Millwall see off Latics

MILLWALL 3, ATHLETIC 0

ATHLETIC fell to a comprehensive defeat as their South London hosts secured a play-off spot.

John Sheridan's men fell behind early on at the New Den to a Byron Webster header and after Shane Ferguson had doubled the lead, Webster struck in the second half to make it three.

Already safe from relegation, Athletic were not sharp enough in both boxes and had a great chance at 2-0 down, when Jonathan Forte fired a volley at Jordan Archer when unmarked only six yards out.

The afternoon was summed up when substitute Dominic Poleon hammered way over the bar from only three yards out, with an open goal to aim at.

Millwall scored in the fifth minute, when ex-Athletic winger Chris Taylor's outswinging corner kick was headed powerfully past a group of bodies and into the net by centre-back Webster.

Athletic came back into the goal but without testing Lions goalkeeper Archer, with efforts from Cameron Dummigan and Jonathan Forte blocked.

Neil Harris's side, who almost netted when Steve Morison's 50-yard effort landed on the roof of Joel Coleman's goal, hit the top of the crossbar through Joe Martin's free-kick before adding a second.

Morison's low cross from the right was flicked by Aiden O'Brien and Ferguson arrived at the far post to knock into an empty goal.

Forte should have halved the arrears with a point-blank effort he directed straight at Archer early in the second half and moments later the same player flshed a shot over the top from the left of the box.

Webster nodded in a second from a free-kick Athletic failed to deal with, O'Brien nodding into the centre-back's path for a simple finish.

Dummigan cleared a Martin effort from a corner off the line before Sheridan threw on Poleon and Mike Jones to try to add threat in the final third.

Poleon fluffed his lines, before on the full-time whistle Millwall fans invaded the pitch in an incident in which Athletic defender Anthony Gerrard appeared to be hit in the face..