Millwall 0 Crystal Palace 1 – Lions end pre-season with defeat against Eagles

BY ALEX GRACE

Millwall wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 defeat against South London rivals Crystal Palace at The Den.

Palace had the first chance of the game on 15 minutes, Jeffrey Schlupp dragging a shot wide of the far post from just outside the box.

Ten minutes later, they went close again. Shaun Hutchinson’s header denied Wilfried Zaha a shot on goal. Ryan Leonard was penalised for a foul on Zaha with Jordan Ayew sending the resulting free-kick into the wall.

Three minutes later Palace took the lead. Zaha’s pace was too much for Alex Pearce and he managed to get his cross into the box which was turned home by Max Meyer from close range.

Palace dominated the rest of the first half, with Millwall struggling to get on to the ball and when they did they were unable to feed their attacking outlets with the likes of Jed Wallace, Mason Bennett and Tom Bradshaw all well-marshalled.

Palace should have doubled their lead on 51 minutes when Schlupp was played through one-on-one with Bartosz Bialkowski, but it was the Poland keeper came out on top.

Hutchinson cleared Ayew’s shot off the line on 58 minutes.

Scott Malone, Conor Mahoney and Matt Smith all went close for the Lions but they were unable to find an equaliser.

PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD