Football: Ifill is an eyeful for the Lions

PAUL IFILL destroyed Burnley to keep the Lions' strong challenge on both fronts well and truly alive.

Ifill scored one and made the second to extend high- flying Millwall's tally to 17 points from their last seven games - just one week before they face Tranmere in the FA Cup quarter-final.

But Millwall also had on-loan keeper Andy Marshall to thank for getting their second win over Burnley in the space of a fortnight.

There was no love lost between these two sides following Millwall's victory in the FA Cup fifth round.

Clarets left-back Mo Camara was booed from the first minute to the last due to the fall-out from the Cup clash, and Robbie Ryan and Lee Roche were rightly booked for early challenges.

Stan Ternent's side, with no wins from their last 13 away games, looked more like the promotion contenders at the start.

But Ifill put Millwall in front from their first attack on 12 minutes.

He escaped the offside trap to run onto Peter Sweeney's ball, round keeper Brian Jensen and roll the ball into an empty net.

Burnley had every right to feel aggrieved for falling behind, as only Marshall stood in their way in the opening ten minutes.

Marshall had to be at his very best to block Alan Moore's shot from close range, then got a strong hand to Ian Moore's low shot.

Bradley Orr had his head in his hands when Marshall flew himself across goal to tip his speculative 25-yarder out for a corner.

The Ipswich loan star came to his current side's rescue again when he pulled off a brilliant double save from close range to deny Alan Moore and Robbie Blake.

Burnley had their own keeper to thank for going in at half-time just one goal down as he tipped Tim Cahill's header over the bar.

But there was nothing he could do after the restart as Millwall came tearing out to wrap up the points.

Ifill got to the byline running onto Dennis Wise's clearance and put in a superb ball to the back post for Sweeney to fire home.MAN OF THE MATCH ANDY MARSHALL

Stunning saves frustrated Burnley.

MILLWALL: MARSHALL 8; Muscat 6, Lawrence 6, Ward 6, Ryan 6; Cahill 7, Wise 7, Elliott 5, Sweeney 6; Ifill 7 (McCammon 5), Harris 6.

BURNLEY: Jensen 7; Roche 6 (West 4), May 6, McGregor 6, Camara 6; Little 5 (Chadwick 5), Wood 6, Orr 6, A Moore A 6 (Branch 5); I Moore 7, Blake 7.

MANAGERS: Wise 7, Ternent 6.

REFEREE: A Butler 5.

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