MILLWALL 0

ROVERS 2

(Nuttall, 86) (Armstrong, 87)

Adam Armstrong make a blistering impact off the bench as Rovers claimed a first away win since October at Millwall.

Armstrong replaced Bradley Dack with 16 minutes to go in what was a desperately poor game on a poor surface at The New Den.

But he had the impact Tony Mowbray was hoping for, setting up the first for Joe Nuttall with good work down the left.

And it was from that channel that he collected the ball from Elliott Bennett to curl home a goal of his own for Rovers’ second.

The Rovers team showed three changes, with recalls for Jack Rodwell, Harrison Reed and only a second league start of the season for Joe Nuttall in attack.

Captain Charlie Mulgrew missed out with a hamstring, while Danny Graham and Adam Armstrong dropped to the bench. Derrick Williams wasn’t involved in the 18 having picked up a calf injury.

The hosts made three changes themselves, but were forced in to a substitution in just the second minute, as Steve Morison replaced Tom Elliott after he suffered a shoulder problem when challenging for the high ball.

There was little to report in the opening quarter at either end of the pitch. Neither goalkeeper was unduly troubled, a kick from David Raya through to opposite number Jordan Archer somewhat summed up the opening to the game.

Indeed, a change of referee as fourth official Gavin Ward replaced Robert Jones was the biggest talking point of the game in the early stages.

The clock without a shot at goal from either side continued to tick towards half time, with the first corner not coming until seven minutes before the break.

From that came the first attempt at goal, with Jake Cooper winning the right wing delivery, but not with enough pace to trouble Raya who watched it well wide.

But the half time whistle was more relief than anything, in a game which saw neither side manage a shot on goal, while Rovers failed to even win a corner.

They made a switch at the break, with their own defender on the bench, Ryan Nyambe, replacing Corry Evans as Elliott Bennett moved further forward and Harrison Reed switching centrally.

Millwall were looking to get the ball wide and swing in crosses, as Jed Wallace did five minutes after the re-start, but Aiden O’Brien could only guide it wide of Raya’s left-hand post.

Strike partner Morison then was found by a Ferguson cross, but his deep header was out of reach of O’Brien who couldn’t hook it goalwards.

The home fans were trying to stir their side as the hour mark approached and they were almost rewarded with a goal from their first shot on target of the night. Ryan Leonard took aim from distance, forcing Raya to save down low to his right before Ferguson was flagged for offside.

Rovers responded with a change, and an attacking one at that, as Danny Graham came on for Conway. They soon earned their first corner from which Rodwell glanced a Reed corner goalwards, but over the bar.

The visitors may have sensed an opportunity, with a strong of free kicks in the Millwall defensive third, but failed to make the most of them without the quality of Mulgrew’s delivery.

Millwall sent on top scorer Lee Gregory, while Rovers brought on Adam Armstrong as their last change on what continued to be a tough night for the respective attacks.

Gregory nearly created the opening goal with 13 minutes to go, teeing up full back Mahlon Romeo, but his shot was too close to Raya who held on.

And two goals in as many minutes sealed the game for Rovers. Travis was at the heart of both, his driving run and pass fed Armstrong whose cross was bundled in by Nuttall.

Then, after winning the ball in midfield, Bennett played in Armstrong who did the rest, to give Rovers a first away win since October and a first clean sheet in two months.

Millwall: Archer, Meredith, Hutchinson, Cooper, Wallace, Ferguson, Romeo, Tunnicliffe, Elliott (Morison, 2), O'Brien (Gregory, 68), Leonard

Subs: Martin, Thompson, Pearce, Wallace

Rovers: Raya, Bennett, Rodwell, Lenihan, Bell, Travis, Evans (Nyambe, 46), Reed, Dack (Armstrong, 74), Conway (Graham, 64), Nuttall

Subs: Leutwiler, Rothwell, Brereton, Butterworth