Mihailo Ivanovic strikes at the death to halt Blackburn’s winning run

Mihailo Ivanovic headed in a stoppage-time winner for Millwall as they recorded a much-needed 1-0 victory over Championship high-flyers Blackburn.

Under the caretaker charge of David Livermore, this was the Lions’ first win in seven games and ended a run of three matches without scoring under former manager Neil Harris.

Blackburn had come to the Den off the back of six straight victories that had catapulted them into the play-off places and had not conceded in five games, but returned to Lancashire empty-handed after a disappointing display.

While the opening stages lacked quality, Millwall’s brighter moments were coming whenever Aidomo Emakhu got on the ball down the left wing, as the 21-year-old gave Joe Rankin-Costello a tough start to the afternoon.

However, it took 23 minutes for either side to have an actual sight at goal as Blackburn defender Dominic Hyam’s header deflected wide off team-mate Yuki Ohashi from Todd Cantwell’s corner.

The Lions’ first real opening came in the 34th minute when George Saville’s effort was pushed away by Aynsley Pears before Macaulay Langstaff put the follow-up into the side netting from a tricky angle.

That began a good spell from the hosts as Pears was called into action again to keep out Femi Azeez’s shot before Rankin-Costello had to clear Japhet Tanganga’s slightly scuffed rebound.

It did not bring a breakthrough, however, as the two teams went into half-time still deadlocked.

That looked set to change eight minutes into the second half when Blackburn winger Amario Cozier-Duberry looked to have a clear run from his own half into the Millwall area, but Azeez chased back to make a brilliant last-ditch challenge.

Blackburn substitute Ryan Hedges was straight into the action as he played a good ball across for Andreas Wiemann, who planted his effort straight at Lukas Jensen – his first save of the match – in the 77th minute.

Having used up their three substitution windows, Rovers were made to finish with 10 players after captain Lewis Travis limped off with six minutes left.

Millwall pressed to take advantage in the time that was left, with Langstaff heading Joe Bryan’s cross over and Pears making a good save to keep out Saville’s powerful effort.

But in the sixth minute of stoppage time, the Lions finally found a route to goal as substitute Ivanovic headed in Ryan Leonard’s cross to break Blackburn’s run of over nine hours without conceding.