alex without a win in
17 matches.
Millwall accepted their chances of a play-off place vanished with the 2-1
midweek defeat by Reading but they made an adventurous start, with May lashing
wide from more than 35 yards out after five minutes.
Two points above the drop zone before kick-off, Crewe manager Dario Gradi
employed his three main strikers in Varney, Andy White and Jones from the
start.
White shot wide in the early stages, while Lions goalkeeper Andy Marshall was
also troubled by free-kicks from Neil Sorvel and David Vaughan.
If distance was an excuse for May's first miss, it could hardly have been
levelled at his second, the 21-year-old heading over from less than six yards
out after connecting with David Livermore's cross.
Lions midfielder Peter Sweeney then passed up the chance to celebrate his
Scotland call-up with a goal, firing wide with his left foot, while Sorvel shot
over at the other end.
In the 27th minute, the home side broke the deadlock through Hayles. An ankle
injury restricted the experienced forward to a place on the bench against the
Royals but he showed no ill effects to produce a fine finish after Sweeney had
held the ball up well.
Crewe goalkeeper Ben Williams made a fine stop from Sweeney to keep his team
in the match, while Varney rattled the woodwork in first-half injury time.
The Lions came out after the break and two goals in less than a minute all but
secured the points.
Matthew Lawrence laid on Millwall's second goal, setting up Elliott for a
close-range finish in the 49th minute.
Just 53 seconds later, Hayles supplied Morris for a fine strike that looked
like finishing Crewe off.
Lunt pulled one back from the penalty spot just past the hour after Paul
Robinson hauled Vaughan down in the area.
That strike filled the visitors with confidence and Jones closed the deficit
to just one goal with 23 minutes remaining.
Varney looked to have snatched at least a point, heading home Vaughan's cross
in the 81st minute but May blasted the Lions back in front just four minutes
later.
This time there was no response from Crewe and Millwall held on for victory.
Teams:
Millwall Marshall, Paul Robinson, Lawrence, Ward, Livermore,
Sweeney (Craig 77), Morris (Wise 77), Elliott,
Simpson (Impey 78), Hayles, May.
Subs Not Used: Peeters, Quigley.
Goals: Hayles 27, Elliott 49, Morris 50, May 85 pen.
Crewe Williams, Moses, McCready, Murdock, Tonkin, Steve Jones,
Sorvel, Lunt, Vaughan, Varney, White.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Cochrane, Higdon, Tomlinson, Moss.
Booked: Murdock, Steve Jones.
Goals: Lunt 62 pen, Steve Jones 68, Varney 81.
Att: 10,767
Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).
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