A scintillating start by Millwall secured a crucial 2-0 victory over QPR in the Sky Bet Championship, catapulting them back to second place in the standings. Following a slump with only one win in their previous five games, the Lions' promotion push was revitalized by early strikes from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli, giving them control of the London derby from the outset. With this win, Alex Neil's side leapfrogged Ipswich, who face Middlesbrough on Sunday, in the quest to join Coventry in the Premier League next season.
The breakthrough came 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, easing the nerves of the home supporters still reeling from their team's last two home defeats. Millwall dominated the early stages, with Tristan Crama missing a chance to double the lead by heading over from Casper De Norre's cross. The relentless pressure paid off in the 17th minute as Neghli scored a beautiful goal, bending the ball into the far corner after being set up by Mazou-Sacko. The Lions continued to press, with Neghli narrowly missing his second goal and Josh Coburn's header being tipped over by QPR goalkeeper Joe Walsh.
Despite making four half-time substitutions, QPR struggled to make an impact until late in the game, with Ilias Chair and Nikolas Madsen coming closest to scoring. Millwall, meanwhile, came close to a third goal through Coburn, whose effort was miraculously saved by Walsh.
Reflecting on the game, Millwall's Alex Neil praised his team's aggressive start and ability to manage the game effectively, while QPR's Julien Stephan lamented his team's lack of intensity in the first half and the challenge of managing player injuries to stay competitive until the end of the season.