Video - Millwall 1 Sheffield Utd 0: Blades lack quality as hopes are jolted

Chris Taylor’s second-minute effort was enough for Millwall to win as the Blades could only watch as Barnsley returned into the final play-off spot with a 2-0 victory at Fleetwood, moving above Bradford, who lost at second-placed Wigan.

Millwall continued their own promotion push through that early goal. It came when Steve Morison crossed to Taylor, who finished from close range, having joined the club for a second loan spell in midweek from Blackburn.

Billy Sharp could have levelled when he linked on to Matt Done’s cross, but goalkeeper Jordan Archer caught his header.

Paul Coutts forced Archer into a low near-post save after the break, but Millwall held on to record a win that keeps the Lions fifth, six points off Wigan.

Blades’ manager Nigel Adkins was left to rue his side’s inability to convert possession into goals, leaving them in 12th place.

“We had good spells, we got crosses in and the goalkeeper made a really good save from Billy Sharp,” said Adkins.

“I thought we dominated the second half, but their game management in respect of running the clock down was very good.

“As soon as we got a bit of momentum the game was stopped with either an injury or a delaying tactic of some description.

“We controlled a large chunk of the game, getting in the attacking third. Was the quality there to go and win a game of football? You’d probably say not.”

Millwall: Archer, Webster, Taylor, Beevers, Martin, Romeo, Abdou, Thompson, Ferguson (Upson 90), Morison, Gregory (O’Brien 83). Unused substitutes: Forde, Edwards, Williams, Onyedinma, Nelson.

Sheffield United: Long, Brayford, Baptiste (McEveley 49), Edgar, Basham, Flynn, Hammond, Cuvelier (Coutts 68), Done, Sharp, Sammon (Adams 71). Unused substitutes: Howard, Calvert-Lewin, Whiteman, Kelly.

Referee: O Langford (W Midlands).

Man of the match: Steve Morison.