A scintillating start from Millwall paved the way for a convincing 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship, propelling them back into second place in the standings. Following a slump with only one win from their previous five outings, the Lions rediscovered their form with early strikes from Derek Mazou-Sacko and Camiel Neghli, ensuring they dictated the tempo of the London derby from the outset.
With this win, Alex Neil's team leapfrogged Ipswich, who are set to face Middlesbrough on Sunday, intensifying the promotion race as the season approaches its climax. Millwall's breakthrough came after just three minutes when Mazou-Sacko capitalized on a loose ball from Femi Azeez's cross, unleashing a powerful shot past QPR's goalkeeper Joe Walsh. This marked the French midfielder's maiden goal for the club and helped alleviate the anxiety among Millwall supporters, who had witnessed their team lose the last two home games.
The hosts continued to assert their dominance, with Tristan Crama missing a chance to double the lead by heading Casper De Norre's cross over the bar within the first seven minutes. Millwall's relentless pressure yielded their second goal in the 17th minute, as Neghli scored with a beautifully crafted shot after being set up by Mazou-Sacko. Neghli nearly scored again after 24 minutes, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
The first half was characterized by a flurry of chances for Millwall, including Josh Coburn's header being tipped over by Walsh and Zak Sturge's shot into the side netting. QPR manager Julien Stephan made four substitutions at halftime in an attempt to revitalize his team. Despite this, Millwall continued to threaten, with Coburn coming close to a third goal after 76 minutes, only to be denied by Walsh's impressive leg save.
QPR's first shot on target came in the 89th minute, with Nikolas Madsen's effort from 25 yards being parried by Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Post-match, Millwall's 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, acknowledging the difficulty in competing with Millwall's high level of performance.