Early Wallace strike sees Lions progress to FA Cup quarter-finals at Dons’ expense
Wallace headed home in the sixth minute of the South London derby as Wally Downes' fairytale run came to an end
FOR the second time in three years, Millwall are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
It was not exactly a classic but Murray Wallace’s fifth minute header was enough for Neil Harris side.
This was the battle between the respective fourth round conquerors of West Ham and Everton.
A team looking doomed at the bottom of League One against one struggling in the Championship.
So maybe it was not a surprise this was a hard-fought scrap with very little separating the two.
That header from Wallace – the Everton matchwinner – proved to be enough.
Wimbledon started strongly and could have scored after a couple of minutes but Joe Pigott turned Shane McLoughlin’s cross against the post.
And they were left to curse the woodwork when Ryan Leonard’s cross was met with a powerful header from the unmarked Murray Wallace who had timed his run expertly.
Yet Millwall still had a few nervous moments, keeper Jordan Archer struggled with his distribution and the otherwise impressive Michael Folivi miscued a shot when in a decent position.
A cross from Toby Sibbick was too high for Deji Oshilaja to control properly and he headed over.
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At half-time, Wimbledon boss Wally Downes brought on midfielder Andy Barcham for forward Tyler Garratt in a tactical reshuffle and there was still not much in it.
Aiden O’Brien forced a decent enough save from home keeper Aaron Ramsdale in a rare Millwall attack .
Wimbledon appealed for a penalty but there was an offside while home keeper Ramsdale made further saves from Shaun Williams and Ryan Leonard.