Football: Staunton strike is all in vain

STEVE STAUNTON is making goalscoring something of a habit, but Coventry were beaten by a late Neil Harris strike.

The veteran full-back had scored two goals in three years, but has now netted twice in a month after his spot-kick against Preston.

Staunton again stepped up on 72 minutes after he had been tripped in the box by Matt Lawrence and fired low and hard into the bottom corner. The goal cancelled out Paul Ifill's close-range effort which had given Millwall the lead nine minutes earlier.

The Coventry defence failed to deal with Tony Craig's long throw and although they managed to block Ifill's first effort, he turned and hooked the ball in from a tight angle.

But just as it looked that Gary McAllister's side would leave The Den with a deserved point, Harris snatched an 85th-minute winner. The striker was given far too much time and space in the box from Lawrence's cross and he picked his spot from just six yards.

There was still time for Lions midfielder Tim Cahill to get a red card following two bookings, but Coventry could not drag themselves level for a second time despite a frantic charge.

The Lions were toothless in the first 45 minutes and their frustration manifested itself as team-mates Cahill and Noel Whelan squared up to each other before captain Dennis Wise forced them to make peace.

Former Coventry player Whelan had been described by City boss McAllister as an underachiever before the game and did little to counter that criticism in the opening period.

However, he improved after the break and only two great saves from Scott Shearer prevented the Millwall striker from finding the net.

McAllister said: "It's very frustrating and no consolation to think that we had 65 per cent of the play. We are all right when we have the ball, but we're finding it hard when people throw hopeful balls into the box.

"I thought Millwall's first goal came against the run of play and for their winner we felt there were two players who were well offside."

MAN OF THE MATCH PAUL IFILL

The only effective Millwall player and most creative on the pitch.

MILLWALL: Warner 6, Lawrence 6, Ward 5, Robinson 5, Craig 5, Livermore 4, Wise 5, Cahill 5, IFILL 7, Peeters 5, Whelan 6.

COVENTRY: Shearer 7, Whing 7, Konjic 6, Shaw 6, Staunton 6, Safri 5, McAllister 6, Jorgensen 6, Morrell 5, Adebola 6, Barrett 6 (Joachim 6).

MANAGERS: McGhee 7; McAllister 6.

REFEREE: P Joslin 6.

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