Millwall 2–1 Aston Villa: Marquis’ strike dumps Villans out of the FA Cup

Millwall have dumped Aston Villa out of the FA Cup in the fourth round as John Marquis’ late strike gave the Championship side a 2-1 victory at the New Den.

The result ends a dreadful week for Paul Lambert and his charges who were sent crashing out of the League Cup semi-finals by League Two Bradford City 4-2 on aggregate on Tuesday.

And pressure will now be increasing on the Scottish manager who joined the club in the summer from Norwich, as they continue to struggle in the Premier League.

An early effort from James Henry saw Millwall go close but it was Aston Villa who took the lead in south London.

After 22 minutes Andreas Weimann broke on the counter attack and, when he’d ghosted past his man, he fed Darren Bent who saw his scuffed strike trickle into the back of the net.

Their advantage, though, only lasted five minutes as the dominating figure of Danny Shittu found himself free in the penalty area and he headed home a corner to equalise.

An ambitious long range shot from Adam Smith landed straight into Shay Given’s arms but the veteran Irishman was troubled by most balls deep into his box as Millwall attempted to make the most of the Villans’ frailties.

Given’s compatriot and opposite number, David Forde, fisted away Barry Bannan’s strike half-way through the second period as both sides failed to find another gear.

But in the game’s dying embers there was to be a winner as Marquis, in the 89th minute, headed home into an empty net from close range after his first effort bounced back off the crossbar.