Millwall secured their championship status with a dominating
2-1 win over Leicester, pretty much ending their chances of earning a play-off
place. The lions have gone now unbeaten in four games, winning three in the
process. Goals either side of half time from strike pair Andy Keogh and Harry
Kane secured the win for the lions.
Leicester the visitors came out the strongest in the opening
minutes with Ben Marshall firing tame shots as goal. Whereas attacking right
back Lee Peltier caused problems with his crosses, but the Millwall defence
dealt with it easily. Millwall have also managed to keep 3 straight clean
sheets. After coping from early pressure it was Millwall who opened the scoring
on 22 minutes. A Paul Robinson flick down from a James Henry corner fell to
Kane who smashed it past Kasper Schmeichel and bags his third goal in three
games during Kane's impressive loan spell from Spurs. Leicester almost found an
equaliser minutes later. The impressive Marshall’s pass was helped on by Wes
Morgan which Fell to once internationally capped David Nugent, but saw his shot
somehow and impressively saved by Taylor.
The Lions almost caught Leicester on the counter attack as
Shane Lowry’s long clearance up field fell to loanee Kane. He was through on
goal to shoot, but Sol Bamba’s perfectly-timed tackle was enough to push the
ball out for a corner. The game was a high intensity one with the 3 points
vital for both teams but different reasons, Leicester still having the outside
chance of a play-off place, whereas 3 points for the lions would mathematically
save them from the drop zone and secure their championship status for a year.
The second half began with both teams calmed down and the
play was of a lower intensity, but it was soon to liven up with a penalty
awarded to Millwall. Good play from Irishman Andy Keogh to pull away from the
onrushing defender Sol Bamba, Keogh slotted the ball towards Kane as he was
brought down by Paul Koncheskey; the ref had no choice but to point to the
spot. It was Keogh who took the penalty. The Irishman stepped up and produced a
cheeky finish, chipping the ball into the middle of the goal to bag his seventh
goal for the club since joining in January.
Leicester tried to find some way back into the game by introducing
striker Steve Howard and midfielders Danny
Drinkwater and Lloyd Dyer into the game. Despite Leicester going all-out attack
it was Millwall with the best chance to score, it fell to Josh Wright who hit a
magnificent volley from 30 yards out, only for it to be tipped over brilliant
by Schmeichel. Somehow the referee gave a goal-kick to the foxes.
The visitors ultra-attacking approach paid off 10 minutes of
time, courtesy of substitute Drinkwater, a drilled shot from a Nugent lay-off
to half Millwall’s lead, with 5 minutes to add on Millwall threw bodies at the
ball too try and block the full out Leicester attack., however they just
couldn’t break them down. The final score ended 2-1 in favour of the lions and
to make sure Kenny Jacket’s men secured championship football for the 2012/13
season. The Lions move on to Coventry City away at the Ricoh in a game in which
the Sky blues could be relegated if they lose too Millwall and Bristol City win
at home to West Ham
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