Millwall 2 Blackpool 2: Lions dent Tangerines momentum ahead of play-off challenge
Harry Kane's late equaliser preserved Millwall's unbeaten end to the season to salvage a well-earned draw.
After going behind, Blackpool bounced back and looked to have won it, but Kane's goal means they go into the npower Championship play-offs playing the crucial second leg away from home.
The home side came racing out of the blocks and had their first chance after a minute. The ball fell to Andy Keogh, who had scored four in the previous five games, but his effort from 20 yards flashed wide.
Stalemate: Millwall ended the season unbeaten as Blackpool turn to playoffs
MATCH FACTS
MILLWALL: Taylor, Smith, Robinson, Lowry, Craig, Henry, Abdou, Wright (Batt 81), Trotter, Keogh, Kane Subs Not Used: Forde, Dunne, Feeney, Barron
Goals: Keogh 12, Kane 83.
Booked: Craig, Henry.
BLACKPOOL: Gilks, Eardley, Baptiste, Evatt, Crainey, Southern, Sylvestre (Dobbie 88), LuaLua (Matt Phillips 60), Dicko, Kevin Phillips (Basham 77), Ince. Subs Not Used: Taylor-Fletcher, Harris.
Goals: Evatt 27,Dicko 71.
Booked: Dicko.
Attendance: 13,122
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Millwall, the form team in the
Championship with five consecutive wins, continued to press and
Blackpool were indebted to Matt Gilks as he pushed away a powerful
strike from Kane at his near post.
Their early dominance was rewarded
after 12 minutes thanks to the in-form Keogh. He beat the offside trap
to latch onto a James Henry pass and coolly side-footed past the
helpless Gilks.
Blackpool had the woodwork to thank
for not falling further behind. Henry crossed to the unmarked Paul
Robinson three yards out who inexplicably headed against the bar.
Out of nothing, Ian Holloway's side
levelled after 27 minutes with their first attack of the game. Stephen
Crainey whipped a free-kick towards Ian Evatt whose diving header beat
Maik Taylor.
That goal, only the second Millwall
have conceded in over six games, seemed to knock the stuffing out of the
hosts, who found chances harder to come by.
Ince missed a glorious opportunity
just before half-time. Nouha Dicko intercepted a poor back pass and set
up Kevin Phillips, who in turn laid the ball into Ince's path but the
ball went wide from seven yards.
The Seasiders continued where they
left off and Kevin Phillips tested Taylor with a rasping drive from the
right of the area, which the goalkeeper did well to hold.
Millwall settled and were agonisingly
close to going ahead midway through the half. A Henry corner was met by
Liam Trotter, whose header was saved by Gilks and the clearance was
completed by Crainey.
But Blackpool caught the Lions cold
for the second time in the day just minutes later. Ince and Crainey
combined for the latter to send in an inviting cross towards Dicko who
could not miss.
The goal sparked Millwall into life
and they were rewarded when a corner was only half cleared to Kane on
the edge of the area and he rifled a shot into the bottom-left corner.
Millwall almost grabbed a late winner but Evatt made a timely intervention to ensure the game ended level, meaning both sides are unbeaten in their final seven games.
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