No capital gain for Boro

A couple of goals during a ten-minute spell in the first-half certainly did Midddlesbrough no favours as they went down to a 3-1 defeat in the capital against Millwall.

Liam Trotter and Andy Keogh appeared to put the hosts well in charge but Marvin Emnes replied from the penalty spot just before the interval.

However, Keogh added his second of the afternoon during the closing moments to secure maximum points for the home side.

The visitors earlier recalled their former England defender Jonathan Woodgate as skipper and recent signing Ishmael Miller was also included. Mustapha Carayol missed out with a slight knee problem.

Home striker Keogh volleyed straight at Jason Steele early on while Miller couldn't find enough venom in his shot to seriously trouble Maik Taylor at the other end.

Millwall went close as Keogh rose to meet a James Henry cross but was superbly denied by Steele before the follow-up was headed against the post.

But it was Trotter giving them an early advantage as he volleyed high into the net from 25-yards midway through the opening half.

Ten minutes later Henry struck a second goal after his original effort had again come back off the woodwork.

Dutch striker Emnes had been a recent target for Premier League Swansea City but celebrated remaining at Boro by converting a 43rd minute penalty after George Friend was brought down by Jimmy Abdou.

Both Miller and Grant Leadbitter then tried their luck from distance but goalkeeper Taylor safely gathered.

Merouane Zemmama and Leadbitter each had shots charged down following the interval while Keogh badly miskicked and Karleigh Osborne were blocked in reply.

Boro were still chasing an equaliser as Leadbitter and Emnes both missed the target before Josh Wright dragged wide in reply.

However, Millwall finally settled the issue when Keogh turned in Scott Malone's late cross from close-range while Emnes fired over for the visitors after being found by substitute Emmanuel Ledesma.

Millwall: M. Taylor, Dunne, Lowry, Osborne, Malone, Wright, Trotter, Henry (Feeney 83), Abdou, Henderson (Batt 46), Keogh

subs (unused): Forde, Shittu, Racon, C. Taylor, Marquis

Goals: Trotter (25), Keogh (35, 86)

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Woodgate, Friend, Zemmama (Ledesma 55) , Leadbitter, McEachran, Haroun (Smallwood 62 ), Emnes, Miller (L. Williams 73)

subs (unused): Ripley, McManus, Reach, Arca

Goals: Emnes (43 pen)

Ref: Graham

Att: 9,576

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