Millwall’s poor home form continued as they crashed out the FA Cup with a heavy defeat to Bristol City.
Although the Cup could be seen as a distraction this season, it seemed a good opportunity for the home side to build on Wednesday’s win, their first since they beat Bristol City away.
With the packed Championship schedule, both sides made plenty of changes. Rowett opted for an attacking front line: Tom Bradshaw, Ken Zohore, Troy Parrott and Mason Bennett all starting.
That attacking intent was on display, as Millwall created a number of chances throughout the first half. Young Bristol City keeper Max O’Leary was kept busy, shots from Bennett, Bradshaw and Parrott all testing the Irish stopper in the first 20 minutes.
Despite the home side’s dominance throughout the first half, it was the visiting Robins who took the lead. Zak Vyner found a pocket of space just outside the Millwall box and slipped in Famara Diedhiou.
The Bristol City frontman was brought down by stand-in keeper Frank Fielding, beating him to the ball. He was back to his feet to power his spot kick into the bottom left corner.
Fielding was called into action again towards the end of the first half, diving well to deny a dangerous Nahki Wells free kick on 44 minutes.
It wasn’t long, however, until the away side doubled their lead. The Robins came out the brighter in the second half and eventually scored their second on 57 minutes.
Nahki Wells’ free kick wasn’t as well struck as his first half effort, but a deflection in the wall was enough to take it past the wrong-footed Fielding.
Things nearly went from bad to worse for the Lions, when Antoine Semenyo’s effort from distance deflected off of Wells and into the net. Fortunately, the linesman’s flag was eventually raised.
The third eventually came in the 72nd minute. A swift break from Bristol City saw Semenyo burst past Jake Cooper and Shane Ferguson. The youngster calmly slotted past Fielding to compound the home sides misery.
Millwall will feel the score line didn’t reflect the performance, but when things aren’t going your way it's hard to get any luck.
It’ll disappoint fans that the Lions couldn’t build on their away win in midweek, too many of the players didn’t take the opportunity given to them.
Teams:
Millwall: Fielding; Romeo, Pearce, Cooper, Ferguson; Leonard, Thompson (Woods, 75); Bradshaw, Parrott (Burey, 63), Bennett (Skalak, 75); Zohore (Smith, 63).
Subs: Bialkowski, Hutchinson, Malone, Bodvarsson, McNamara.
Bristol City: O’Leary; Mariappa, Kalas, Moore, Rowe; Semenyo (Adelakun, 76), Vyner (Edwards, 80), Bakinson, Palmer (Massengo, 76); Diedhiou (Martin, 76), Wells (Bell, 87).
Subs: Bentley, Hunt, Nagy, Bell, Towler.
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