by Matt Slater
JED Wallace scored from a free-kick as Millwall edged out a sloppy Swansea City side to claim all three points at the Liberty Stadium.
This was the Lions’ first competitive away victory in nine games, as they climbed up to tenth in the Championship, with the Swans hanging on to the final play-off place in sixth.
The hosts failed to really test Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, and Gary Rowett’s side took full advantage of their carelessness in front of goal.
The first chance came from Bersant Celina, as he picked the ball up on the halfway line and found Andre Ayew on the left flank. His low drilled cross couldn’t find the outstretching Nathan Dyer in the goal mouth however.
Celina maintained Swansea’s early pressure – once again on the left – as the Kosovan passed his man with ease. His gentle shot was easily saved by Bialkowski.
Milwall began to grow into the game as the first-half wore on.
Ayew’s shot was saved, and sparked a Lions counterattack. Wallace’s cross forced a block from Ben Wilmot and led to a Freddie Woodman save. The resulting corner was wasted.
The away side went close to opening the lead as Connor Mahoney showed a bit of magic to put Jake Bidwell on the floor. Wallace found the ball but saw his effort fly over the bar.
The Swans started the second half much more positively, but still invited pressure from the Lions.
Substitute Kristoffer Peterson was able to spin in the box and found himself one on one with Bialkowski, who saved the shot and saw the ball cleared away.
The south east London outfit continued to put pressure on the Swans’ defence.
Mahlon Romeo’s ball over the top found Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and was brought down by Mike Van Der Hoorn on the edge of the area. The resulting free-kick was curled expertly past Woodman and into the top corner to spark jubilant scenes in the away end.
The goal gave Rowett’s side confidence, and they had the chance to extend their lead through Jiri Skalak, but he saw his timid shot saved in the centre of the goal. Romeo’s resulting shot was blocked.
Swansea pushed hard for a late leveller, as Ben Wilmot’s header found Sam Surridge on the edge of the box. The substitute’s deft flick over the defence found substitute Borja Baston, but his shot was just wide of the post.
Swansea City: Freddie Woodman, Kyle Naughton, Ben Wilmot, Mike Van Der Hoorn, Jake Bidwell, George Byers, Nathan Dyer (Borja Baston 70’), Bersant Celina (Sam Surridge 76’), Wayne Routledge (Kristoffer Peterson 46’), Andre Ayew
Millwall: Bartosz Bialkowski, Shaun Hutchinson, Alex Pearce, Jake Cooper, Mahlon Romeo, Ben Thompson, Shaun Williams, Murray Wallace, Jed Wallace (Tom Bradshaw 90’), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Skalak 76’), Connor Mahoney (Matt Smith 67’)