A blistering start by Millwall secured a 2-0 victory over QPR in the Sky Bet Championship, propelling them back into second place in the standings. The win was fueled by early goals from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli, allowing the team to dominate the London derby from the outset. This triumph marks a significant turnaround for Millwall, who had previously won only one of their last five games, stalling their promotion push. With this win, Alex Neil's side moves one point above Ipswich, setting the stage for an intense conclusion to the season as teams vie for a spot in the Premier League alongside Coventry.
Millwall's first goal came after just three minutes, with Mazou-Sacko scoring his first goal for the club by converting a loose ball into a fine finish past QPR's goalkeeper Joe Walsh. The team's relentless pressure continued, with Neghli scoring the second goal in the 17th minute after a clever exchange with Mazou-Sacko. Despite QPR's efforts to regain footing, Millwall maintained control, with Neghli narrowly missing a second goal and Josh Coburn's header being tipped over by Walsh.
QPR made significant changes at halftime, introducing four new players, but Millwall's defense held strong, with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson making a crucial save in the 89th minute to deny Nikolas Madsen's shot on target. Post-match, Millwall's Alex Neil expressed satisfaction with the team's aggressive start and their ability to manage the game effectively, while QPR's Julien Stephan acknowledged his team's lack of intensity in the first half and the challenges of managing player injuries.