Blackburn Rovers show their mettle with victory at Millwall

Jon Dahl Tomason's side have now won a hat-trick of games and came from a goal down at The Den to do so on Tuesday night. It was a terrible start for Rovers as they went behind in the third minute.

Wes Harding rose highest to head in after Rovers failed to clear their lines from a free-kick. The header squirmed past Leopold Wahlstedt from close range, who will be disappointed not to keep it out.

Fortunately, Rovers withstood some early pressure and got themselves level through Joe Rankin-Costello. The midfielder latched on to a cutback from Callum Brittain and finished from 15 yards, thanks to some generous goalkeeping from Bartosz Bialkowski.

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The visitors grew into that game after drawing level and then got their noses ahead in the second half. A brilliant switch from James Hill found Brittain in achres of space and he drove at the defence, cut inside, and bent a brilliant shot into the top corner.

Rovers could've made the win more comfortable but were denied by Bialkowski, who made up for his early mistake. Substitute Andrew Moran and then Sam Szmodics were denied when they could have wrapped the game up.

Milwall threw the metaphorical kitchen sink at Rovers in the closing stages but they survived the barrage. 

Tomasson opted for an unchanged team at The Den having tasted victory at the weekend against Cardiff City. The bench was boosted by the return of Scott Wharton and Andrew Moran, though, replacing Pat Gamble and the injured Lewis Travis.

It meant Rovers' bench had a little more bulk than in previous weeks. With Moran, Adam Wharton, Dilan Markanday, Semir Telalovic and Niall Ennis in reserve, Tomasson had game-changing options ready to be called upon.

Of course, Rovers have fond memories of their last trip to Millwall, having come back in dramatic fashion to win 4-3 on the final day of the season. Although that didn't result in a play-off place, the nature of the comeback still lives long in the memory.

On that, Rovers succumbed to an early goal and struggled to cope with the early aerial bombardment from the hosts. So when Millwall took the lead from a set-piece after only three minutes, it was like Deja vu.

A deep free-kick was hoisted into the box and Rovers passed up two opportunities to clear their lines. The ball eventually flicked up for Harding to head at goal and the ball squirmed past Wahlstedt and into the net.

It was a disappointing moment for the goalkeeper, who has done well since replacing Aynsley Pears in goal. The header was aimed straight at him, albeit from close range, and he'll be disappointed not to have kept it out.

With the crowd up from that early goal, Rovers had to weather the storm. They rallied and began to build their way into the game but loose passes and stray balls kept the Lions on the front foot.

Millwall thought they should've had a penalty when the lively Aidomo Emwakhu went down in the area under a challenge from James Hill but referee Andy Davies waved away the claims.

As the half wore on and the crowd subdued, Rovers began to find some control. Playing out from the back, they started to play their way up the pitch and looked particularly dangerous down their right, as they did against Cardiff.

It was little surprise that avenue led to the equaliser, then. James Hill drove forward from right-back, played it to Brittain and exchanged passes with Rankin-Costello before cutting the ball back to the onrushing midfielder.

His shot from 15 yards took a few deflections on the way and somehow found its way past Bialkowski, who like Wahlstedt, should've saved it. It squirmed past him and Rovers were level, with Rankin-Costello scoring his second of the season in a matter of days.

Rovers were dealt a blow at the break with Dom Hyam forced off through injury. The defender challenged for a ball in the first half came off second best and wasn't moving freely for most of the first half.

Tomasson's side made a bright start to the second half and threatened early on. A brilliant backheel from Rankin-Costello found Brittain in the box but his cross was hacked clear with substitute Andrew Moran lurking at the back post.

That was a warning of what was to come as Rovers got themselves ahead with a brilliant goal. The ball was switched out to Brittain by Hill as Rovers counter-attacked and he drove at the defence, cut inside and curled a brilliant strike into the back of the net.

Rovers had Millwall on the ropes with the home crowd growing restless. Now was the time to finish them off but chances went begging.

Moran should've made it 3-1 after he was played in by Rankin-Costello but his effort was saved by Bialkowski after he cut inside. The rebound was then blocked from Sam Szmodics before the Millwall goalkeeper was called into action again to keep it at 2-1.

After that scare, Millwall got their second win and a barrage of pressure followed. Jake Cooper headed wide from a floated cross and the defence came under siege, with blocks and last-minute tackles as players hurled themselves at the ball to keep the lead intact.

That was almost surrendered from another corner, with Romain Esse getting first contact at the front post and flicking it for Wes Harding, who just couldn't get there in time to turn the ball in. It was a let-off for Rovers.

As the game wore on, more space opened up for Rovers on the counter-attack and they had another opportunity to wrap the game up. Szmodics' strike from inside the box was somehow tipped onto the bar by Bialkowski, who more than atoned for his earlier mistakes with that wonderful stop.

Despite more pressure from Millwall, that proved to be the last serious piece of goal-mouth action, leaving Rovers heading back down the M1 with all three points.

The result lifts them to tenth in the table, with half of the Championship set to play on Wednesday night too.