MILLWALL’S winning run is over after an energetic performance was undone by defensive lapses against Middlesbrough.
The Lions had built up a head of steam in the league over the festive period and had won their last three and kept four clean sheets in a row.
Their performance today reflected a side that had found some confidence as they dominated the early stages of the game and took the lead through a spectacular Joe Bryan effort.
But Joe Edwards’ side dropped the ball at the back at crucial times and conceded goals in either half from Lukas Engel and Isaiah Jones.
And then with Millwall huffing and puffing as they tried to find the equaliser, Boro struck in stoppage time through Marcus Forss to wrap up the points.
It’s the second week running where Millwall have shown positive signs but been on the receiving end of defeats following last week’s 3-2 loss against Leicester.
The Foxes had to show moments of quality to get their win but you were left with the impression that Boro should never have had that opportunity having been smothered in the early stages of the game.
Middlesbrough’s slow start was perhaps inevitable given their exhausting midweek win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, and the fact the game had to be delayed after they turned up late due to traffic.
After the 3.15pm start, it would be a dominant and rampant opening half an hour for Millwall who set their stall out by winning a corner inside the opening 15 seconds.
From then, the hosts attacked with purpose and pace, had Boro constantly on the retreat and fed on the energy generated by the crowd.
Plenty of players can be pleased with that opening stint of the game, including Ryan Longman who was a constant menace down the right, Billy Mitchell who combined well with George Honeyman to turn the ball over frequently and Bryan who played with so much freedom down the left.
Zian Flemming was involved with so much of what Millwall did well going forward and would grab an assist when Millwall’s early pressure paid off after 10 minutes.
Longman drove to the byline, dinked a ball in but it was cleared from the six-yard box. But the header away would be tame and Flemming, from about 12 yards out, got the slightest touch on the ball to stop it bouncing away.
It then sat on a plate perfectly for Bryan, who hit a stunning volley into the bottom corner. It’s his second goal for the club and was just as technically impressive as his wonderful equaliser against Hull City in October.
Millwall kept the pressure on. Flemming and Bryan continued to give debutant Luke Ayling – who was booed for his Leeds connections – a difficult afternoon and created an opening for Watmore that resulted in a corner.
From that set-piece, Jake Cooper side-footed the ball onto the bar with a first goal of the season continuing to elude the big defender.
Middlesbrough looked a bit leggy after their midweek cup exploits but still had chances of their own with Morgan Rogers sneaking in behind and having his shot smothered from close-range before Dael Fry launching a free header straight at Matija Sarkic.
Despite those chances, Millwall still would have felt in control when the equaliser came after 38 minutes.
In a day where moments of slack defending would let the Lions down, the build-up saw Jones knock it to Sam Greenwood before he slid the ball across the six-yard box to Engel to tap home unmarked at the back post.
The defending was suddenly non-existent and underperforming Boro were level.
Millwall looked determined to wrestle back control early in the second half and Longman and Watmore brought out the box of tricks to try and excite the crowd. Longman skilfully evaded two defenders before swinging a wild effort high and wide before Watmore wonderfully flicked the ball around Rav van den Berg before hitting a volley straight at the keeper.
If the party tricks managed to lift the crowd then what happened next went down like a lead balloon. Bryan horribly misjudged a header at the back and allowed Jones a free run at goal after 58 minutes.
He took the ball in his stride and sent his finish beyond Sarkic.
Having played so convincingly for much of the game, a baffled Den watched on as Millwall somehow fell behind due to errors in defence.
Whether through a lack of energy or a lack of confidence, the final half an hour would not resemble much of what we saw in the first 30 minutes. The Lions struggled to make chances to worry Michael Carrick’s side, save for when Kevin Nisbet snuck in Watmore but he fired his shot straight at Tom Glover.
Even the introductions of Romain Esse – the match-winner from this fixture in August – and Casper De Norre, returning from a six-week injury layoff, with eight minutes to go could not quite give Edwards’ side the boost they needed.
It would be another substitute returning from injury in Forss who would produce an important moment late in the game.
He struck in the 95th minute to wrap up the win for Boro against frustrated and frustrating Millwall.
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Millwall: 3-4-3: Sarkic; McNamara (Esse 82′), Harding, Cooper (c); Longman, Mitchell, Honeyman (De Norre 82′), Bryan; Watmore, Flemming (Norton-Cuffy 74′), Nisbet.
Middlesbrough: 4-2-3-1: Glover; van den Berg, Fry, Engel, Ayling; Barlaser (Hackney 77′), Howson; Jones (Clarke 77′), Azaz (Crooks 62′), Greenwood (Forss 88′); Rogers.
Referee: Andy Davies
Attendance: 16,681 (1,886)