Millwall Regain Second Spot in Championship with Dominant Win Over QPR

A blistering start from Millwall propelled them to a 2-0 victory over QPR in the Sky Bet Championship, lifting them back into second place in the standings. The win came courtesy of early goals from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli, allowing Millwall to dictate the pace of the London derby from the outset. Following a recent slump with only one win in their previous five games, Millwall's promotion push was revitalized as they moved a point above Ipswich, who are set to host Middlesbrough on Sunday. The victory marked a significant step forward for Alex Neil's side in their quest to join Coventry in the Premier League next season. Millwall took the lead after just three minutes when Mazou-Sacko capitalized on a loose ball from Femi Azeez's cross to score his first goal for the club. The hosts continued to dominate, with Neghli doubling their lead in the 17th minute with a skillful shot into the far corner after being set up by Mazou-Sacko. Millwall's relentless pressure yielded several more scoring opportunities, including a shot from Neghli that narrowly cleared the crossbar and a header from Josh Coburn that was tipped over by QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh. QPR manager Julien Stephan made four substitutions at halftime in an attempt to revive his team's fortunes. Although QPR created a few chances in the second half, including a low shot from Ilias Chair that went wide, Millwall's defense held firm. The home side came close to a third goal when Coburn met Azeez's cross, but Walsh made a spectacular save with his legs. It wasn't until the 89th minute that QPR registered their first shot on target, with Nikolas Madsen's effort from 25 yards being kept out by Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Millwall manager Alex Neil expressed satisfaction with his team's aggressive start and their ability to manage the game effectively. In contrast, QPR's Julien Stephan lamented his team's lack of intensity in the first half and the difficulty they faced in competing with Millwall's high-pressure approach.