Millwall moved five points clear of Hull in the Championship playoffs and closed the gap on second-placed Middlesbrough for 24 hours at least as second-half goals from substitute Mihailo Ivanovic and Josh Coburn earned their side a 3-1 win at the MKM Stadium.
Ivanovic cashed in on the goalkeeper Ivor Pandur’s error in the 70th minute before Coburn’s fierce hit eight minutes later provided Alex Neil’s side with a victory that had looked highly unlikely after a one-sided first half.
The visitors opened the scoring after 14 minutes through Jake Cooper’s instinctive volley from close range, but they were extremely fortunate to have been level at the break. Hull, who twice struck the bar and had a goal disallowed in a breathless first half, equalised four minutes later when Joe Gelhardt scored his 12th of the season.
Neil’s decision to replace the floundering duo Zak Sturge and Tommy Watson at half-time proved a masterstroke. Millwall were far more assured thereafter and left East Yorkshire with three points courtesy of goals from Ivanovic and Coburn.
At the other end of the table, Hayden Carter scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Blackburn snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
Michael O’Neill’s hosts had the better of a nervy encounter but looked set to be plunged into further relegation trouble when they were suckerpunched by Connor Ogilvie’s deflected strike in the 84th minute. However, Blackburn’s character shone through and they scored a vital stoppage-time goal for the second home game in three as Carter’s flicked header – his second goal in two games – earned what could be a vital point in their fight to stay up.
They certainly deserved something from the game and will rue Yuki Ohashi’s early miss which should have set them on their way, with the draw leaving Rovers four points clear of the relegation zone despite failing to win in three.
Portsmouth fell away somewhat in the second half and remain a place and point above Blackburn with a game in hand.
On Friday, Oxford shocked Preston with a 3-1 win at Deepdale to move out of the relegation zone at least until Saturday’s 3pm games. Michal Helik prodded United ahead in the fourth minute before Milutin Osmajic’s 12th-minute equaliser. Will Lankshear’s improvised 54th-minute finish gave Matt Bloomfield’s men a deserved lead and Ciaron Brown’s header seven minutes later sealed the points.
Oxford moved a point above Leicester, who visit Ipswich on Saturday afternoon, and above West Brom, who are at Sheffield United, on goal difference six days after beating Albion. Relegated Sheffield Wednesday are rock-bottom.
