Soccer

Shittu plays a captain’s role to help Millwall end Blackburn’s hopes of FA Cup glory

First-half goal seals his side’s semi-final place

Millwall captain Danny Shittu celebrates his side’s victory over Blackburn Rovers in last night’s sixth round replay at Ewood Park. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Millwall captain Danny Shittu celebrates his side’s victory over Blackburn Rovers in last night’s sixth round replay at Ewood Park. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Thu Mar 14 2013 - 01:11

Millwall captain Danny Shittu (above) headed his side into a semi-final against Wigan as Blackburn’s season took another dismal turn at Ewood Park last night.

Shittu, whose only other goal this season came in the Lions’ fourth-round triumph over Aston Villa, produced a thumping header as he converted Chris Taylor’s 43rd minute corner to settle the contest.

As at the weekend, Blackburn sorely lacked creativity and their expensive strike force of Jordan Rhodes and Leon Best drew a blank once more, although the latter had a second-half shot superbly cleared off the line by Shane Lowry.

Millwall now face a rematch of their 1999 Wembley defeat to Wigan in the Football League Trophy final, while results on Saturday could send Rovers into Sunday’s east Lancashire derby against Burnley just three points above the relegation zone.