Livermore injury takes shine off win

Millwall manager Mark McGhee was today getting an injury diagnosis on key midfielder David Livermore who was hurt in last night's battling win at Colchester.

McGhee's side are now four points clear of second-placed Walsall with a game in hand thanks to Paul Ifill's first-half winner at Layer Road.

But McGhee is certain to be without Livermore for Sunday's trip to Swansea after the former Arsenal youngster was forced to come off with a strained calf muscle.

Livermore's injury may keep him out for several weeks and is another blow to the Lions' promotion challenge following the loss of defender Joe Dolan for the rest of the season with a broken leg.

McGhee said: "We don't know for certain how long David will be out. But the fact he needed to come off straight away when he got the injury means we've got to be worried.

"He felt something was wrong with his calf and there's no way he could have carried on because it would only have got worse in the heavy conditions."

McGhee was delighted with the character his side showed in atrocious conditions.

He added: "To win 1-0 away from home is a fantastic result for us because it's not something we've been very good at this season. It's a chance for the defence and the goalkeeper to take the plaudits instead of the centre forwards for once."

McGhee's side will be looking to take another step closer to promotion when they face Swansea on Sunday and he believes the extra day's rest will do them the world of good.

He said: "I'm glad we have an extra day to prepare for the Swansea match because this will have taken a lot out of us."

Colchester will be glad to see the back of Ifill. The winger has scored in his last four games against the Essex side - hitting the winner on three occasions.

He settled the match with a fierce shot in the 20th minute after the Colchester defence had failed to deal with Matt Lawrence's cross.

Colchester were denied by a series of fine saves from former Le Mans goalkeeper Willie Gueret.

When Colchester did get the ball past Gueret there was always someone on the line to block.

Barry Conlon came closest for the home side in the second half, but Robbie Ryan superbly cleared his close-range effort.