Lions halt the progress of Rams at Pride Park and continue charge towards top six

Young Tyler Burey scored his second goal in as many games as he made his full Millwall debut in a 2-1 win at Derby County.

Following back-to-back wins for Reading, Wayne Rooney’s side will have recognised the importance of keeping in touch with their immediate relegation rivals and will have seen this game as an opportunity to once again close the gap.

However, it was Gary Rowett’s Millwall side who took the initiative in bizarre fashion as Jed Wallace’s free-kick from the left-hand side evaded everyone and bounced into the back of the net.

The early strike for Millwall seemed to unsettle Derby, but the Rams worked their way into the game and dominated possession and territory without creating too many clear cut opportunities.

As such, Derby were dealt a hammer blow following a counterattack that stemmed from their own free-kick. Millwall broke with pace and with intent, and despite the Rams defence recovering, Curtis Davies was unable to clear his lines and Burey fired home for his second senior goal for Millwall.

Once again, Derby took control of possession and territory following the goal, with forward Festy Ebosele proving a real livewire. Sadly for the Pride Park faithful, who remained in full voice, the Rams’ attack was simply too predictable and one dimensional.

The same theme continued into the second period with Derby pressuring the Millwall defence, but each attack amounted to nothing with aimless and hopeful crosses.

Rooney’s introduction of two senior players in Colin Kazim-Richards and Ravel Morrison offered the Rams more presence in attacking positions, however, Millwall were still able to comfortably read the waves of Derby’s attack and subsequently looked more dangerous on the counter-attack.

As the clock ticked on, the Lions were able to stagnate the game and stem the Derby flow. This was not for the want of trying from the Rams, but their attacks were all played in front of a blue wall of Millwall players.

Derby were offered a lifeline near the end of the match as a speculative effort from Kazim-Richards ricocheted off of Jake Cooper and into the back of the net.

This all proved too little too late and Millwall held out for a third straight win that brings them to within seven points of the play-offs.

Millwall’s combative and stagnating approach to the game after taking the lead proved too much for Derby to deal with and ultimately sent them back to London with maximum points.

Wayne Rooney will be disappointed at the lack of attacking potency his side showed following going behind a minute in. Although the Rams did eventually get on the scoresheet via a freak own goal, they never looked like breaching the Millwall defence at any given time.

Rowett’s Lions will look to make it four wins on the trot and launch a late surge on the play-offs with a victory over in-form Sheffield United at the Den this Saturday.

On the other hand, Derby will have to pick themselves up and take each game as it comes in what will surely be an agonising relegation battle. They also face one of the league’s form sides as they travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town, who have recently solidified their own play-off credentials with wins against West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.

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