A managerless Millwall side started life without Neil Harris with a victory against rivals Leeds United at The Den. 

 

First-half goals from Tom Bradshaw and Jed Wallace managed to exploit Gaetano Berardi's red card in the fifteenth minute before Mateusz Klich scored a consolation goal 16 seconds after the restart. 

 

First Half 

 

For his first game as caretaker manager, Adam Barrett made two changes to the side that Neil Harris fielded against Luton Town on Wednesday evening by reinstating Shane Ferguson and Ben Thompson in place of Matt Smith and Connor Mahoney. 

 

Harris’ departure created a subdued atmosphere for a sellout crowd down in SE16, however, the Millwall players quickly instated the voltage which usually accompanies this fixture when Mahlon Romeo rasped a shot at Kiki Cailla’s near post in the opening minute. 

 

The hosts continued their relentless pressure through battling their way up the field, nullifying  Leeds’ attempt to carry out Bielsa’s high press and their efforts were rewarded on 15 minutes when Bradshaw was chopped down in the box by Gaetano Berardi. 

 

The referee had no choice but to brandish a red card for the Swiss centre-half and grant a penalty kick – which Wallace smashed into the top corner on 15 minutes. 

 

Despite going down to ten men, Leeds remained calm in possession but it was Millwall’s tenacious pressing which ultimately had Beila’s ten men camped inside their own half. 

 

However, Millwall continued to play as if the weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Ben Thompson and Jed Wallace’s link-up play installed fear into Leeds’ reshaped back four and it was no surprise to see the Lions go two ahead. 

 

Thompson scooped the ball over Helder Costa’s head to release Shane Ferguson who whipped in the ball near post to find Bradshaw’s darting run. The striker tucked his effort into the bottom corner seamlessly just before both sides headed down the tunnel at the break. 

 

Second Half

 

Leeds made up for their poor first half with an immediate reaction in the second half as 16 seconds after the restart, Ezgjan Alisoki tapped into an empty net after Jack Harrison caught Murray Wallace taking a nap. 

 

Millwall struggled to maintain the same intensity they carried out in the first half which allowed Leeds to impose themselves on the game despite being a man down. 

 

They managed to create a round of half-chances, with Mateusz Klich’s 25-yard strike going the closest on 68 minutes. 

 

Bielsa introduced Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketkiah to the game and the striker almost had an instant impact on the game when he danced around Romeo inside the side yard box before Shaun Hutchinson stole the ball away from his feet as he pulled the trigger. 

 

The hosts looked to catch United out on the counter-attack, but the efforts of the first half seemed to take the steam out of the train as Bradshaw found himself isolated on the byline. 

 

However, Millwall defended diligently to see out their eighth victory in ten meetings at The Den against Leeds United. 

 

Teams: 

 

Millwall: Bialkowski, Romeo, Hutchinson, Cooper, M. Wallace, J. Wallace, Leonard (Williams 28), Thompson (Bodvarsson 79) , Molumby, Ferguson, Bradshaw.

 

Subs: Sandford, Smith, Pearce, Mahoney, O’Brien. 

 

Leeds: Casilla, Alioski, Berardi, White, Ayling, Phillips (Roberts), Costa (Doughlas 45), Dallas, Klich, Harrison, Bamford (Nketiah 62). 

 

Subs: Miazek, Gotts, Davis, Clarke.