Blackpool vs Millwall. Sky Bet Championship.
Bloomfield RoadAttendance10,696.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Blackpool and Millwall at Bloomfield Road as Shayne Lavery's strike proved enough for the Tangerines to take all three points
Saturday 22 January 2022 18:25, UK
Shayne Lavery hit the winner as Blackpool earned a deserved 1-0 victory at home to Millwall.
The Northern Irishman slotted home early in the second half after the Seasiders had spurned a number of earlier chances.
Blackpool, who claimed back-to-back home wins in the process, dominated the first half with Josh Bowler, Lavery and Gary Madine all going close.
Millwall came close to levelling with 11 minutes to go when Tyler Burey saw a shot well saved.
There was a place on the Blackpool bench for new signing Jake Beesley. Luke Garbutt and CJ Hamilton both started, while Kevin Stewart returned to the squad.
Gary Rowett made two enforced changes for the visitors with the injured Tom Bradshaw and Sheyi Ojo replaced by Maikel Kieftenbeld and Mason Bennett.
Kenny Dougall had a sixth-minute shot blocked for the hosts following good build-up play by Bowler and Hamilton.
Bartosz Bialkowski did well to keep out a deflected Bowler shot with his feet after 19 minutes and the Blackpool midfielder then had a shot blocked by a defender, before Lavery saw a shot from a tight angle saved.
Garbutt picked up a booking in the 40th minute for a foul on Danny McNamara, while Murray Wallace volleyed wide for the Lions a minute later after latching on to Jake Cooper's header.
Lavery had a shot deflected over two minutes after the break as the lively Bowler created another opening. The Blackpool forward then headed wide from six yards from the resulting corner.
Madine fired wide from distance two minutes later as the hosts started to crank up the pressure once again.
It finally paid off when Lavery smashed home a rebound in the 55th minute after Hamilton had seen his initial shot saved.
Garbutt was replaced by Jordan Gabriel after 62 minutes after he sustained a knock and Cooper had a header saved six minutes later when he had got on the end of a Scott Malone corner.
Madine was denied by another smart Bialkowski stop a minute later after good link-up between Hamilton and Lavery, as Blackpool looked to put the game to bed.
Dan Grimshaw pulled off a fine save to keep out Burey after a superb solo run created a chance, while Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel headed a Connor Mahoney cross away under pressure as Millwall pushed.
But the Londoners were left empty-handed after failing to create further chances.
Blackpool's Neil Critchley: "It was hard-fought and not pretty at times, but we got the job done. If any team deserved to win on the balance of chances it was us. We have followed the win over Hull with another 1-0, which is always pleasing. I felt we worked their keeper more than they worked ours in the first half. We scored when we were on top and then saw the game out relatively comfortably. We protected the goal really well. The players gave me, the club and the fans everything.
"Any win in this division is hard-fought, you have to be right at it for 95 minutes and today we were. It was a good finish [by Shayne Lavery]. He causes problems and is a constant menace. At half-time we asked for a bit more, to get more crosses in and create some momentum. We started the second half really well. It was a centre-forward's finish and
I'm delighted for him."
Millwall's Gary Rowett: "When you look at our recent away games, we haven't done the right things for long enough in those games. It's as simple as that. You can't come here and concede soft goals, and that is what we have done. I thought we were relatively solid in the first half. We felt if we could be competitive in the game we could bring attacking players on late in the game and try and open it up. But you can't be 1-0 down when you do that.
"We haven't performed well enough often enough in the away games and not enough players have stepped up and performed. Yes we are having a tough time with injuries, but we have to come here and show what good players we have. The fans turned up in great numbers and I'm disappointed for them. We didn't give them enough spark in the game."
