Millwall 1 Hartlepool 0

While the smirking gods of sport often inflict unspeakable horrors on those who toss away their gifts from six yards, Millwall were spared their punishment this time around.

If Hartlepool had put in that late header, or stabbed home an injury time punt, pub talk might have included the fact that - with 50 goals so far - Millwall just don't score as freely as some of their playoff rivals (Huddersfield have bagged 41 at home). It might have been mentioned that Neil Harris was guilty of a couple of frustrating misses too.

Instead, it's seven wins in eight for the Lions and a league placing that couldn't be much closer to the playoff spots. Now only goal difference separates them from Huddersfield in sixth.

Who could possibly complain about that sort of form, eh?

Come to think of it, who could possibly sniff at the form of Neil Harris, the veteran Millwall striker who has scored 11 in 11 and 17 for the season? He was fouled within ten minutes and stepped up to take a free kick which evaded goalie Scott Flinders thanks to a deflection.

An early goal works wonders for the soul. An early equaliser, not so much. So Millwall were grateful for Antony Sweeney's wastefulness when he ran on to a centred ball in a great position. With his name already pencilled on the scoresheet, he decided instead to guide it down David Forde's throat like an aggressive dentist.

Flinders made a good save from Chris Hackett's free kick to prevent the Lions getting two from set-pieces. But the second half was a frustrating one for Neil Harris particularly. Hackett whipped in a ball to the back post which the striker nodded high and wide. A ball in from the left broke for him, but the shot didn't make it into the net. When a centre scythed through to Harris in space, he could only hit a ball which screwed wide.

Hartlepool were by no means doormats in this game, but their challenge would have been much more muted if Millwall's finishing had been a little sharper. Still, a single goal is sometimes enough for three points and you don't get any extra medals for 7-0 wins. Unless sixth place is decided by goal difference this May.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Craig, Ward, Schofield (Batt 61), Hackett, Abdou, Trotter, Harris (Barron 88), Morison

Subs not used: Sullivan, Frampton, Smith, Fuseini, Obika

Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Liddle, Jones, Sweeney (Brown 79), Gamble, Boyd (Behan 46), Larkin (Humphreys 46), O'Donovan

Subs not used: Cook, McSweeney, Fredriksen, Bjornsson

Attendance: 10,818