Pools slumped to a disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Millwall as the Lions took a huge step towards League One survival.

Jay Simpson's neat finish on eleven minutes was enough to settle a scrappy affair at The Vic and Pools never looked likely to stage a comeback.

It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for Danny Wilson's men who couldn't seem to get their game going up front despite their three-pronged attacking system that had worked to good effect in recent weeks.

And while Millwall didn't offer too much bite up front themselves they made what proved to be the decisive breakthrough early as Pools failed to clear their lines. Jem Karacan swung in a left-wing cross as the defence backed off and Jay Simpson stole in to guide a terrific effort past Arran Lee-Barrett who had no chance.

The crowd became more frustrated as the minutes ticked by with Pools behind, and it almost got worse when Simpson got through on goal again moments later only to fire his shot straight at Lee-Barrett.

There were signs that Pools were about to get their act together when some lovely football fed through Andy Monkhouse who finished well but was just offside. The move drew warm applause from the supporters though who clearly saw a recovery on the cards.

Instead, the game got scrappy and the visitors could even have gone in two goals to the good at the break after David Martin shot stung the underside of the cross bar before being cleared to safety.

Ritchie Humphreys replaced Robbie Elliott at the start of the second half and it was the full-back who stormed forward to fire the first effort on goal but dragged his shot wide.

Joel Porter looped a header over the bar from Jamie McCunnie's free-kick, whilst at the other end Lions skipper Paul Robinson saw his near-post header go just the wrong side of the upright.

Perhaps the best chance for Pools to restore parity was when Joel Porter cleverly lifted the ball across the right side of the penalty box but Antony Sweeney's side-footed effort went straight to goalkeeper Rhys Evans.

It was priceless win for Kenny Jackett's Millwall who now sees his side move within touching distance of safety above the League One drop zone, but Wilson will be disappointed his side didn't make them work harder for the points.