Steven Reid boosted his World Cup dream as he launched Millwall to a crucial
victory in this promotion battle with West Brom at the New Den.
Fresh from a first ever international start - and goal - for the Republic of
Ireland against Russia, Reid was clearly relishing the chance to get back into
the thick of the action.
And it was his dead-eyed, dead-ball delivery that set Tim Cahill up for the
only goal of the game tonight.
West Brom, fresh from their FA Cup fifth round win over Cheltenham, rested
Daniele Dichio, Igor Balis and Adam Chambers.
Baggies boss Gary Megson attempted to make amends at half-time with the
introduction of Dichio and Balis but by then Reid had already won the game for
Millwall.
His eagle-eyed vision and deadly distribution pulled the strings in every
Millwall attack.
With just eight minutes gone Reid's sublime cross from the left escaped West
Brom goalkeeper Russell Hoult's flailing grasp and found Richard Sadlier lurking
in the box.
But somehow the beanpole striker contrived to head it back at Hoult and not
into the empty net.
But it was not long before the Lions were a goal to the good.
Reid's free-kick curled away from the West Brom defence for a floating Cahill
to thump his header into Hoult's goal.
Two ferocious efforts from Reid had Hoult on his toes either side of half time
but the game's golden goal-keeping moment came at the other end.
Des Lyttle's slide-rule pass into the Millwall area had Jordao in a
threatening position but it was not dangerous enough to justify David
Livermore's clumsy challenge that produced a penalty.
Neil Clement stepped up for West Brom and goalkeeper Tony Warner guessed the
right way, foiling the hapless Clement for his third missed penalty of the
season.
The Lions were extremely lucky to get away without another penalty against
them shortly after the hour as Stuart Nethercott upended Jason Roberts in the
area.
The incident gave the visitors renewed belief in a half they dominated.
But in spite of that dominance, the Baggies could not stop their promotion
rivals from leap-frogging them into third place and genuine play off
contention.
Teams:
Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Dyche, Nethercott, Ryan, Cahill, Livermore, Reid, Kinet (Bull 90), Harris (Ifill 77), Sadlier.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Ward, Bircham.
Booked: Reid.
Goals: Cahill 10.
West Brom: Hoult, Butler, Sigurdsson, Gilchrist,
Lyttle (Balis 45), Johnson, Jordao (Fox 57), McInnes, Clement, Dobie (Dichio 45), Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Jensen, Adam Chambers.
Booked: Jordao.
Att: 13,716
Ref: P Armstrong (Thatcham).
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