Here are five things we learned from Millwall's crucial 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Ryan Tunnicliffe’s Hidden Acrobatic Trait

Ryan Tunnicliffe is your typical Man United centre midfield academy graduate, with Paul Pogba being the only exception. His retention of the ball is good, has quick feet and enjoys going in hard on the odd tackle.

However, on Saturday afternoon Tunnicliffe showed the crowd one more trait he has on his utility belt. He can acrobatically hit a ball without looking and score. The goal will probably be the best he will score in his career.

In a crowded box, Tunnicliffe was able to adjust his body to hit a ‘no look’ over-head kick that would eventually hit the post and trickle its way into the net. I am certain even, Ronaldo, Bale and Rooney would be proud if they scored one like that.

READ: Millwall's results defined by fine margins says Harris

His masterplan to force his way into the starting XI

Since moving to Millwall in 2017, Ryan Tunnicliffe has had a bit part role in Millwall’s squad, playing second fiddle to Shaun Williams, George Saville and now this season, Ryan Leonard.

To his fortune, Williams ankle ligament injury has meant that Tunnicliffe has started recent games and from his performances you can tell he is on a mission to impress.

The goal he scored on Saturday is just the icing on what was an assured performance from the ex-Fulham midfielder. Shaun Williams is usually one of Millwall’s regular starters under Neil Harris but the side do not seem to be missing him and that is a testament to Tunnicliffe’s form.

On numerous occasions against Reading and Nottingham Forrest, Tunnicliffe found himself in the thick of the action. He was tracking back relentlessly to put his body on the line and when he had the opportunity he always seemed to pick out the right pass.

He will be hoping that he will be cementing himself into the manager’s long time plans but there are rumours that Neil Harris is considering recalling Ben Thompson from Portsmouth to give cover to the injured Shaun Williams. Thus, Tunnicliffe may have to do a little bit more than an overhead kick and a few last ditch tackles to make himself known to the Lions manager if he wants to keep his starting birth.

READ: Player ratings from Millwall 1 Nottingham Forest 0

The Lions are starting to defend like last season

Millwall have been a shadow of their former self so far this season, with them already conceding 39 goals this season in comparison to the 27 they let in this time last season.

However, after two consecutive 1-0 victories, the Lions seem to have tightened up things at the back. In both games, the Lions have scored in the opening ten minutes and then defended well in the remaining eighty.

Players like, Jake Cooper, Shaun Hutchinson and James Meredith seemed to be showing the form that let the Lions to go on a 18 game unbeaten run where they achieved nine clean sheets.

Nottingham Forrest may be out of form but in recent weeks they have had a 5-5 draw with free-scoring Aston Villa and then a 3-3 draw with 2nd place Norwich. The fact that the visitors failed create anything threatening shows how well the Lions defended.

Neil Harris will be hoping that the defence have now got their mojo back after a shaky couple months, so that the Lions can gain results from clean sheets like they did last season and have done in the last two games.

Forrest Fans Want Karanka To Stay

Having only lost two out of the opening twenty games, Nottingham Forrest are now winless in five matches which has seen them drop into 10th place and now six points adrift from the play-offs.

With this run of form and Forrest’s track record of sacking managers, there has been huge speculation around Aitor Karanka’s position at the club. After allowing the manager to splash out £25 million in the summer, the chairman obviously has high expectations of the current squad, which they are not fulfilling.

With that being said, the 2,000 Forrest fans who made the trip down to South Bermondsey were in full support of their manager. During the game, ‘Aitor Karanaka want you to stay’ was belted out from the away end.

The Spaniard taken Forrest from being in a relegation battle when he took over the reins from Mark Warbaton to being play off contenders and for that the Forrest fans are grateful. Unlike, Chairmens and CEOs, the Forrest fans understand that it takes time to build a promotion race from scratch and they are willing to give Karanka the time that is needed to give Forrest the Premier League football that it craves.

Gregory’s injured ….again

Lee Gregory has been hailed as the only player who can leave his head held high in what has turned out to be a poor season so far the Lions. The striker has scored eight Championship goals already this season juxtaposed with the ten he got all of last season.

However, Gregory’s form has been hindered by minor injuries this season, with an abdominal tear ruling him out of the Bristol City game.

More recently, he was taken off against Forrest for what Harris explained to be a calf problem. With record signing, Tom Bradshaw already out for the season Harris will definitely be looking to bring in another striker to ease the strain and pressure off star man, Lee Gregory for the second half of the season.