Millwall's controversial second half goal was enough to see off Rochdale at Spotland today, as the Lions continued their playoff push. Top scorer Lee Gregory tucked away his 12th league goal of the season in the 54th minute, and the officials failed to spot that the frontman was in an offside position. This had followed the controversy of the first half when Dale were denied what seemed to be a clear-cut penalty when Ian Henderson was tripped inside the box. However Dale, whilst unlucky, need to start taking the chances that fall to them if they are to avoid a relegation fight, as they once again failed to register in a match where they had several chances to score.
Keith Hill made several changes from the team that lost to Crewe last weekend, with Joe Bunney, Calvin Andrew and Andy Cannon all reinstated to the first team. Ashley Eastham also earned a rare start, as Hill sought to rectify the defensive errors that cost his team last week. This change meant that Jim McNulty would fill in at left-back, a position that he looked far from comfortable in throughout the match. Dale started brightly with Bunney threatening down the right-hand side on numerous occasions, and good work from the aforementioned led to the first chance of the match for Dale. Bunney cut inside before finding Jamie Allen on the edge of the box, and the midfielder played a superb reverse pass to his midfield compatriot Callum Camps, but his effort was saved by away keeper Jordan Archer before being cleared to deny Andrew a tap in. Bunney continued to threaten, firing a shot just wide after some great skill before putting in a sublime cross for Andrew to meet, but the target man put his header past the post. Unfortunately he fell awkwardly and looked to be in a lot of pain, forcing Hill into an early change with Peter Vincenti replacing the injured striker. This seemed to have a detrimental effect on Dale's play quickly, as Vincenti cannot offer the same sort of pace and power that had unsettled the Millwall defence early on. However Dale did find a way through late in the half, as Camps slipped in Henderson with a neat through ball and as he stretched to reach it he was blatantly tripped by the covering defender, yet neither the referee or the linesman deemed it to be a foul. Millwall had a brief spell of pressure right before the end of the first half, forcing numerous corners in a row before Dale eventually cleared, and broke at speed. Cannon eventually played in Henderson with a lovely pass but Dale's top scorer fired straight at Archer, meaning it would remain 0-0 at half-time.
Dale came out for the second half hoping to build on a promising first half display, but it was the away side who came out the stronger. Cannon wanted too long to clear and Gregory nipped in before having his first shot blocked by a combination of Eastham and Josh Lillis. The ball then fell to the experienced striker Steve Morison and he played it past Lillis to Gregory, who had the simple task of putting it past Cannon on the line. As Millwall celebrated however the Dale players and fans shouted in disbelief as the rule dictates that a player should be ruled offside if they are closer to the goal than the ball and the second last defender. This includes the goalkeeper and therefore, even though Gregory was in front of Cannon, he looked to be behind the goalkeeper and thus there was only one player between him and the goal when he received the ball, so the goal should have been ruled out. Despite huge protests from the Dale players, referee Graham Salisbury refused to overturn the goal. Gregory nearly doubled the lead when he raced onto a through ball, but his lobbed attempt was well saved by Lillis. After this Millwall seemed content to sit back and time-waste, limiting Dale to any clear opportunities. Substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing came the closest to finding an equaliser when his powerful shot/cross was inches away from finding the far corner. Millwall, to their credit, defended well and held on for the win, although considering all circumstances a draw would have perhaps been the fairest result. Millwall solidify their place in the playoffs, whilst Dale slip to 15th ahead of Tuesday's game against Crewe.
Full Time: Rochdale 0-1 Millwall
Man of the Match: Steve Morison
Keith Hill made several changes from the team that lost to Crewe last weekend, with Joe Bunney, Calvin Andrew and Andy Cannon all reinstated to the first team. Ashley Eastham also earned a rare start, as Hill sought to rectify the defensive errors that cost his team last week. This change meant that Jim McNulty would fill in at left-back, a position that he looked far from comfortable in throughout the match. Dale started brightly with Bunney threatening down the right-hand side on numerous occasions, and good work from the aforementioned led to the first chance of the match for Dale. Bunney cut inside before finding Jamie Allen on the edge of the box, and the midfielder played a superb reverse pass to his midfield compatriot Callum Camps, but his effort was saved by away keeper Jordan Archer before being cleared to deny Andrew a tap in. Bunney continued to threaten, firing a shot just wide after some great skill before putting in a sublime cross for Andrew to meet, but the target man put his header past the post. Unfortunately he fell awkwardly and looked to be in a lot of pain, forcing Hill into an early change with Peter Vincenti replacing the injured striker. This seemed to have a detrimental effect on Dale's play quickly, as Vincenti cannot offer the same sort of pace and power that had unsettled the Millwall defence early on. However Dale did find a way through late in the half, as Camps slipped in Henderson with a neat through ball and as he stretched to reach it he was blatantly tripped by the covering defender, yet neither the referee or the linesman deemed it to be a foul. Millwall had a brief spell of pressure right before the end of the first half, forcing numerous corners in a row before Dale eventually cleared, and broke at speed. Cannon eventually played in Henderson with a lovely pass but Dale's top scorer fired straight at Archer, meaning it would remain 0-0 at half-time.
Dale came out for the second half hoping to build on a promising first half display, but it was the away side who came out the stronger. Cannon wanted too long to clear and Gregory nipped in before having his first shot blocked by a combination of Eastham and Josh Lillis. The ball then fell to the experienced striker Steve Morison and he played it past Lillis to Gregory, who had the simple task of putting it past Cannon on the line. As Millwall celebrated however the Dale players and fans shouted in disbelief as the rule dictates that a player should be ruled offside if they are closer to the goal than the ball and the second last defender. This includes the goalkeeper and therefore, even though Gregory was in front of Cannon, he looked to be behind the goalkeeper and thus there was only one player between him and the goal when he received the ball, so the goal should have been ruled out. Despite huge protests from the Dale players, referee Graham Salisbury refused to overturn the goal. Gregory nearly doubled the lead when he raced onto a through ball, but his lobbed attempt was well saved by Lillis. After this Millwall seemed content to sit back and time-waste, limiting Dale to any clear opportunities. Substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing came the closest to finding an equaliser when his powerful shot/cross was inches away from finding the far corner. Millwall, to their credit, defended well and held on for the win, although considering all circumstances a draw would have perhaps been the fairest result. Millwall solidify their place in the playoffs, whilst Dale slip to 15th ahead of Tuesday's game against Crewe.
Full Time: Rochdale 0-1 Millwall
Man of the Match: Steve Morison