Millwall Regain Second Spot in Championship with 2-0 Win Over QPR

A blistering start from Millwall propelled them to a 2-0 victory over QPR in the Sky Bet Championship at the Den, lifting them back into second place in the standings. Following a sluggish run of one win in their last five games, the Lions reignited their promotion push with early strikes from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli, dominating the London derby from the outset. As a result, Alex Neil's side leapfrogged Ipswich, who face Middlesbrough on Sunday, by a single point, heating up the competition for a spot in the Premier League next season alongside Coventry. Millwall took the lead after just three minutes when Mazou-Sacko capitalized on a loose ball from Femi Azeez's cross, unleashing a powerful finish past QPR's Joe Walsh from outside the area. This marked the French midfielder's first goal for the club, easing the nerves of the home supporters who had witnessed their team lose their last two home games. The hosts continued to dictate the pace, with Tristan Crama heading over from Casper De Norre's cross within the first seven minutes. Millwall's relentless pressure paid off in the 17th minute when Neghli scored the second goal, beautifully curling a shot into the far corner after being set up by Mazou-Sacko. The Lions continued to create scoring opportunities, with Neghli nearly grabbing his second goal after outpacing Jake Clarke-Salter, only to see his shot sail over the crossbar. Josh Coburn's header from Azeez's cross was tipped over by Walsh, while Zak Sturge's effort ended up in the side netting. QPR manager Julien Stephan made four substitutions at halftime, and his side created their first chance of the second half through Rumarn Burrell, who headed wide from Clarke-Salter's cross. Ilias Chair, making his return from injury, nearly pulled one back for the Hoops with a low shot from outside the area that went wide of the post. Millwall did not pose the same attacking threat in the second half but came close to a third goal when Coburn met Azeez's ball into the box, only for Walsh to make a remarkable save with his legs. QPR registered their first shot on target in the 89th minute, with Nikolas Madsen's 25-yard effort kept out by Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who had a quiet afternoon. Millwall's Alex Neil reflected on the game, stating, 'I thought we needed to start fast, get the fans onside, be aggressive, and sustain pressure.' He felt his team managed the game well and deserved more than a two-goal lead at halftime. QPR's Julien Stephan acknowledged his team's lack of intensity in the first half, which made Millwall's strong start unsurprising. He noted improvements in the second half following four halftime substitutions but admitted it was not enough to create a strong momentum or score.