Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Millwall and Birmingham City at The Den as Lukas Jutkiewicz scored the only goal of the game to seal victory for the Blues.
Tuesday 18 April 2023 23:26, UK
Lukas Jutkiewicz's first-half strike put a dent in Millwall's Championship play-off push as Birmingham claimed a 1-0 win at the Den.
The victory has all-but secured the Blues' safety and ended their three-game winless streak while Millwall's destiny is now out of their hands.
The Lions remain fifth, two points ahead of West Brom and Blackburn who both have games in hand over the south Londoners.
Gary Rowett's men have failed to score in five of their last six games and had a number of fine goalscoring opportunities.
Both sides threatened in a high-tempo opening 10 minutes, with Blues winger Tahith Chong strongly appealing for a penalty and George Saville heading narrowly wide at the other end.
Soon after, a stranded John Ruddy provoked a roar from the home fans when he delayed a quick throw after picking up a knock clearing the ball close to the touchline.
Millwall keeper George Long was called into action next, tipping over an ambitious 35-yard lob from Reda Khadra.
The German midfielder then set up Birmingham's 28th-minute opener beautifully, surging away from Danny McNamara before slipping in Jutkiewicz.
The 34-year-old rounded defender and keeper to sneak in his fifth goal of the season from the tightest of angles.
No club has scored more goals from set pieces than Millwall's 14 this season and once more it appeared the hosts' most likely source for an equaliser.
Zian Flemming's dipping free-kick brought a fingertip save from Ruddy and seven minutes later Jake Cooper headed a corner inches wide of the back post.
Millwall finished the half the brighter but barely 10 seconds after the break Long was forced to parry a fierce deflected effort from Khadra.
Soon, Rowett's side were on top again but top scorer Tom Bradshaw's close-range diving header lacked the sufficient power to beat substitute Neil Etheridge, who replaced the injured Ruddy seven minutes before the interval.
The veteran keeper then got down superbly to turn away Oliver Burke's low strike midway through the half.
But the 33-year-old was frozen to the spot when Burke's long-range curling effort whistled past his post minutes later.
Millwall redoubled their efforts to find an equaliser and Andreas Voglsammer almost brought down a long through ball metres away from a defenceless Etheridge.
The Blues keeper produced an outstanding double stop in the 82nd minute, first to parry Callum Style's fizzing strike and then to smother the follow up from Bradshaw.
Millwall's Gary Rowett:
"The goal allows them to slow the game down. I think that was one of my huge frustrations. They're entitled to do that and I've got no problem with Birmingham doing it at all. If you look at the substitutions, the goalkeeper taking time, their bench kicking the ball away towards the end of the game and nothing was done about it.
"It was probably the worst I've seen it managed. It has to be stamped out. But second half, I'm not sure what else we could do other than score. We got into some great positions, created some big chances and you've got to take the chances. It's as simple as that."
Birmingham's John Eustace:
"No one likes to be written off. Obviously we came in at the start of the season favourites for relegation. No problem, it gives us something to fight for and throughout the season there have been some really difficult moments.
"Whenever we've been really tested, we've come through those moments to get to 53 points, something to be very proud of."
