THE PROMOTION-CHASING Lions suffered a merciless first half mauling at the Memorial Stadium and boss Kenny Jackett admitted they would mathematically have to settle for the play-offs.
It was 4-1 at the break as rampant Rovers, fielding what coach Paul Trollope said was the most attacking side he had chosen in his three years in charge, with wide midfielders David Pipe and Jeff Hughes at full-backs, made a mockery of the sides’ respective positions.
Fans were left just wondering if they might have been in the play-offs themselves had there been more home performances like this. Rovers were at their scintillating best as four of their six first half efforts on goal hit the target.
The first came on 12 minutes when skipper Stuart Campbell’s low training ground corner was steered in at the near post by Craig Disley. Millwall were level 16 minutes later as Rovers were undone by Adam Boulder’s free-kick, Jason Price’s flick-on allowing Nadjim Abdou to nod home from close range.
But within four minutes Rovers were ahead again, top scorer Rickie Lambert heading home from Campbell’s short corner routine with Jo Kufour. Five minutes later Hughes linked with Darryl Duffy for the latter to set up Kuffour for a smart goal.
Two minutes from the break a similar corner routine again found Lambert, whose header this time was adjudged to have been handled by Gary Alexander, who was promptly dismissed. Lambert blasted in his 27th goal of the campaign from the spot.
Millwall made a serious contest of it in the second half and sub Neil Harris saw a header rebound off the bar. Steve Phillips neatly tipped away another Harris header but Rovers, ever dangerous on the break, almost scored again when Kuffour’s strike was tipped away by David Forde.
Central defender Steve Elliott was booked for palming down a corner when he thought the ball had gone out and it was ultimately to prove costly. Another Millwall free-kick led to Harris and Price teaming up for Abdou to get his second and set up a spirited last 10 minutes, with Elliott getting his marching orders after a second booking for a trip on Harris. Both goalkeepers were tested late on and Forde had his legs to thank for blocking a drive by sub Ben Hunt.
“There are ways to lose and we went down fighting,” said Jackett, while Trollope was delighted with his selection, determined mainly by short and long-term injuries among his defenders. Now he loses Elliott for Tuesday’s home game against relegation-haunted Brighton’ The coach already has next season in mind when he will be looking for further progress. He said: “There will be personnel changes. It doesn’t mean that players out of contract will be leaving but we want to bring in a number of players because we want to take a big step forward.”
Rovers: Phillips; Pipe, Anthony, Elliott, Hughes; Disley, Campbell, Lines, Duffy (Hinton 81 mins); Kuffour, Lambert (Hunt 76 mins). Subs not used: St Louis-Hamilton, Rigg, Reece. Attendance: 6,618.
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