Devastated Millwall keeper Dave Martin apologises to fans

DAVID MARTIN was left gutted after his last-gasp howler cost Millwall an FA Cup semi-final place.

The Lions were heading to Wembley until keeper Martin spilled Solly March’s 95th minute free-kick into the net to make it 2-2.

The game went on to a penalty shootout, with Martin, 33, seen burying his head in his keeper gloves as if praying to the deity for Brighton players to miss from the spot.

But the visitors eventually won in the shootout prompting the “devastated” shot stopper to send an apologetic message to Lions fans on social media after the game.

He wrote: “Gutted about what happened today and want to apologise to everyone at Millwall, the fans were superb as always and created an unbelievable atmosphere at The Den.

“I’m so sorry I let you down and I will come back stronger.”

Millwall boss Neil Harris admitted his keeper’s mistake was costly, but insisted Martin did not let his team-mates down as he was putting up a strong performance prior to his howler.

He said: “Dave is devastated. I feel for him because he was excellent throughout the game.

“He commanded his box and made some saves, then for the free-kick he made a slight error of judgement and it cost us.

“He came straight in afterwards, held his hands up and said he’d made a mistake and let the boys down.

“But he hasn’t let the boys down. He made an error of judgement that’s all. He is a top pro and one of the nicest men I’ve ever known in football.

The Lions were cruising through this quarter-final tie as Alex Pearce and Aiden O’Brien put them 2-0 up.

But Jurgen Locadia netted on 88 minutes and March struck in injury time as Martin palmed the ball into his net – and Lions defender Jake Cooper then missed the decisive penalty in the shootout.

Brighton’s reward is a semi-final against Manchester City, while Watford will face Wolves in the other tie.