Millwall stroll to second league win

The Lions failed to get going in a midweek Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit to Colchester, but hoped to build on their first league victory of the season against Huddersfield last Saturday. They stepped out at The Den without target man Tresor Kandol, who picked up a calf injury in training on Friday, while Danny Spiller’s return was set back by a recurrence of a groin injury last week. Manchester City loan signing Karl Moore started the game on the bench, while Gary Alexander partnered veteran Neil Harris up front.

Millwall have often started games slowly this season, but looked assured as they flashed out of the blocks with neat passing and threatening attacks. Hartlepool’s back line was embarrassingly breached just two minutes into the game, as Neil Harris’ looping pass found Lewis Grabban in acres of space just outside the penalty area. Grabban ran on to place a low shot beyond the keeper off the right-hand post.

Alexander’s physical style was causing all manner of problems for the visiting team, who frequently provided space for David Martin down the left hand side. Martin’s long cross on 16 minutes was inches away from finding Alexander in the six-yard box, and the left winger nearly got on the scoresheet himself on 27 minutes when he flashed a low shot just wide of the right post from 25 yards out.

Hartlepool’s strikers looked increasingly forlorn as the game settled into a stalemate, but the threat of a second goal at the other end was always bubbling, with Grabban a constant threat on the right. And it was Grabban that provided the spark for the second goal on 39 minutes, picking the ball up in the area after being played through by Alexander. He looked to have mis-controlled as he moved in on goal, but managed to skin his man with a neat turn before aiming a shot at goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett. The stopper could only parry the effort in the direction of Alexander, who buried the ball with a diving header.

Hartlepool replaced centre back Michael Nelson with Alan Power at half time, and nearly pulled a goal back within a minute as Joel Porter found James Brown in space in the penalty area. But Millwall keeper David Forde stepped up to block his chest-level shot.
The bright spell for the visitors was short lived, as they again found themselves struggling to contain the marauding Grabban. And Hartlepool right back Gary Liddle was lucky to remain on the pitch on 50 minutes after he slipped on the ball and seemingly pulled down Alexander as he pounced on the error. Referee Steve Bratt leniently handed out a yellow card to the disgust of home fans.

Brkovic replaced Harris for Millwall on the hour as The Lions comfortably held on to their lead, slowing to almost walking pace as Hartlepool thrust on David Foley and Richard Barker in a bid to claw back a goal. But the front men seemed unable to connect with each other, and Joel Porter was visibly frustrated when his low pass to the wide-open Barker was blocked with 15 minutes to go.

Right back Chris Hackett had picked up a knock earlier in the second half, and was replaced to a standing ovation with less than ten minutes to play. But there were no late wobbles for the home side, who nearly added a third on 86 minutes when Alexander forced Lee-Barrett to parry his venomous shot out for a corner. Star performer Lewis Grabban raised the roof when he came off for Ashley Grimes in the 90th minute, just seconds after his low-cut back in the box had just eluded Alexander.

Millwall: Forde, Hackett (Frampton 81), Robinson (capt), Whitbread, Craig, Grabban (Grimes 90), Fuseini, Abdou, Martin, Alexander, Harris (Brkovic 60 mins)

Subs not used: Edwards (GK), Moore

Goals: Grabban 2, Alexander 39

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, McCunnie, Nelson (Power 45 mins), Collins (capt), Humphreys, Sweeney, Robson (Foley 60 mins), Liddle, Monkhouse (Barker 68 mins), Brown, Porter

Subs not used: Budtz (GK), Mackay

Referee: Steve Bratt
Attendance: 7,207