Cheltenham Town slipped to another Coca-Cola League One defeat this evening as play-off chasing Millwall became the latest team to take three points from Whaddon Road.

The result made it six consecutive defeats for the Robins and 13 games without a win.

However, it was yet another occasion on which it was difficult to explain just how Cheltenham lost the game. Leading 1-0 at half-time they had played some confident football with Marley Watkins and John Finnigan the stand out players. Defensively the team looked solid and well organised and Scott Brown in goal was rarely troubled.

The turning point once again came with a crucial decision that swung the contest the way of the opposition. With 50 minutes played Millwall danger man James Henry skirted away down the right and delivered a driven cross that hit left-back Lee Ridley. The linesman flagged for a penalty that Henry himself put away and from that point on the confidence and inspiration sapped away from the Cheltenham team.

Henry conjured up another piece of inspiration 10 minutes later to create the second goal for substitute Ashley Grimes and that was pretty much that. A subdued crowd and a subdued Cheltenham performance characterised the closing minutes and the score was given a rather distorted look in the final minute when Millwall claimed a third goal on the counter-attack.

TEAM NEWS: Cheltenham Town manager Martin Allen was forced to make five changes to his starting line-up. Out went Alan Wright (calf injury), Michael Townsend (hamstring), Michail Antonio (ankle), Alex Russell (ankle) and Lloyd Owusu, who dropped down to the bench. In came Shane Duff, David Bird, Lee Ridley, Marley Watkins (for his full first team debut) and Elvis Hammond. New loan signing Ashley Hammond from Wolves was named on the bench. Cheltenham lined up with five in midfield and Hammond as a lone striker with Ian Westlake playing just off him. Watkins and Nicholas Bignall filled the wide midfield positions.

4th minute: Westlake, who had ventured to the edge of the area for a long throw, had the first chance of the game with a firm shot that Millwall goalkeeper David Forde turned aside for a corner.

5: On-loan striker Vincent Pericard, who played at Whaddon Road earlier in the season for Stoke City, responded for Millwall with a shot just wide of goal from the edge of the area.

8: Millwall midfielder Jimmy Abdou made a strong run through the middle but his shot from distance cleared the crossbar.

10: Defender Diallo got into the thick of the action when he met a David Bird corner with a firm header that Forde touched onto the top of the crossbar.

Cheltenham competed well for the next few minutes and defended efficiently against whatever Millwall could throw at them. At the other end Elvis Hammond, playing as a lone striker, was sometimes lacking in support, although his pace provided a useful outlet to relieve pressure.

27: The first chance for several minutes fell to John Finnigan when a corner was half cleared to him on the edge of the box, the Cheltenham captain volleying wide of the target.

30 OWN GOAL: Cheltenham were handed the lead when young Marley Watkins delivered a superb cross from the right-hand side and defender Richard DUffy, chasing back and facing his own goal, thumped the ball into his own net from close range.

45: Millwall had rarely threatened the Cheltenham goal in the first half, although with the clock ticking towards half-time winger James Henry delivered a low cross that striker Izale McLeod stretched for but was unable to meet. Shortly afterwards, Pericard had Millwall's first shot on target that Brown got down to hold comfortably.

45+1 BOOKING: Pericard cautioned for deliberate handball.

HALF TIME: 1-0

46 DOUBLE SUBSTITION: Millwall manager Kenny Jackett made two changes with Marc Laird and Ashley Grimes replacing Adam Bolder and Izale McLeod.

47: Bignall delivered a good cross from the left and Watkins, arriving at the far post, headed only just wide.

50 PENALTY: Millwall winger James Henry sprinted down the right and fired over a cross that hit Lee Ridley on the arm. Referee Scott Mathieson originally waved away the penalty claims but assistant referee Nick Hobbis flagged for a spot kick. Henry took the kick himself, sending Brown the wrong way with a cool finish.

60 GOAL: More good play from Henry took him down the right flank at pace and his driven cross was touched in at the near post by substitute Ashley Grimes. A goal made to look simple by some excellent wing play.

65 BOOKING: John Finnigan yellow carded for a foul on Jimmy Abdou.

66 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Lloyd Owusu and Ashley Vincent were sent on as twin strikers to form a 4-4-2 shape in place of Finnigan and Hammond.

70: Henry knocked a useful ball down the inside left channel for Grimes. His lob shot beat Brown but Shane Duff managed to get back and head off the line.

72: Pericard crossed from wide on the right and defender Andy Frampton saw a header saved by Brown.

75 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Pericard was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Neil Harris for Millwall. For Cheltenham new loan signing from Wolves Ashley Hemmings replaced Nicholas Bignall.

79: Harris was quickly into the action, cutting inside from the right and hitting a firm shot that Brown got across to save.

90 GOAL: Two substitutes combined in the final minute of normal time when Millwall counter-attacked down the left as the Cheltenham players struggled to get back in position. Grimes found plenty of space to roll the ball across for Laird to direct a low, side foot shot beyond Brown.

FULL TIME: 1-3

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-5-1): Brown; Westwood, Diallo, Duff, Ridley; Watkins, Finnigan (c) (Owusu 66), Westlake, Bird, Bignall (Hemmings 75); Hammond (Vincent 66). Other subs: Puddy (Gk), Gallinagh.

MILLWALL (4-4-2): Forde; Duffy, Craig, Whitbread, Frampton; Henry, Abdou, Bolder (Laird 46), Martin; McLeod (Grimes 46), Pericard (Harris 75). Other subs: Pidgeley (Gk), Barron

REFEREE: S.W.Mathieson (Cheshire)

ATTENDANCE: 2,942 (336 from Millwall)