Millwall 1 Bristol City 1 – Lions close gap on play-offs as Matt Smith scores ninth of the campaign

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Matt Smith scored his ninth goal of the season as Millwall cut the gap to the Championship play-offs to five points.

Bristol City took the lead on 10 minutes as Pedro Pereira stroked home from the edge of the box after Jake Cooper could only block Jay Dasilva’s shot.

The Lions levelled things up on 51 minutes. Connor Mahoney’s corner was whipped almost under the crossbar and Smith prodded home from virtually on the line.

Millwall’s tempo and drive in the second period was a vast improvement as the hosts went a bit more direct.

But their intensity waned a little as the half went on – no surprise after the way they had upped their performance levels after the restart.

The Lions seemed to be denied a penalty in the closing stages as Adam Nagy brought down Jayson Molumby but referee Andy Davies ignored the appeals. The fact Millwall boss Gary Rowett headed straight for fourth official Neil Hair suggested that he also felt it was a spot kick.