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Two goals from Steven Reid in the last four minutes of the first half and
another from Paul Ifill within eight minutes of the restart gave Millwall a 3-0
victory over struggling Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls had been more than holding their own until the first goal went in,
but were killed off by the two further efforts and their survival hopes look
even bleaker with games fast running out.
Millwall manager Mark McGhee had sprung a selection surprise by naming Dennis
Wise in the starting line-up, after claiming in the week he would be rested
after going down with a bug.
The former England midfielder was the first to threaten, producing a decent
save from Kevin Pressman.
Pressman was stepping back into the breach as a result of Paul Evans being
ruled out for the rest of the season with a hairline fracture of his pelvis.
Neil Harris had an early shot cleared by the Owls defence, although Lions
keeper Tony Warner had to act smartly to tip an inswinging corner from Brian
Barry-Murphy round the post.
Simon Donnelly had a shot blocked by Wise as the visitors threatened before
Warner saved a header from Tony Crane, with Reid forcing a good save from
Pressman in between.
Warner was on hand again to produce a fantastic save to deny Lee Bradbury,
with the keeper snuffing out the danger from Barry-Murphy's resulting corner.
The Lions took the lead just four minutes before the break, though, when Reid
netted from 25 yards into the top left-hand corner of Pressman's goal, and they
doubled their tally in first-half injury-time when Reid connected from close
range with Steve Claridge's right-wing free-kick.
Millwall killed the game off within eight minutes of the restart, when Ifill
fired in left-footed from the edge of the area, and the Owls immediately threw
on substitutes Steve Haslam, Shefki Kuqi and Lloyd Owusu in a desperate attempt
to change things.
The plan almost paid dividends within 10 minutes, only for Alan Quinn to hit
the woodwork from just outside the area, although David Livermore came very
close to making it 4-0 only to be denied by Pressman, who also stopped a good
effort from Ifill late on.
Teams
Millwall Warner, Reid, Robinson (Nethercott 79), Ward, Ryan,
Ifill, Wise, Roberts, Livermore, Claridge (Ashikodi 80), Harris.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Kinet, Bull.
Booked: Ashikodi.
Goals: Reid 42, 45, Ifill 54.
Sheff Wed Pressman, Westwood, Maddix, Smith, Barry-Murphy,
Reddy, McLaren, Donnelly (Haslam 54), Quinn, Crane (Owusu 55),
Bradbury (Kuqi 55).
Subs Not Used: Stringer, Green.
Booked: Quinn, Westwood.
Att: 7,338
Ref: P Armstrong (Berkshire).
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