Paul Merson’s Millwall feedback reside on Sky Sports age terribly
Paul Merson was left red-faced on Sky Sports after Millwall missed out on a spot within the Championship play-offs following their defeat by the hands of Blackburn Rovers on a riveting closing day. The Lions had began the day in sixth however dropped to eighth after Ben Brereton Diaz struck late to assert all three factors for the guests, with Sunderland finally clinching the ultimate play-off spot due to a cushty win over Preston North End.
Millwall made the proper begin to their afternoon when Duncan Watmore discovered the again of the online after simply eight minutes earlier than the south-east Londoners have been shortly pegged again by a purpose from Blackburn defender Scott Wharton. The hosts went on to retake the lead as Watmore doubled his tally earlier than Oliver Burke went on to ship The Den into raptures by including a 3rd within the thirty ninth minute.
Merson, who was overlaying the sport on Gillette Labs Soccer Special, was then moved to prematurely declare that Millwall had all however sealed their place within the play-offs regardless of the potential for issues to go unsuitable for them within the second half.
“It’s 3-1 and Millwall are on their way into the play-offs, Jeff, surely,” screamed Merson. “The ball comes out to Burke on the outside and it’s a bad mistake [from Blackburn to give away possession]. He gets into the box and drills it into the bottom corner and what a couple of minutes that is from Millwall, they’re on their way.”
JUST IN: Eddie Howe red-faced as Arsenal comments come back to haunt Newcastle
Merson’s keen evaluation of Millwall’s play-off hopes later went up in smoke as Joe Rankin-Costello pulled one again for Blackburn simply after the break earlier than two objectives from Brereton Diaz confirmed a final-day win for Rovers, a consequence which condemned each golf equipment to a different season within the Championship. The guests solely missed out on the play-offs on purpose distinction, with Sunderland ending on the identical factors however making it into sixth place on account of their superiority in that division.
The Black Cats made mild work of Preston to provide themselves a combating probability of returning to the Premier League for the primary time since 2017, with Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke scoring with out reply to make sure a significant win for Tony Mowbray’s facet.
Mowbray spoke of his satisfaction after the full-time whistle at Deepdale, with Sunderland set to enter the lottery of the play-offs simply 12 months after lastly getting out of League One on the fourth try final season.
“I’m delighted for the supporters,” he beamed. “It’s an incredible scenario to see the people of Sunderland enjoying football so much, coming in their huge numbers. It’s going to be awesome at the weekend at the Stadium of Light. We have to find another performance and we have to prepare the rest of the week and be ready for Luton.”
Elsewhere within the Championship, there was additionally heartbreak on the ultimate day for West Bromwich Albion, who have been denied a play-off place of their very own after dropping to an injury-time purpose at Swansea City. Joel Piroe popped up with the products within the 93rd minute for the Welsh facet to seal a powerful 3-2 win over the Baggies regardless of the hosts going behind twice on the Swansea.com Stadium.
Want the most recent Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our Facebook group by clicking here.