Adam Armstrong’s delayed late strike gave Blackburn a 2-1 win over Milwaukee.
It seemed almost certain that the two well-matched teams would cancel after Scott Malone’s lightning strike nine minutes after Harvey Elliott’s curling effort provided for the Rovers in the 25th minute.
The Lions thought they had done enough to be the subject of a tough fight, but Armstrong took it to Season 14 to get his championship season, when his shot got net in the first minute of stoppage time.
The Rovers have won three on the spin for the first time since November 2019 and have been within the top six, while Millwall’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end, although they have won seven matches without a win.
Injury deprived Tony Moubre of Scott Wharton and Barry Douglas, although fit-den Daniel Ayala returned. Shoulder injury denied Jack Cooper for the Lions.
In-form Armstrong gave a quick start to the welling run, when he put himself in a nice low volley before the ball fell to Elliott, which was well done by goalkeeper Bartoz Bialokowski.
The game was tight in the opening quarters but something particularly broke the barrier after 25 minutes as Armstrong’s full-weight ball was found by Elliott on the right and Milwaukee’s 17-year-old opened his body before skillfully twisting a shot from behind. And in the far corner.
Milwaukee rallied and Jade Valace saw an attempt in a deeply distressing way. He joined 11 minutes after the break as the Lions were equally deserving. His rising run found Malone on the left and he aimed a side foot shot into the top corner.
Elliott went close before the break but couldn’t get any touch on Armstrong’s inviting ball and soon John Daddy Bodverson found Ayla’s health, but his turn and shot escaped Thomas Kuminski’s footsteps.
The rovers got in the way as the game wore on. Substituted tireless Dolla found himself out of Milwaukee defense when Bilkows whiskey, and Armstrong made room for moments after the shot, but should have done better.
Looks like the waste will be shared, Rovers broke Milwaukee’s heart in the first minute of added time.
Stuart Downing was the architect, the engineer was weaving space, and when his shot was blocked, the league’s leading shooter Armstrong reacted quickly, breaking a 12-yard shot outside of Bylovsky by deflection.
There was still time for Tom Bradshaw to see the shot blocked and in the dying seconds Milwaukee was convinced that Rovers should handball the ball to him but the referee did not agree.
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