Harris sinks Ipswich as Lions maintain their focus

With an FA Cup quarter-final replay at Tranmere on Tuesday and the prospect of a semi-final against Sunderland to follow, there were grounds for thinking Millwall might be distracted from their pursuit of a Nationwide First Division play-off place. The Lions substitute Neil Harris, on after a clash of heads ended Mark McCammon's participation, had little time for such a notion, scoring twice in the South London side's 3-1 win at Ipswich Town.

"When I ask them to focus on the League they do it, when I ask them to focus on the FA Cup they do that too," Millwall's player-manager, Dennis Wise, said. "We were the better side on the day and deserved to win. We scored three good goals and after that we stood strong."

The visitors went ahead on the half-hour when Harris, who had only been on for two minutes, netted from close in. Seven minutes later Harris crossed for Darren Ward to nod in the second. Three minutes into the second half Paul Ifill centred and Harris's header from 14 yards hit the bar, bounced down and the linesman decided the ball had crossed the line.

Darren Bent scored for Ipswich but it made little impression on Millwall, who stay sixth, a point behind West Ham United, the next visitors to the New Den.

After Dean Ashton had given Crewe the lead at Gresty Road, second-placed West Bromwich Albion scored twice in four minutes through Andy Johnson and Lee Hughes to win 2-1 and go level on points with the leaders, Norwich City.

Elsewhere, goalless draws were the order of the day. Third-placed Wigan Athletic were held 0-0 at Bradford City, Reading were similarly impeded at the Madejski Stadium by Stoke City, and Preston North End, were stifled by Gillingham at Deepdale.

Coventry City moved up three places to 10th, only four points off a play-off place, thanks to a comprehensive demolition job on Burnley, Garry McSheffrey scoring twice in the 4-0 home win.

At the bottom, Derby County's relegation battle got some reinforcements last week in the shape of Birmingham City defender Jeff Kenna and the striker Paul Peschisolido, from Sheffield United. The latter's 61st-minute shot was enough to beat Rotherham United 1-0 at Pride Park.

"Paul was outstanding, not only for his goal, but for his overall work rate and commitment," Rams manager George Burley said. "We had a lot of games this season when we've been on top but haven't had a goalscorer to finish things off and that's why I brought Paul in."

Meanwhile, Ronnie Moore, the Millers manager, has signed midfielder Jody Morris, released by Leeds United, until the end of the season.

Walsall kept just above the bottom three when they beat doomed Wimbledon 1-0 at the Bescot Stadium. Paul Merson, back from treatment for addiction problems in the USA, played most of the second half.

In the Second Division, the leaders Plymouth Argyle beat fourth-placed Swindon Town 2-1 and Queens Park Rangers, third, won 4-1 at Hartlepool United, who were replaced in the play-offs by Luton Town, 3-2 winners over Blackpool.