Debutant right-back Ryan Fredericks's freak goal shortly before the break saw Millwall to a deserved 1-0 victory over the Blues at the Den. Town, who had midfielder Luke Hyam stretchered off early on, were second best for the most part and would have lost by a greater margin had former winger Lee Martin not spurned a 70th minute chance.
Skipper Carlos Edwards started on the right-side of a four-man midfield, making his first league start since the 3-1 home victory over Blackburn on December 3rd, as the Blues — wearing last season’s white and black away kit - switched back to 4-4-2 with Daryl Murphy back up front after recovering from his thigh injury.
Millwall, whose new manager Ian Holloway was in charge at the Den for the first time, included ex-Blues Liam Trotter and Martin from the start, while former loan keeper Stephen Bywater was on the bench.
Neither team had created anything before Hyam underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch for an injury to his right leg after an eighth-minute challenge with fellow former Northgate High School pupil Trotter.
The Town players quickly called on physio Matt Byard having kicked the ball out of play and the 22-year-old was eventually taken off on a stretcher with Jay Tabb replacing him and going to the left with Tunnicliffe switching to the centre.
Trotter curled a shot wide from 20 yards in the 16th minute with the home side having settled better after the delay for Hyam’s injury.
On 26, with Town still to really get going, an error by Cole Skuse in the centre circle allowed Martin a run in on goal but, having turned inside Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra, the midfielder’s low shot failed to test Gerken.
A minute later, McGoldrick scuffed the Blues’ first effort of the game through to Millwall keeper David Forde.
The Town top scorer created a better chance for his strike partner Murphy soon afterwards with a clever flick but the Irishman’s well-struck shot from the left of the area was too close to Forde.
Aaron Cresswell volleyed Edwards’s 34th minute cross into the ground with the Blues, by now having switched back to 4-3-3, finally starting to settle and get on top.
But, five minutes before the break, the home side went in front. Debutant full-back Ryan Fredericks, who signed on loan from Tottenham yesterday, sent in a deep cross from the right which somehow flew over keeper Gerken’s head, under the bar and into the net.
Town looked to hit back via McGoldrick but his effort was blocked by Lions skipper Danny Shittu. Before play could restart — and shortly before the fourth official signalled six additional minutes - Millwall keeper Forde was replaced by ex-Town loanee Stephen Bywater.
Edwards and Millwall’s Scott Malone got their names in the book for a clash after the Blues skipper had been fouled not far outside the area on the right, the Lions defender believing the Trinidadian had dived. The resultant freekick came to nothing.
The Blues were unable to get back on terms before referee Eddie Ilderton — who had frustrated the Town players on a number of occasions during the half — blew his whistle.
After the early injury to Hyam, Town took a long time to get going but had just started to get on top before Fredericks’s freak goal which Gerken will have been very disappointed to concede. Overall though, manager Mick McCarthy will have been disappointed with the display.
Martin nodded Smith’s goalbound header from Tunnicliffe’s corner off the line four minutes after the restart, then on 54 Shittu blocked from Murphy after good work from Skuse and Cresswell. From the corner, Tunnicliffe sent the ball well over.
On 57 Edwards crossed into Bywater’s arms with the Blues starting the half looking more of a threat than they had during most of the first, but with Millwall also still having their moments.
Paul Taylor replaced Edwards shortly after the hour mark, joining McGoldrick and Murphy in the front three. Then, with the home side again starting to dominate, Malone hit a powerful strike across the face of goal after a previous effort had deflected to him on the left.
Ex-Town winger Martin should have doubled his side’s lead in the 69th minute when Scott McDonald deftly flicked the ball in to his path inside the area. The one-time Manchester United man tricked his way past Chambers and into space 10 yards out and seemed destined to score but blazed wildly over.
It was a lucky escape for the Blues, who were by now pegged back in their half by the Lions, who were very much on top. On 73 sub Tabb made way for Frank Nouble.
Taylor curled a freekick just wide in the 76th minute, but Bywater wasn’t often being tested and Millwall were looking the more likely next scorers.
However, on 86 the Blues went close when Murphy sent Taylor away on the left after Fredericks had slipped. Bywater blocked the Town sub’s shot and Nouble just couldn’t get on to the rebound before it was cleared. Fredericks, Malone and the outstanding Shittu all received treatment for cramp in the aftermath.
Shortly before the end of scheduled time, Taylor was booked after shooting well wide in frustration having been penalised for a foul inside the area.
Soon after the fourth official’s board had gone up signalling four minutes of injury time, the Blues threatened from a corner. Bywater was nowhere as the ball came over from the right but it just wouldn’t fall kindly and Chambers amongst others was unable grab a late equaliser.
That was the final chance and referee Ilderton — who had continued to frustrate the Town players and fans throughout the second half — confirmed the Blues’ third defeat in a week.
Despite the fortunate nature of the goal, the home side deserved their victory and the second goal that Martin should have scored wouldn’t have flattered them.
Having taken a long time to get going following Hyam’s early injury, the Blues had a brief spell on top prior to the goal and threatened in the period just after the break, but were rarely in control and all too often hit long balls forward which were easy for Shittu to deal with.
The result sees the Blues drop to 10th place in the Championship, five points behind next week’s opponents Reading — who beat Bolton 7-1 today — in sixth.
Millwall: Forde (Bywater 44), Fredericks, Shittu (c), Lowry, Malone, Trotter (Abdou 69), Bailey (Wright 61), Martin, Keogh, Morison, McDonald. Unused: Beevers, Woolford, Feeney, Marquis.
Town: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Edwards (c) (Taylor 62), Hyam (Tabb 13 (Nouble 73)), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Murphy, McGoldrick. Unused: Loach, Mings, Hunt, Anderson. Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear). Att: 12,125 (Town: 1,398).