By Jr
December 11 2004

Matches against Brighton and Hove Albion are generally tight, so a 2-0 Millwall win at home to the Seagulls was warmly welcomed by the locals. After the three defeats on the spin, two victories on the trot was just what the doctor ordered for Lions fans. Millwall 2 Brighton 0 11-12-04

Matches against Brighton and Hove Albion are generally tight, so a 2-0 Millwall win at home to the Seagulls was warmly welcomed by the locals.

After the three defeats on the spin, two victories on the trot was just what the doctor ordered for Lions fans.

It began at Wolves.

Scott Dobie scored his first goal for his new employers in midweek, converting Barry Hayles’ cross to put Millwall ahead.

The home side struck back from the spot, thanks to Kevin Cooper’s penalty - harshly awarded following Darren Ward’s alleged handball.

Danny Dichio - returning from injury to the starting line up - scored the winner with a side foot effort from another Hayles’ cross to send the Lions home with a victory from Molineux for the first time since the 1928-29 season.

Dennis Wise’s Lions have a habit of succeeding against the odds, but a fired-up yet lowly side like Brighton were expected to pose a greater threat to Millwall.

Dobie’s second goal in a week put paid to that kind of pessimism.

Dichio’s alert thinking saw him play a quick free kick to Alan Dunne, whose expert pass freed Dobie.

The half a million pound man outpaced England Under 21 international left back Dan Harding before steering his low effort past the advancing goalkeeper to put Millwall in front.

Substitute Paul Ifill put the result beyond doubt with a superb left foot shot, after cutting inside the hapless Harding from the right.

Former Millwall boss Mark McGhee, now Brighton manager, laid the blame for the defeat squarely at Harding’s feet, saying that both goals were “diabolical” defensively.

Naturally, Wise was the happier of the two managers: “"It was a good performance by the boys. It's always difficult against Brighton with the way they play.

"They play five across midfield, and we needed the first goal. It was a good goal, and I'm very happy for Scott to get his first goal in front of our punters.

"It was a lovely ball from Alan Dunne and a great finish from Scott Dobie - that's why I brought him here."

Wise acknowledged that Brighton came out with all guns blazing early in the second half, until Ifill put the game to bed.

He said: "We weathered the storm early on in the second half and then got a fantastic second through Paul Ifill.

"We are nestled in there near the play-offs - but we have got to keep going and make sure we are in April."

Brighton had a chance to reduce the 2-0 deficit from the spot, when Mark Phillips was harshly adjudged to have fouled substitute Leon Knight from the spot.

The diminutive striker dusted himself off to place his penalty to Andy Marshall’s left, but the former Ipswich keeper produced a sublime save to keep Brighton at bay.

A trip to Leeds United is next up (on Sunday afternoon kick off 3pm) for the resurgent Lions, who will need to show equal amount of resilience and poise to return to south London with three points.