Morison Mauls Rovers at The Den
Steve Morison earned a first-half brace as Millwall comfortably dispatched a lacklustre Doncaster Rovers side 2-0 at The Den.
The game could have been over after 30 minutes as Morison fired twice within just 8 minutes of football. But Millwall permitted Doncaster with the opportunity to be involved in the game as Rovers made a second half surge at a comeback, that ultimately amounted into nothing more than a continuation of half-hearted and idea-less attacks.
With barely five minutes of football played, Morison found himself through on goal with only the Doncaster keeper, Thorsten Stuckmann to beat, and beat he did. As Morison’s strike deflected off the keeper and trickled into the net, Millwall lead 1-0.
A mere three minutes later and an loanee Shane Ferguson from Newcastle found Steve Morison with a fine cross to set up the Welshman who responded with a classy volley that directed the ball into the bottom corner. 2-0 it was and it seemed as so the floodgates had opened.
It was not the case, Doncaster hit back with a flurry of more than convertible chances that were essentially thrown away by the trio of Butler, Coppinger and Tyson. Chances that Darren Ferguson’s side would end up ruing by the full-time whistle.
It could have been the perfect response as Nathan Tyson whipped in a great cross for Andy butler who somehow headed over from point-blank range. Shortly after, it was Tyson’s turn as he steered the ball wide of the target from just five yards.
When Doncaster attacked, Millwall reaped the benefits. As the Yorkshire side rallied helplessly forward for a way back into the game, the defense continued to be left exposed on the counter, something Morison found on many occasions as he failed to convert several uncomplicated opportunities, unable to progress from his two strikes already.
Steve Morison seemed determined enough to grab his hat-trick that quite realistically should have been completed sometime before the first-half whistle was blown, but it did not arrive for the ex Norwich man.
The second half arrived and if Millwall had not taken their foot off the gas after the second goal, then they most certainly did by the second half had arrived. As an albeit only slightly but surely more confident and open-minded Doncaster side challenged for a goal back.
Tyson came close twice: a header that flew inches wide of Archer’s post and an agonisingly close opportunity as he failed to get on the end of an exceptional Taylor-Sinclair cross.
The 195 travelling Doncaster fans watched on as their side continued to probe at an entry, but Neil Harris’ side were more than adept at keeping them at bay.
As the game slowly whittled away from Ferguson’s side it became very simple for Millwall to run down the clock whilst finding themselves with their fair share of goal-scoring opportunities.
A cross from the returning Carlos Edwards found Morison with yet another perfect chance to sew up the game and take the match ball, but it was not to be as Stuckmann met the header to prevent the third.
Whilst Darren Ferguson allowed ex Millwall man, Danny N’Guessan to enter the fray, all the striker was able to accomplish in 30 minutes was to be subjected to the expected and routine negative chanting from the Lions’ fans.
On the other side Neil Harris was able to bring on Webster, Onyedinma and product of Manchester United, Lee Martin to enter the pitch and wrap up the tie for the South-East Londoners.
The Lions left The Den ascending into the sixth place position joint with Sheffield United. But Neil Harris however will be conscious of his side failing to score more than two goals, as his side threw away an abundance of brilliant chances to put the game far beyond Doncaster’s reach.
The Rovers however, a team who stay sat nervously in the bottom four without ideas and confidence, waiting for their season to lift off.
Twitter – @Robmfriend
Robson Friend 