Millwall 1-0 Hereford

LEWIS Grabban scored a late winner for Millwall against a hard-working Hereford United side in torrential rain and snow at The Den on Tuesday to move the Lions back into the automatic promotion spots.

Both sides had been reduced to 10 men by the time Grabban forward surged into the area and fired at visiting keeper Darren Randolph, who could only parry the effort back to Grabban to slot home the simple rebound on 86 minutes.

Millwall had struggled to break down the visitors, who sit second bottom in League One, and their task was made even harder when Jimmy Abdou jumped in with a two-footed challenge on Clint Easton just three minutes after the break.

Referee Keith Woolmer had no hesitation in brandishing a deserved red card and dismissing the French midfielder.

This appeared to spur on the home side, but still their final pass left strikers Neil Harris and Tresor Kandol little to work with, the latter resorting to speculative long range efforts which frustrated the crowd and left Randolph untroubled.

However, former Lion Nick Chadwick picked up two yellow cards within 10 minutes and the teams were again level in numbers with 30 minutes to play.

The increase in space suited Millwall, but despite efforts from substitute David Martin, Grabban, and a diving header from Andy Frampton, it seemed the match was destined for a draw.

That was until Grabban made his late, determined break into the box, sending the home crowd into relieved raptures.

Millwall: Forde, Hackett, Robinson, Whitbread (Frampton 46), Craig, Grabban, Laird, Abdou, Moore (Martin 55), Kandol (Easter 76), Harris. Subs not used: Edwards, Fuseini. Att: 9,071